Moon Author's Review
The Best of Jamaica
Two weeks is a good length for a trip to Jamaica and provides enough time to relax on the beach while also venturing beyond the sun and sand for a mix of adventure and culture. Highlights include Negril's West End, a few days in quiet Belmont, Kingston's culture and nightlife, and Portland's aristocratic history and lush natural beauty.
Day 1
Arrive at the airport in Montego Bay, check-in for two nights, and dine at the HouseBoat Grill or the more casual and every-bit-as-good Scotchie's. Hit up a bar for an evening drink to gauge the scene along the Hip Strip.
Day 2
Take tours of Rose Hall and Greenwood Great House in the morning. Then visit Doctors Cave Beach in the afternoon. Have dinner at Day-O Plantation followed by a play at Fairfield Theatre.
Day 3
Drive west to Negril for cliff jumping by late morning. Visit Royal Palm Reserve in the afternoon to fish and check out the waterfowl, then visit Bongo's Farm for sunset.
Day 4
In the morning, drive southeast to Savanna-la-Mar and then turn inland to Mayfield Falls. Spend the morning exploring the falls and gardens. On the return back to Negril, take the northern route stopping to visit Alexander Bustamante's birthplace at Blenheim before enjoying grilled lobster at Half Moon Beach in Hanover.
Day 5
Check out of your hotel and drive east toward Belmont, stopping at Blue Hole Garden and Roaring River along the way. Settle into a beachside cottage at Horizon Cottages and dine on fresh seafood or fried chicken across the road.
Day 6
Drive south to Parottee Point and head to Pelican Bar, a one-of-a-kind watering hole and ramshackle fried fish joint located a mile offshore on a sandbar. Go snorkeling and enjoy fried fish and a cold beer. On your way back to Belmont, stop in Black River for a boat trip into the morass.
Day 7
Drive inland and take a tour of Appleton Estate in the morning, followed by a stop on Bamboo Avenue for jelly coconut and a visit to Y.S. Falls in the afternoon. Pull over in Middle Quarters for fresh shrimp on the way back to Belmont, where you will spend another night.
Day 8
In Belmont, visit Peter Tosh Memorial Garden in the morning followed by a nature hike with Rasta Bryan. Depart in the afternoon for Kingston, arriving in time for dinner.
Day 9
Downtown sights in the morning could include the National Gallery, a stroll along Ocean Boulevard, and a visit to Liberty Hall. Visit Legend Café at the Bob Marley Museum for lunch and take a tour in the early afternoon. Stop by Hope Botanical Gardens for a juice at Ashanti Garden before heading back down to Devon House for ice cream and shopping. Go out on the town at night in New Kingston.
Day 10
Visit the Mutual Gallery and then head out to Fort Charles in Port Royal by mid-morning, followed by lunch at Gloria's. Take a boat to Lime Cay for a swim in the afternoon. Dine at Fisherman's Cabin before returning to Kingston to go out on the town and hit the hay.
Days 11 and 12
Drive northeast from Kingston into the Blue Mountains for hiking in Holywell and two nights at Woodside. Stop at Strawberry Hill and splurge on a beer to check out the view--it's well worth it.
Start the next day with early-morning coffee and birding at Twyman's Estate, fueled by a fresh roasted pea-bean blend, the connoisseur's choice. Have lunch at The Gap Cafe, followed by an afternoon swim in the spring-fed pool at Woodside and then a home-cooked dinner.
Day 13
Leave for Port Antonio via Buff Bay immediately after breakfast. Check in to your hotel, take a swim and then a nap. Wake up for lunch at Cynthia's and a swim on Winnifred Beach. Hit Roof Club, La Best, or Cristal Night Club in the evening to scope out the local scene.
Day 14
Get up early to head west towards Montego Bay for departure with time to stop by Somerset Falls along the way.
Roots and Culture
These are the must-see historical sites and must-do events for those travelers wishing to delve into the pulsating cultural milieu that shapes and defines Jamaican society. Keep tabs on the weekly events calendars in Kingston and Negril to plan your time in these areas. The roots of Jamaican popular music will become vivid with this tour, which touches on the island's evolvingmusic industry.
Day 1
Arrive in Montego Bay for one night at Richmond Hill. If you arrive in the morning, visit Greenwood Great House or Bellefield Great House for a step back in time with a stop at Scotchie's for jerk either before or after the tour. Visit the Gallery of West Indian Art for some inspiration before dinner at Mobay Proper or The HouseBoat Grill. Hit Margaritaville to catch the pinnacle of Mobay nightlife if you still have energybefore bed.
Day 2
Hit Doctors Cave Beach in the morning and then head to Negril in the afternoon to catch sunset and dinner on the Cliffs at LTU or Pushcart Grill & Rum Bar. Check out the night's live reggae band on the beach or at Negril Escape on Tuesdays.
Day 3
Make a loop from Negril to Roaring River and Blue Hole Garden or Mayfield Falls before descending to Half Moon Beach along the Hanover coast. Head back to Negril for dinner at Whistling Bird, Kuyaba or Chill Awhile.
Day 4
Leave for Kingston in the morning, stopping in Belmont to pay your respects to a reggae legend at Peter Tosh Memorial Garden. Make a pit stop in Middle Quarters for "swimps" and then in Scott's Pass, Clarendon, to meet the Rasta elders at the headquarters of the Nyabinghi House of Rastafari.
Day 5
Hit Kingston's cultural sights, or any combination of the Bob Marley Museum, Tuff Gong Studios, Culture Yard, and the National Gallery. Call Rita at Vynil Records to arrange a stop to buy the latest 45s. Have dinner at Hellshire Beach or at Gloria's in Port Royal before a night out on the town at Quad or Fiction followed by a street dance.
Day 6
Leave in the morning for Jamnesia Surf Club in Bull Bay. Spend the day surfing and hanging with Billy Mystic and family.
Day 7
Spend the morning sampling the ritualized Rasta life at Bobo Hill if you're in the mood for some serious worship. Visit Reggae Falls in the afternoon before heading back to Kingston in the evening for dinner and another night out.
Day 8
Leave in the morning for Port Antonio, checking in at Great Huts, Drapers San or Goblin Hill. Spend the afternoon at Reach Falls or on the beach with a quick visit toFolly Ruins.
Day 9
Depart first thing for Ocho Rios stopping in Charles Town to meet the maroon coronel to take in some history and vision. In Ocho Rios, visit Reggae Xplosion at Island Village before dinner at Tropical Vibes on Fisherman's Beach.
Day 10
Visit Blue Hole Falls in the morning before a transfer to Montego Bay for an evening departure. Stop by Time 'N' Place or Culture Restaurant in Falmouth for a bite.
Hidden Beaches and Hillside Hikes
Hikes, bird-watching, secluded beaches, and mangrove tours are indispensable to a greater appreciation of Jamaica's natural wonders. Jamaica is a relatively small island, and can be traversed in about five hours without stopping, but the diversity and ruggedness of the island's landscape makes it exhausting to try to fit in too much.
Transportation is an important consideration when planning an eco-vacation, as many of the less-visited sights are remote and require a rental car or driver. Excursions into remote parts of Cockpit Country and the Blue Mountains require a four-wheel-drive vehicle, but for most places SUVs are not necessary and the expense is not justified. Barrett Adventures operates island-wide, and is the best charter outfit for helping to coordinate transportation for part of or an entire trip.
Day 1
Arrive in Montego Bay and head directly to Good Hope Plantation in Trelawny. Spend a few hours on the beach at Silver Sands or Harmony Cove before a relaxing dinner in the great house.
Day 2
Explore Cockpit Country on horseback in the morning, with lunch back at the Great House. Head to Burwood Beach in the afternoon for windsurfing or kite surfing, before a casual dinner at Time 'N' Place nearby.
Day 3
Depart in the morning for Negril, stopping at Half Moon Beach for lunch and a dip. Continue on to Tensing Pen to spend the afternoon jumping off the cliffs and relaxing by the pool.
Day 4
Depart for Belmont stopping at Bongo's Farm for a jelly coconut, hike up the hill, and eat lunch at the Black Star Line before heading to Roaring River and Blue Hole Garden. Spend the night at Horizon or Culloden Cove in Belmont or Whitehouse, and squeeze in some snorkeling before sunset.
Day 5
Depart for the Blue Mountains, stopping in Black River for a morning kayak or pontoon boat safari to see the crocs, then stop by Y.S. Falls for an early afternoon dip, before hitting the road. Overnight at Forres Park in Mavis Bank, Lime Tree Farm, or Whitfield Hall.
Day 6
Rise early for a hike up Blue Mountain Peak. Descend by early afternoon and head to Woodside for your last two nights.
Day 7
Hike the trails of Holywell, or visit Cinchona Botanical Gardens in the morning, then visit the Twyman's Old Tavern Coffee Estate for a tour and to pick up some beans to take home. Have dinner at The Gap Café, Strawberry Hill, or back at Woodside.
Day 8
Rise early for the drive back to Montego Bay, stopping in Ocho Rios for a dip at the Blue Hole on the White River or at One Love Trail on the seaside, followed by a garden tour at Coyaba Gardens. Leave Ochi in time for an evening departure from Mobay's Sangster International.
