Jamaica travel guide

The beach at Frenchman’s Cove is considered one of the best beaches in Jamaica. It’s a beautiful short crescent shaped beach with forest covered cliffs at both ends. A cold creek runs into the ocean at the left side, mixing with the warmer seawater. There are toilets and a cafe on site, and as with many beaches in Jamaica, there is also an entrance fee.

Jack Spratt Beach is a small dark sanded beach with a waterfront cafe of the same name. It’s popular place with a cool vibe. Pelicans dive into the shallow water right in front of the cafe’s veranda. The Jack Spratt Beach is considered one of the safest beaches to swim at in the Treasure Beach area.

It’s truly understandable that most travellers limit their time in Kingston to a visit at the Bob Marley museum and an ice-cream at Devon House, for there aren’t a whole lot to see. Kingston is very spread out with two main areas, downtown and uptown. Downtown has a few landmarks, but else boring office buildings. Uptown isn’t more interesting, but is more orderly and where you find the Bob Marley museum and Devon House, the mansion for the first black millionaire in Jamaica. Though most people in Kingston are as friendly and easygoing as elsewhere on the island, don’t venture into the shantytowns on your own.

Along the northeast shore, far away from the tourists zones, are a series of smaller towns. Some have sandy beaches, while other only have rocky shores. The most inviting of them might be Long Bay, which has lovely laid back hippie and surfer vibe. It has a long sandy beach, unfortunately with lots of garbage brought in by the sea. The waves attract surfers, but a strong undertow makes it bad for swimming.

Luminous Lagoon, also called Glistening Waters, is a lagoon where the water glow blue-ish when disturbed at night due to microorganisms. You can see this natural phenomena a few other places in the world, but this is definitely one of the best locations - and it's always here (except when it rains heavily). It’s an unreal sight when you first see the vibrant green-blue glowing trace the boat leaves. The boat ride into the middle of the lagoon is rather short, so it won't take long before you are having your most (drug free) psychedelic swim ever.

As you drive along the stretch from Ocho Rios to Port Antonio, you will pass a series of smaller towns. Many of them are really cute in a worn and daily life way. Even the smallest towns often have more than a handful of churches and there are always a few scruffy characters roaming the streets. The coastline is mostly covered by rocks, but here and there are small patches of sand where fishing boats have been pulled up on. Any place is worth a stop, but we really liked Buff Bay (picture).

Jamaica much famous bar is, of course, Pelican Bar. Located 1 km out to sea on a submerged sandbar on the edge of a reef, it has one of the most spectacular setting ever. Pelican Bar is made entirely of driftwood and you can only get here by boat. It’s run by some very friendly rastas, which must have the strangest workday ever. Groups of tourists come and go all day long until sunset. Besides very cold Red Stripes, they also serve food (lobster) and you can have your name carved into the wood.

Jamaica is not particularly known for its charming towns, it’s therefor even more delightful when you finally come by one, and Port Antonio is a strong candidate as the finest. It's picturesque located partly on a peninsula in a bay. There are a few historical buildings along with a clock tower and the leftovers of Fort George. If you manage to find a viewpoint, there will be fine views over the towns from the peninsula. Else, just wander around, visit the market, the small marina, and have a chat with the locals.

Reach Falls is a small and peaceful waterfall with lots of cool pools and hidden holes. It’s beautiful set in the shady jungle at the foot of the Blue Mountains. As it’s too far from the tourist ghettos, the waterfall only sees a handful of tourists every day. There is an entrance fee and toilets.

Long Bay Beach is also known as Seven Mile Beach, though it’s only a bit longer than four mile. Anyway, this pretty ribbon of white sand and blue waters is one of Jamaica’s most famous beaches. Unfortunately, that also means all-inclusive resorts, hordes of sun tanning tourists, nondescript beach cafes, and never ending offers of massage, ganja, hair braiding, and more ganja. It’s for sure a spectacle and seems to attract a certain kind of tourist, so it might not be for everyone.