Jamaica beyond the resort
Cliffs, cool hills, hibiscus and a sunset worth staying up for.
Most people see Jamaica from a beach chair. Stay for that, but leave a few days for the island beyond it: cliffs above clear water, cool green mountains and food worth driving across the island for.
When to go
Mid-December to April is the driest stretch. Hurricane season runs from June to November, when prices drop and the weather is less predictable.
How long
Five to eight days. Pick one beach base and one inland or east-coast stay, rather than moving every night.
Negril
Seven Mile Beach for the long, lazy days, and the cliffs of the West End for swimming in deep, clear water and watching the sun go down.
The Blue Mountains
A cool escape from the coast. Visit a coffee farm, walk the trails and look out over the island.
Port Antonio and the north coast
The quieter, greener side of Jamaica: the Blue Lagoon, rafting on the Rio Grande and Boston Bay, where jerk is said to have begun. Further west, Dunn's River Falls near Ocho Rios.
Good to know
- Hire a recommended driver for longer trips. Roads are winding and distances take longer than the map suggests.
- Eat local: patties, jerk from a roadside drum and fresh fruit from the market.
- Pack reef-safe sunscreen and something to cover up for lunch.
Photographs from our own trips.
