Famed for its stunning landscapes, fabulous beaches, cascading waterfalls and luxurious seaside resorts, add to this, an endless variety of land and water adventures, Jamaica is a dreamscape destination, where year-round tropical weather, reggae and funky island life come together to ensure your pleasant and memorable stay.
Tourist attractions in Jamaica are designed to offer guests a unique opportunity to discover the history, ambience and heritage of this exceptional island nation.
And keep in mind that wherever you go in Jamaica, the friendly smiles of its people and the natural beauty of the island will keep you coming back again and again. Here are some ‘must see’ touristic sights in Jamaica you should not miss out while holidaying in this picturesque getaway.
Doctor’s Cave Beach, Montego Bay
Part of the Montego Bay Marine Park, Doctor’s Cave Beach is one of Montego Bay’s oldest, busiest and most popular beaches, offering visitors clear azure waters, fed by mineral springs that maintain a temperature to 80 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, making it an ideal place for diving and snorkeling. The beach is five miles long and is bordered by the city’s best accommodations and restaurants, serving gourmet cuisine that is legendary throughout the island.
Named after a local doctor, who donated the land and a now-closed coastal cave, the beach soon became the attraction of many visitors, helping establish Montego Bay as a famous resort town.
After you are done with this gorgeous sandy beach, make sure to visit the city’s many historical sites, parks and nature reserves, as well as indulge in amazing array of water sports and soft adventure tours, from dreamer catamaran cruises to Captain Hook adventures to zipping through Jamaica’s treetops on the newly opened Canopy Tour and this just the beginning.
Montego Bay is also where visitors will find numerous luxury spas, specializing in authentic treatments and Jamaican healing practices to provide you with full relaxation and rejuvenation of your body, mind and soul.
Dunn’s River Falls – Ocho Rios
Located near Ocho Rios – another outstanding resort town in Jamaica, Dunn’s River Falls is a major tourist attraction in the Caribbean and one of the island’s treasures, which is always included in the list of the best waterfalls in the world. The setting is truly breathtaking; the water is refreshingly cool and the falls are shaded by a tall rain forest and a number of majestic tree specimens.
Around the area visitors will find several resorts, offering different activities, from climbing the falls with or without tour guides to discovering hidden hot springs beneath the caves and, of course, relaxing in the sun-filled beach.
Tickets to Dunn’s River Falls cost about $20 a person, so it’s not a wonder why the falls are Jamaica’s highest grossing attraction, sure to hit to all the nature-loving, and adventure oriented individuals and families. When visiting this awe-inspiring spot, makes sure to wear swimwear, aqua socks or else an old pair of shoes that you don’t mind getting wet to protect your feet when climbing the falls.
Bob Marley Museum
No visit to Jamaica is complete without visiting the Bob Marley Museum on Hope Road. Who hasn’t ever heard the song ‘No woman, no cry’ by this genuine legendary singer, Bob Marley, king of Rastafari and Reggae Music. Housed in the superstar’s former home and studio, the museum showcases the house where he was born and lived, the stone, where he lay his head, the kitchen, where his mother cooked for him and his impressive marble mausoleum.
Visitors will also find interesting collection of Marley’s memorabilia, his stage outfits including his famous denim shirt; an extensive photo gallery; Marley’s gold and platinum discs; the medicinal herb garden, as well as the bullet-holed walls resulting from Bob Marley’s attempted assassination. The tour ends with a 20 minute film of Bob Marley’s life, shown in the Tuff Gong studio which has now been converted into an 80-seat cinema and will show you how a small nation like Jamaica created a genre of music that captivated the world.
Green Grotto Caves
Found on 25.9 hectares of the island’s beautiful North Coast, between the resorts centers of Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, the Green Grotto Caves, 1,525 meters long and 12 meters deep, present a large labyrinthine limestone cave with its numerous rock formations, its stalactites, stalagmites and abundance of overhead ceiling pockets and more.
The main feature of Green Grotto Caves is the ‘Green Grotto’ with an underground crystal-clear lake, which can be found at a depth of 36 meters below surface. The steps lead down into the impressive chambers, where statuesque dripstone formations are illuminated by floodlights. Populated by seven species of bat, the Grotto cave tour is a must see, informative, well presented and very interesting, and a nice place to get out of the sun on a hot day. It’s strongly recommended to wear strong footwear.
Dolphin Cove
Looking for fun and entertainment? Never mind, Dolphin Cove – Jamaica’s number one marine attractions is waiting for adventure seekers for an experience of lifetime. Located in Lucea, Hanover, this 20-acre property is the largest natural dolphin lagoon in the world, surrounded by 5 acres of lush tropical rainforest, where visitors can interact with these intelligent creatures in their natural sea environment, enjoying the thrill and love of these lovable animals.
Included in the entrance fee to Dolphin Cove is a shark show. Another highlight of the cove is the stingray lagoon, offering snorkeling opportunities. Other attractions that will keep you entertained all day long include: a jungle walk with several enclosures of tropical animals, like iguanas and parrots; glass bottom kayaks; beach hopping and mini boats to enjoy the blue Caribbean at breakneck speed from a speedboat. In the near future, the park is planned to have a total of 20 dolphins, challenge bridges, lazy river, water slides, mangrove adventure tours, crocodiles and more.