Accommodations

Colonel's Cottage (US$150) at Belcour Lodge is the perfect getaway located in the cool Blue Mountain foothills just 10 minutes' drive from the Kingston city limits. The cottage sleeps two in a queen bed and is surrounded by lush, verdant splendor with two verandas fit for breathing deeply and relaxing to the sound of the gurgling Mammee River below. It's located a stone's throw from the old great house of Belcour Lodge, home of Belcour Preserves, a cottage industry producer of jams, pepper sauces and honey.

Prince Valley Guesthouse (US$35-40 per person night) is located on a small coffee farm in Middleton Settlement in the Blue Mountains. The property is managed by Bobby Williams and has five guest rooms, each with its own bathroom. Linens and towels are provided. A basic breakfast of coffee and toast is included. Dinner is available at US$12 per person. A common room has a refrigerator, books, couch, work table and Wi-Fi.  The lodging is ideal for backpackers.

Serendipity Holistic Resort (US$150-250) is a collection of six one-bedroom cabins, three with king-size beds (US$250), three with queen-size beds (US$150). The cabins all have private bathrooms with showers. Each room has cable TV. Wi-Fi covers the entire property. One cabin has a kitchenette. The cabins overlook the banks of the Hopewell River, which feeds the Hope River that ultimately ends up in the Mona Reservoir. The spa offers Swedish, deep tissue and full body massage, as well as manis and pedis, by reservation. The resort opened in March, 2014.

Forres Park Guest House and Spa (US$75-220) is the best option for bird-watchers and hikers, especially for groups looking to stay in the immediate vicinity of Mavis Bank. A two-story main house and four cabins are surrounded by a small coffee farm that attracts many endemic and migratory bird species. The large veranda is a great vantage point, as all three of Jamaica’s hummingbirds--vervain, Jamaica mango, and streamertail--frequent the bushes all around the chalet-style main house.