Jamaica holidays are filled with adventure, thanks to the enthralling and imaginative activities up for grabs. There’s something for every type of traveller in Jamaica, whether you’re looking to hike up the Blue Peak Mountains, paddle on a Bamboo Raft down the stunning Martha Brae River, go crocodile watching or explore the fascinating Bob Marley Museum.
If you’re looking for a family-friendly, fun-filled way to spend the day, visit the Martha Brae Rafting Village in Falmouth. There’s no better family activity than bamboo rafting; you’ll spend the day being paddled down the beautiful Martha Brae River on a sturdy, 30-foot raft, taking in all of the beautiful natural sights along the way. Throughout the trip, the friendly and informative guides will provide you with fascinating facts about the river and the legend of Martha Brae, making for both a relaxing and fascinating day out.
Before boarding the raft, you will have a chance to explore the embarkation area, also known as “Rafter’s Village”, which includes a bar, picnic grounds and two souvenir shops. At the end of the journey, you can enjoy a leisurely drink in the bar and lounge area, while taking in the luscious surroundings one more time. Bamboo rafting here is extremely popular and has even attracted a number of famous faces, including Queen Elizabeth II, Lenox Lewis and Johnny Cash.
There are few better ways to spend a day of your holiday than by going on a boat trip adventure. Whether you’re looking to go on a gentle cruise down the Black River where you can relax and unwind, or looking to get out and about to explore the stunning sights of Jamaica, there’s a boat trip for you. There’s a great number of boat trip operators in Jamaica, so you can guarantee that one will be perfect for what you’re looking for.
You’ll have the opportunity to explore the exquisite YS Falls and swim in their naturally formed swimming pools, created by the seven waterfalls which cascade into the plunge pool. Animal lovers should also keep their eyes peeled, as you’ll likely get to see some of Jamaica’s wonderful wildlife, such as herons and crocodiles, in their natural habitats. You can also swim in the vibrant blue waters of the Blue Lagoon, tour the fascinating caves at Somerset Falls and cruise down the picturesque Rio Grande River.
Learn about one of Jamaica’s best known icons at the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston. The fascinating museum is located at the famous reggae musician’s former home, which was also home to Tuff Gong; a reggae record label founded by The Wailers.
Image source: Flickr. Copyright: Dubdem Difusora Cultural
The museum is a must visit attraction for any music fan travelling to Jamaica; multiple tours are on offer, which are lead by insightful expert guides who ensure you leave feeling fascinated and enlightened. The museum was opened by Marley’s wife, Rita, in 1987 to preserve the life and accomplishments of the reggae legend. It has been preserved as close as possible to its original condition to maintain maximum authenticity and contains some of Marley’s most prized personal possessions. Marley’s Grammy, his gold and platinum records, as well as his personal recording studio are all part of the museum. The Bob Marley Museum is a truly unmissable opportunity to learn about the life of one of the world’s most famous musicians.
Take the rare opportunity to go on a gentle cruise down the Black river and go crocodile watching in Jamaica. Crocodiles are a highly sought after species by animal observers thanks to their striking prehistoric appearance and captivating behaviour. The strength and power of these awesome animals are staggering to behold; don’t worry though, the friendly tour guides will ensure that you won’t be in the firing line.
The guides will also provide you with interesting facts about the animals you see while you take some snaps of the crocodile’s spectacular snappers. All of the crocodiles you see will be in the wild, so you don’t have to worry about them being mistreated in captivity or subject to any animal cruelty. The cruise is gentle and relaxing, allowing you to take in the tropical sights of the Black river as you ease downstream. Crocodiles truly are remarkable animals, so make sure you take the chance to observe one of the most fascinating reptiles in the world while in Jamaica.
If lying on the beach all day doesn’t sound like your kind of holiday, a great alternative is to see the stunning sights of Jamaica by going hiking or cycling. Jamaica is home to many breathtaking backdrops and challenging trails, making it the perfect destination for those looking to spend the day doing something physical.
The Blue Mountains trail offers astonishing views of rolling green peaks for as far as the eye can see, making it the hiking trial of dreams for lovers of nature and natural landscapes. However, the Blue Mountains trail isn’t the only hiking route in Jamaica with stunning mountain views to take in; the John Crow Mountains and Cockpit Country Trails are both spectacular themselves.
If you’d rather explore the country on two wheels, visit one of the many bike rentals in Jamaica and enjoy some of the country’s fantastic riding trails, such as those found in Ocho Rios and Pimento Hill.
Summon your inner Cool Runnings and go on your own bobsledding adventure in Jamaica. Since Jamaica famously debuted in international bobsledding in the 1988 Winter Olympics, the tropical nation has been captivated by the daring winter sport, and now, you can go on your own Jamaican bobsledding adventure - with a twist.
Mystic Mountain in Ocho Rios provides a range of exciting rainforest adventures, including a tour of the mountain’s forestry on a specially designed bobsled. Make no mistake, this tour isn’t for the feint hearted; you’ll be safely secured into a two-man sled resembling the Jamaican Olympic bobsleigh, before tearing through the forest on a 1000-meter long track. You’ll travel down the track at high speeds using only gravity, but don’t worry, it’s completely safe, you won’t need to carry the sled across the finish line like the original team did in 1988. It is a thrilling experience which can be relished by daredevils of all ages.
The Jamaican cuisine is loved around the globe and renowned for its taste bud-tingling mix of hot spices. However, this distinctive, tantalising taste needn’t be left behind at the end of your holiday; you can learn the jerk cooking style during your visit to Jamaica. Authentic jerk cooking classes are widely accessible in Jamaica and give you the chance to perfect the jerk style for yourself so you can enjoy the tropical flavours at home.
The classes are highly entertaining experiences; the expert chefs make the classes great fun to participate in and work hard to ensure your first attempt at a Jamaican dish is a successful one. Many of the hotels in Jamaica provide their own jerk cooking classes, so you won’t necessarily have to travel to enjoy this excellent experience. However, if you want to venture out of your hotel, you will find other classes in fantastic locations, including one on a verandah in Ocho Rios which has panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea.
No holiday to Jamaica is complete without enjoying a tour of Jamaica’s distinctive Blue Mountains on a mountain trip. The spectacular views from the Blue Mountains are truly jaw dropping; there’s nothing else like them in the world. The sight of miles and miles of rolling green hills as far as the eye can see is an unforgettable one, making the Blue Mountains a dream spot for nature lovers and photographers.
The best way to see these incomparable views is part of an organised tour. You’ll get to explore the longest mountain range in Jamaica and right up to its 7,402ft peak, which is also the highest in Jamaica. Along the way, you’ll get to stop at extremely remote, mountain villages and meet the friendly locals who live there. You’ll get to enjoy tasty food at local restaurants and see other spectacular sights like dramatic waterfalls and colourful fauna and flora. The walk can be challenging, but it is more than worth the effort.
From cascading currents to dramatic drops, Jamaica is home to a number of epic waterfalls that are pleasing on the eye and epic to explore. To help you get around the best of Jamaica’s watery wonders, you can see a number of the falls on guided waterfall trips. Leap into the refreshing plunge pool of the Blue Hole, explore the peaceful surroundings of Turtle River Falls and climb up the descents of the Dunn’s River Falls. Helpful staff will help you navigate the falls and keep you safe, so all you have to worry about is taking the best photo you can of the luscious waterfalls.
You’ll also get to see some magnificent marine life throughout your trip such as the colourful fish in koi ponds and at the aptly named Turtle River Falls, you’ll even get the chance to see some turtles. There’s also the chance to get your picture taken with a friendly, colourful parrot, waterfall trips in Jamaica are a great day out for all ages.
If you are looking for a way to get an adrenaline rush while in Jamaica, there are few better ways to get it than by flying through the air on a zip line at 1100ft. Get an aerial view of Jamaica’s stunning landscapes, with unforgettable views of popular sights like Mystic Mountain and The Great River in Lethe.
Whether zip lining is something you’ve done often before, or a completely new experience for you, the friendly staff will ensure you travel across the zip line at a comfortable speed while still enjoying a suitably thrilling experience. They will even take pictures of your zip lining experience for you on your phone while you are busy enjoying the ride.
There is a number of tremendous zip lining experiences to choose from in Jamaica, including the longest zip line in the Caribbean, which measures at almost 500 metres long, so you’re certain to find one that’s right for you.