5 Minute Guide to Jamaica: Bucket List For Your Next Quick Trip!

Jamaica is a beautiful and lush Caribbean country that is perfect for anyone wanting a vacation that mixes adventure, relaxation, and nightlife. It can be quite overwhelming, however, to plan a trip to this island of seemingly endless resort towns and beautiful beaches. Our guide elects to avoid the Kingston area and focus on the less busy locations in the North and West. Enjoy this Jamaica bucket list!

Table of Contents

 Where To Stay:

We (three girls in our early twenties) stayed at the SeaGarden Resort in Montego Bay and loved it for many reasons, including (1) Great for budget travelers (2) All-inclusive food and drinks, (3) Its central location to the rest of Northern/Western Jamaica, (4) A local, non-touristy atmosphere, (5) Smaller resort with fewer people, (6) Amazing beach and access to kayaks, paddleboards, and more, (7) Close proximity to the downtown area with bars and nightlife, (8) Non-stop flights to a lot of major US cities.

 

While I’m definitely not saying that you have to stay in Montego Bay, we found that it was a great central base camp for all of the other destinations we visited.   

Two other popular options include:

·      Negril: Known for an incredibly long stretch of white sandy beach, adequately named the Seven Mile Beach. It’s a great option if you want to be in the center of the tourist zone and have access to a massive beach. It’s less great if you aren’t a fan of crowds. In Negril, you certainly won’t have a tough time finding accommodations as there is a plethora of beachfront hotels.

·      Ocho Rios: A great spot for outdoor adventure, boat tours, waterfalls, and more. While Montego Bay and Negril have the best options for resorts and bigger hotels, hang out in Ocho Rios for a more authentic Jamaican experience outside of the hustle and bustle of Kingston.

 

Getting Around:

I would not recommend renting a car in Jamaica, as traffic patterns and rules are unpredictable. We found that it was very cheap to get a driver via our hotel or a local agency. They are usually reasonably priced for a whole day, and they might even give you a discount if you book them repeatedly! We loved our driver, and he was gracious enough to wait for us at each stop and even showed us his favorite jerk chicken spot. We initially booked him through our hotel and continued to request him.

 

What To See:

Now that you’ve picked your basecamp and know how to get around, here are some great spots in Northern and Western Jamaica!

 

(1)   Dunn’s River Falls

This waterfall is a great addition to your Jamaica bucket list, giving you the opportunity to climb the falls on your own or with a guide. We debated heavily on what waterfall to visit in Jamaica (spoiler alert: there are many), but this one is Jamaica’s national treasure for a reason! We climbed up on our own, and it took us about 45 minutes to go up the 180-foot-high, 600-foot-long falls. It’s incredibly exciting (and wet) to do the hike up.

(2)   Luminous Lagoon

Located between Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, the Luminous Lagoon in Falmouth is a great evening activity if you’re already in the area. Here, tiny microorganisms called dinoflagellates thrive in the brackish water. At night, disturbing the water leads to a bright blue glow of the water caused by the microorganisms. There are only about four of these lagoons in the entire world, and this tour not only takes you around by boat but also allows you the opportunity to swim around (given that the little organisms don’t freak you out!).

 

(3)   Seven Mile Beach

One of the main draws of Negril is Seven Mile Beach, a stunning stretch of white sand and bright blue water along Jamaica’s Western shore. Segments of this public beach have vastly different vibes, from Margaritaville’s rowdiness to calm spas, offering something for everyone.

 

 (4)   Rick’s Café

Since we stayed in Montego Bay, we decided to go down to Rick’s Café right after exploring Seven Mile Beach. This café is known for cliff jumping, live music, and great rum cocktails. We watched the sunset here and danced around while eating dinner. Even if you’re not staying in the Negril area, going to Rick’s Café is a perfect nightcap granted that you have a ride home already!

 

What To Eat:

Last, but certainly not least, Jamaican food is drool-inducing. Don’t forget to try:

1.     Jerk Chicken – Jamaica’s most famous dish made from slow-cooking chicken or other protein over a fire or grill

2.     Rum – The national spirit of the country and the base for many amazing cocktails

3.     Ackee and saltfish – A national dish made with boiled ackee (a yellow fruit) and sautéed cod

4.     Oxtail – Iconic and flavorful, this rather tough and meaty dish is slow-cooked with jerk sauce and served with stewed vegetables

5.     Fried plantains – Perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or any meal in between, fried plantains are golden brown and delicious

 

That’s all for this Jamaica bucket list! Don’t forget to enjoy a little sample of everything wherever you choose to stay. Looking for more destinations to explore in Central America and the Caribbean? Check out our guides here. Happy sampling!