10 best resorts in Jamaica – which one to choose for recreation, photo, description, map
The heavenly place of eternal summer is located in the Caribbean Sea. Exotic natural beauty, unusual culture, which gave rise to the musical style of reggae, allows you to have a good rest here, relax, forget about problems and worries. The sunny and hospitable resorts of Jamaica are famous for their modern infrastructure, beautiful beach areas, and hotels for any budget. There are several resort areas on the green island. It is proposed to choose one of them based on the following information.
Port Antonio
One of the main resorts of Jamaica is located in the valley of the Rio Grande. Picturesque cliffs, fast currents attract outdoor enthusiasts here. Rafting along the riverbed is one of the most popular excursions on the island. The city is surrounded by pristine natural jungle, beautiful Somerset waterfalls and Rich Falls Climb, carrying streams of the purest fresh water directly into the sea.
You can feel their coolness in the famous Blue Lagoon, where the water changes color depending on the incidence of sunlight. The city is home to the ultra-modern resort area of Crystal Springs with a berth for the most expensive yachts in the world. Walking along the streets of Port Antonio, you are invited to look at the rich mansions built in colonial times.
The place of residence can be luxury hotels (Art-Gallery Jamaica Palace), family pensions, small villas. Shopping lovers are provided with supermarkets, boutiques, bazaars, souvenir shops, a large number of shopping areas Duty Free. There is always the opportunity to buy Jamaican Appleton and Myers rum, liquor, Red Stripe beer, Blue Mountain coffee. The nearest airport is in the capital of Jamaica. Then they use domestic flights, a car.
Montego Bay
Montego Bay, the second largest city in Jamaica, is located in the northwestern part of the island. It is the center of a large resort area, where 50% of hotels, entertainment centers, restaurants, nightclubs are concentrated. Luxurious sandy beaches with rental points for any sports equipment. The best private beaches of the resort are the beaches of Doctor Cave, Walter Fletcher. The city has many old mansions (Rose Hall, Greenwood). It is surrounded by vast plantations of exotic cultures, the best golf courses.
Rafting on the Black River (Black River), Martha Brae (Martha Brae), hikes to the Blue Mountains, diving, surfing, acquaintance with the unique sights of the city (for example, the Museum of St. James) make up the recreation program at the resort. Among the ancient architectural buildings of interest are the Church of St. James Burchell, Cage Prison. A large seaport, a bustling city, ringing with the music of “jamaica” is considered the most popular resort of the island.
Negril
The resort area of a small town includes 11 km of snow-white beach strip. It has long been a popular holiday destination for diving and nightlife lovers. The hippies were the first to master the wonderful beach (in the 70s of the last century). The resort quickly grew and became popular with many tourists. Restaurants, bars, cafes, night clubs (including the famous night “Disco”), modern hotels filled the coast, the streets of the town.
In cozy disco clubs it is offered to dance reggae and have fun all night long. The recreation area is conditionally divided into two parts: Seven Mile Beach, beloved by vacationers with the whole family, and the West End, located among the stone cliffs. Fans of extreme sports come here (jumping into the sea from rocks, cliffs). The Coral Reef runs along the coast of the Caribbean Sea, forming a cozy lagoon, ideal for swimming and water sports.
Slender alleys of coconut palms complement the beautiful landscape of the beach area. In accordance with local laws, the height of modern hotels cannot be higher than the height of local palms. You can see the beauty of the surroundings of the resort from the height of the Negril Lighthouse. Not far from it there are mysterious caves that are of particular interest to divers. Visit the Royal Palm Park, the Great Moras Marshes, try the local rum in the town of Appleton during interesting excursions.
White House Bay
People who prefer a calm, romantic vacation come to the resort. There is a hotel (Sandals Whitehouse) designed for lovers. It is built in the style of a Caribbean village. Here is the largest pool of the island. Turquoise waves of the sea, snow-white beach with clean fine sand, pristine tropical forests create an atmosphere of wonderful relaxation.
It's nice to snorkel in clear water next to colorful fish and other marine life. Diving enthusiasts get a special pleasure by diving into the underwater kingdom. Walking tours around the area include walking through the Rockland Bird Sanctuary, visiting Appleton and tasting rum at the local distillery.
The resort is located in the district of Westmoreland, where in ancient times Indians lived in protected caves (they can be seen during walks), and in the 15th century Christopher Columbus stopped here during the second expedition. Acquaintance with the history of the island will complement the impressions of the huge beach fun at the resort.
Ocho Rios
The territory of a small fishing village has become a popular tourist center of the island. Mountain slopes surround the small town from three sides. Silver streams of water fall from their height, inviting them to the place of their birth: to the top of the rocks. All vacationers tend to go to the most beautiful Dunns River waterfall. Together with the excursion, the height of 182 m is conquered easily and quickly.
The reward is the view of the surroundings, a green city with blooming hibiscus, bright exotic plants. The same unusually beautiful views of the surroundings can be seen when climbing Murphy Hill on your own (this is the highest point in the northern part of the island). At any time of the year, guests of the resort swim, go diving, participate in fun water adventures on yachts, catamarans, water skiing. Any inventory is offered by the rental service on the beach.
In the town there is a nudist resort “Hedonism III”. Accommodation at the resort is provided by cozy rooms in modern hotels built by a chain along the coast of “Super Clubs” – Super Inclusive Resorts. In your free time, you are invited to visit the Columbus Museum Park and see old canoes made from giant trunks of tropical trees. Cannons, banana transporters, etc.
runaway bay
Vacation at the resort is an unforgettable Caribbean Sea with snow-white beaches, clear water, numerous adventures on the water, on land among the wild beauty of pristine nature. Scuba diving, boat trips, a journey along the ancient footprints of pirates, robbers. In the caves of Runaway, the Green Grotto, among the majestic figures of stalagmites, stalactites, escaped slaves hid, sea pirates kept their wealth.
Now you can see these places, listen to interesting stories from a past life during excursions after a relaxing holiday on the beach. In a small town with one main street, modern hotels, luxurious villas, restaurants, bars, entertainment centers, supermarkets have grown. The resort quickly took the island's leading position among organized recreation areas.
Together with modern buildings, the atmosphere of the traditional lifestyle of the local population has been preserved in it. On the main square there is a church built in 1800, there are monuments dedicated to the national heroes of Jamaica, Christopher Columbus. Fun, music, excellent offers of local cuisine, the sun (it rains most often at night) contribute to a comfortable stay.
Westmoreland
The resort is located in the west of the island. The first settlement here was formed 2500 years ago by the Arawak tribes. The gentle sea, snow-white beaches, the silence of a sparsely populated city without industrial enterprises attract families with young children here. The beaches are equipped with comfortable children‘s, sports grounds, golf courses.
The rental services provide a variety of sports equipment. It is proposed to see the underwater world, rush through the waves of the Caribbean Sea on a yacht, catamaran, water skiing, take part in interesting trips around the city. Fans of extreme recreation will go skydiving, paragliding. During a quiet conversation in a cozy cafe, pub, you can learn about the main secrets of local fishermen.
Taste delicious local seafood dishes or the famous “jerk” (Jamaican barbecue), invented by runaway slaves. Life in the nightclubs of the city amazes with fun and music. Every year the city hosts New Year celebrations and celebrations in honor of Easter events. On January 6, there is fun in honor of the freedom fighters on the island (Maroon Day). In July, a reggae festival takes place near the city. Tourists will not be bored.
Spanish Town
A small town is located in the interior of the island. For a long time it was the capital of Jamaica. The waves of the Caribbean Sea do not rustle here, there are no its amazing snow-white beaches. But the number of tourists in the city is growing every year. The town was not subjected to devastating natural disasters. It has preserved the architectural heritage of the Victorian, early colonial cultures.
Among them are the Cathedral of St. Catherine, the Rodney memorial, the three-hundred-year-old dam, the Belvedere estate. An excellent holiday can be organized on the banks of the river Martra-Bray. Sail along it on a bamboo raft (built in the traditions of the ancient masters). Get acquainted with the amazing variety of flora and fauna of the island. Many species of amphibians, reptiles, unusual fish are found only in these places.
During city tours, it is offered to learn the difficult details of the events taking place in the island's largest prison. Modern hotels have been built in the city (of which you can sign up for an excursion to any direction of the island), many restaurants, souvenir shops, and markets. Here you can try exotic dishes, fruits such as breadfruit, oraniku (a hybrid of orange and tangerine), ugli (tangerine with grapefruit), the famous Jamaican rum.
kingston
In the city it is difficult to organize a calm, relaxed option for a vacation among untouched natural beauty. The capital of Jamaica is a noisy, big city with its own complexities and problems. Business people come here for important conferences, negotiations and lovers to see unusual places on the planet with their own eyes. In ancient times, instead of Kingston, the famous pirate city of Port Royal flourished. A powerful earthquake swallowed him in the depths of the sea.
Until now, the ancient ruins hidden in the depths attract brave divers (only with special permission). It is offered to see artifacts raised from the bottom of the sea in the archaeological museum. Future projects provide for the creation of an underwater park for anyone to visit. The history of the island is presented in interesting expositions of the Maritime Museum. It is located in an ancient fortress built by the British. Hotels in the New Kingston area are chosen as the best (and safe) place to stay. Numerous excursions around the island are offered here, spas and swimming pools are open.
Directly from the hotel you can drive to the white sandy beaches with the best reefs for scuba diving. See the Blue Mountains, sugar and coffee plantations, the botanical garden of Hope. Buy a souvenir at the famous classic Devon House. Its walls are decorated with paintings by famous artists, there is chic antique furniture that has preserved the spirit of the family grandeur of the former owners. There are two popular restaurants in the courtyard of the mansion, and shady alleys, cozy benches surrounded by thickets of flowers attract attention while relaxing.
Mandeville
The resort is located in the “English” city of Jamaica. It was built during the reign of the British and rises at an altitude of about 660 m above sea level. This is the only settlement (of the large cities of the island) that is not located on the seashore. There are no fun nightclubs, beach exotics in the city. But you can fully see almost the entire southern part of the island, plunge into the life of the old province, admire the architectural features of the city.
Beach activities, diving, windsurfing, boat trips are recommended to be carried out on the coast in the village of Alligator Pond. In the city itself, you can look at the building of the old mansion Mandeville Courthouse (the city court is now located here), the Church of St. Mark, Seventh-day Adventists. Make an ecological hike to Lake Windalco, play golf at the oldest institution in the country, Manchester Club. For shopping lovers, the city provides unique opportunities to purchase leather goods, souvenirs, jewelry in the huge center of Manchester.
Best time to travel
Jamaica is part of the Greater Antilles. Being in the tropical climate zone, a small piece of land is characterized by high humidity and heat. Throughout the year, the average temperature on the island is about 28. The water temperature is always around 25. Rains, hurricanes complicate the rest in May and October. Warm night showers give the landscapes brightness and freshness. They bring coolness.
September is considered the time of hurricanes. The most comfortable time for a holiday in Jamaica is the winter months of our climate zone. Summer is unusually hot. It is difficult to participate in excursions around the island. But the peak of fun on the island falls on July and August. The choice of rest time depends only on the desire of the traveler. But it is always good here and a trip to the resort of Jamaica will bring joy to a person of any age.