59 Best Sights in Jamaica

A favorite photo stop, this structure, little more than ruins, was home to a Tiffany heiress. Built in 1905 and spanning 60 rooms, the house didn't last long because seawater, rather than freshwater, was used in the cement. The ruins have been featured in music videos. In August, the PAN Food Festival is held nearby at the Folly Oval. The property is down a rough road, and it is surrounded by a huge chain-link fence. However, the gate to the fence is wide open. The site is out of the way, and it is probably best not to go there alone.

Built in 1662 and once the city's largest garrison, this is the oldest surviving structure from the British occupation. On the grounds, you can find an old artillery storehouse, called Giddy House, which gained its name after being tilted by the earthquake of 1907. Locals say its slant makes you dizzy. The Fort Charles Maritime Museum is housed in what was once the headquarters for the British Royal Navy. Admiral Horatio Nelson served as a naval lieutenant here in 1779. The museum features a re-creation of Nelson's private quarters, as well as other artifacts from the era, including models of various sailing vessels. Fort Charles is located just past Norman Manley International Airport.

This beautiful, petite, somewhat secluded beach is protected by two outcroppings, creating calm waters good for families. A small stream trickles into the cove. You'll find a bar and restaurant serving fried chicken right on the beach. If this stretch of sand looks familiar, it might be because you've seen it in the movies: Club Paradise (1986), Knight and Day (2010), and The Mighty Quinn (1989). Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; sunrise; swimming.

A good choice for rainy days, these caves offer 45-minute guided tours that include a look at a subterranean lake. The cave has a long history as a hiding place for everyone from fearsome pirates to runaway slaves to the Spanish governor (he was on the run from the British at the time). It's a good destination if you want to see one of Jamaica's caves without going too far off the beaten path. You'll feel like a spelunker, since you must wear a hard hat throughout the tour.

This historic great house may not have a spooky legend to titillate, like Rose Hall, but it's much better at evoking life on a sugar plantation. The Barrett family, from whom the English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning descended, once owned all the land from Rose Hall to Falmouth; on their vast holdings, they built this and several other great houses. (The poet's father, Edward Moulton Barrett, "the Tyrant of Wimpole Street," was born at nearby Cinnamon Hill, later the estate of country singer Johnny Cash.) Highlights of Greenwood include oil paintings of the Barretts, china made for the family by Wedgwood, a library filled with rare books from as early as 1697, fine antique furniture, and a collection of exotic musical instruments. There's a pub on-site as well. It's 15 miles (24 km) east of Montego Bay.

The Caribbean's largest botanical garden, originally called the Hope Estate, was founded in the 1600s by an English army officer. Today it's often referred to as Hope Gardens, and the 2,000 acres feature areas devoted to orchids, cacti, and palm trees making it the perfect spot for large festivals, picnics, and intimate gatherings. The gardens are also home to the Hope Zoo Kingston.

Lucas, a regal male lion, is the zoo's most popular sight, but there are many interesting animals, including iguanas, the Jamaican boa snake, and a colorful array of parrots and other tropical birds. Exhibits also showcase zebras, crocodiles, monkeys, and deer.

Dating to 1879, this museum covers early Arawak residents to modern times. Collections span art, literature, and natural history, with exhibits from Jamaican furniture to Marcus Garvey.

Coffee beans grown on nearby plantations—Baronhall Estate Coffee, Island Blue Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee, and Jamaica High Mountain Coffee—are brought here for processing. Tours aren't offered, but you can stop by the gift shop for a sample taste and purchase their many fine coffee products.

With a large sign declaring that “Trespassers Will Be Eaten,” this attraction on the outskirts of Falmouth most fascinates reptile enthusiasts. The village was started as a crocodile farm in the 1970s by American Ross Kananga, who was a stuntman in the James Bond film Live and Let Die. Scenes from the film Papillon, starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman, were also shot here. The property is home to a number of Jamaican crocodiles as well as the Jamaican yellow boa snake. There are other exotic animals from South America and colorful tropical birds in the aviary.

Nestled in the hills that overlook Ocho Rios, the beautiful and serene Konoko Falls and Park once served as a settlement site for the Taínos (the original inhabitants of Jamaica). Today, the property has been transformed into a stunning tourist attraction with a waterfall, museum, gift shop, and a small zoo. Visitors can take a guided tour and learn about the history of the island and the Taínos.

Billing itself as the place where "Jamaica comes to play," this park has 10 waterslides and a ¼-mile (½-km) lazy-river float ride, as well as a go-kart track, kayaking, outdoor laser combat games, and Jamboo rafting (on floating bamboo). There is also a human gyroscope, a "kool kanoe" adventure, a wave pool, and paintball. General admission varies by height and gives guests access to the waterslides, wave pool, and lazy river-ride. Other attractions are an additional fee.

As legend has it, two slaves in love, Mizzy and Tunkey, chose to jump off this 1,700-foot cliff rather than be captured by their master. At the entrance of the property is a wooden statue dedicated to the tragic pair. This site includes a restaurant with a balcony, a photogenic lighthouse, and stunning sea views. Tours detail Jamaica's history and Mizzy and Tunkey's story. Weddings can be held here.

This charming but small beach provides an escape from Ocho Rios's bustling town center, and usually doesn't get crowded until a cruise ship docks. There's no admission, and there's a beach bar, a restaurant, and a souvenir stand on the shore. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); toilets; showers. Best for: swimming.

At 2,000 feet above sea level, Mandeville is considerably cooler than the coastal areas about 25 miles (40 km) to the south. Its vegetation is also lusher, thanks to the mists that drift through the mountains. But climate and flora aren't all that separate it from the steamy coast: Mandeville seems a hilly tribute to all that's genteel in the British character. The people here live in tidy cottages with gardens around a village green; there's even a Georgian courthouse and a parish church. The entire scene could be set down in Devonshire, were it not for the occasional poinciana blossom or citrus grove.

High in the misty Blue Mountains you can visit the source of some of the best coffee in the world. In this rarefied air where time seems to have stood still, you can tour the factory that was built in 1923 and witness coffee processing from planting to distribution. The tour takes about 45 minutes and includes a sample.

Tours must be booked five days in advance.

This lounge has become a favorite for gamers and nongamers alike. It houses a full restaurant and sports bar serving tasty apps and entrées. Visitors can try their luck at any of the 214 machines available here, including an assortment of virtual tables and slot machines.

Established in 1974, this gallery is the oldest and largest public art museum in the English-speaking Caribbean. The gallery features early, modern, and contemporary artwork (some of it on permanent view) from Jamaican and Caribbean artists. The gallery offers tours, lectures, exhibitions, and children's programs. There is also a gift shop and a café.

Constructed in 1962, this 35,000-seat arena (nicknamed "the Office") hosts national and international soccer matches. It's the home of Jamaica's national team, dubbed the Reggae Boyz, which made strong showings in world competitions several years ago. One of the statues in front of the main entrance honors not a soccer star, but music legend Bob Marley, paying homage to an iconic moment in Jamaican history. During the 1970s, Jamaica was torn by political unrest when the ruling Jamaican Labor Party met a strong challenge by the People's National Party. Armed gangs representing the parties battled in the streets. On April 22, 1978, while Bob Marley and the Wailers were performing the song "Jammin'" at the packed stadium, he called for the leaders of both parties to join him on stage and made a spirited plea for peace and unity. For the night, at least, civility and harmony prevailed.

One of the busiest beaches in Ocho Rios caters to a mix of residents and visitors. It looks out over the cruise port and has a bar, but you can also bring your own food. Boat rides and watersport equipment can be rented. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); toilets; showers; water sports. Best for: swimming.

In the small community of Belmont, this simple white-concrete building contains the grave of reggae great Peter Tosh (born Winston Hubert McIntosh), who was murdered in Jamaica in 1987. Together with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, Tosh formed the seminal reggae group the Wailers in 1967. In contrast to the Marley memorials in Kingston and Nine Mile, Tosh's burial place is quiet and uncrowded.

In the heart of New Kingston, this museum is dedicated to one of Jamaica's greatest reggae singers, Peter Tosh (born Winston McIntosh). Tosh, along with two other reggae legends—Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer—formed the Wailers in 1967. After the group split up, Tosh went on to have a successful solo career, spanning a decade, until he was killed during a robbery in 1987. Lots of Tosh's memorabilia, including his custom M16 guitar and unicycle, are on display.

Jamaica's river-rafting operations began here, on an 8-mile-long (13-km-long), swift, green waterway from Berrydale to Rafter's Rest. (Beyond that, the Rio Grande flows into the Caribbean Sea at St. Margaret's Bay.) The trip of about three hours is made on bamboo rafts pushed along by a guide who is likely to be quite a character. You can pack a picnic lunch to enjoy on the raft or on the riverbank; if you lunch onshore, a Red Stripe vendor is likely to appear. A restaurant, a bar, and several souvenir shops can be found at Rafter's Rest.

A great place to spot birds, this sanctuary is south of Montego Bay. The station was the home of the late Lisa Salmon, one of Jamaica's first amateur ornithologists. Here you can sit quietly and feed a variety of birds—including the doctor bird (also known as the streamer-tail hummingbird), recognizable by its long tail—from your hand.

The most atmospheric beach in the southwest is in the community of Treasure Beach. Here there are several long stretches of sand and many small coves. With more rocks and darker sand, the beach isn't as pretty as those to the west or north, but it's a bit of the "real" Jamaica. Both locals and visitors use the beach, though you're as likely to find it deserted, beyond a friendly beach dog. Treasure Beach attracts a bohemian crowd, and you won't find as many hustlers as in North Coast resort towns. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); lifeguards. Best for: solitude; sunset; walking.

This restored tenement building where Bob Marley spent much of his youth is now a protected National Heritage Site. Marley wrote frequently about life in the "government yard," and the area is credited with being the birthplace of reggae. It's also where the Wailers band was formed—they recorded Catch a Fire here. The project was developed by the Trenchtown Development Association, a group dedicated to breathing new life into what had been one of Kingston's worst slums. There's a museum of Marley and Wailer memorabilia and a souvenir shop.

Tours are best arranged by calling in advance, but there is a tour guide on the property, in case you arrive without a reservation.

This is one of the most popular beaches on Jamaica's east coast, mainly because there is no entry fee. Vendors will, however, ask for a donation to help with upkeep. The beach is clean, with a relaxed atmosphere and a few stalls on the beach selling local food, crafts, and souvenirs. Boat rides and horseback riding are also offered. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); toilets. Best for: swimming.

Formerly Prospect Plantation, this adventure park has been an attraction since the start of tourism in Jamaica when such visitors as Winston Churchill and Charlie Chaplain planted trees here. There are many activities that are both fun and educational, from camel safaris to Segway tours. Learn about Jamaica's agricultural heritage while enjoying the flora and fauna and excellent views. The 900-acre property provides room for such exciting activities as ATV adventure tours, jitney rides, and cooking tours.

The artists represented may not be household names, but their paintings are sensitive and moving. You can find works by such Jamaican masters as painter John Dunkley and sculptor Edna Manley, and visitors are introduced to the work of contemporary Jamaican artists through events such as the National Biennial and the National Visual Arts Competition and Exhibition, staged each July and August, respectively. Guided tours (J$3,000 for groups of up to 25) must be booked in advance.