Ideal Hotspots

Montego Bay is the second largest city in Jamaica and is the gateway to tourist activity on the north coast. The city sits in a bay with mountains rising in the background. It is a hub of shopping and dining, and the beaches are lined with all-inclusive resorts. In Montego Bay, be sure to check out the following highlights:

• Rose Hall Great House - Visit the legendary home of the infamous Annie Palmer. The "White Witch" of Jamaica. She is reported to have killed several unlucky husbands and brutalized her slaves until she herself was murdered. People swear they see her suffering ghost roaming the property. Beautifully restored and worth the visit.
• Greenwood Great House - Considered one of the finest and best restored of the former plantation homes. The house belonged to the Barrett family of which Elizabeth Barrett Browning is a descendent. The house is filled with antiques, paintings, rare books, and furniture from the 1800s.

Heading east from Montego Bay, take some time to visit these recommended stops:

• Falmouth: 18th century port town, this is worth a quick walking tour to see the historical buildings. The Good Hope Great House is located nearby.
• Discovery Bay: Site of Columbus' landing in 1494, this is where you will find Columbus Park which is an open-air museum containing a wide range of historical artifacts and information on the area.
• Runaway Bay: Is now a growing tourist area. This is the spot that the Spanish "ran away" to Cuba when the British invaded the island.

This is the cruise capital of Jamaica. The bay is sheltered by lush garden-like mountains and protected by reefs. Ocho Rios hums with markets, shops, restaurants, and discos. Watersports and natural wonders are the attraction here.

• Dunns River Falls:This 600-foot waterfall drops down to the beach. One of the most photographed and visited waterfalls in the world. Can be extremely crowded as people climb up through a series of "staircase" waterfalls.

Heading east from Ocho Rios, the drive from Ocho Rios to Port Antonio has some of the most spectacular scenery the north coast has to offer. Pass through small port towns such as Orcabessa, whose 19th century buildings are restored to their original look and feel. There are several "kodak moments" with breathtaking views of the coastline, bays and hills. The roads are narrow and windy, so be careful when driving on your own through this area.

Once the river port destination for the banana boats, this village was a favorite of movie stars and the cradle of modern Jamaican tourism. The twin bays look like a hollywood movie set and were the birthplace of bamboo rafting. Port Antonio is the mecca of the island's deep-sea fishing and a gateway to the nearby John Crow and Blue Mountain ranges. Port Antonio features the following worthwhile sightseeing spots:

• Erroll Flynn: The story goes that he pulled his yacht into Kingston for repairs. While waiting, he drove a rented motorbike 62 miles over the mountains and into Port Antonio. The movie star instantly fell in love with the place and purchased Navy Island and became completely absorbed into the local community. He is still talked about today and his estate still owns the nearby Comfort Island Castle Plantation.
• Goldeneye: The beachfront estate of Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond novels.
• Somerset Falls: The rainforest feeds the river that is forced down a gorge making this an awesome waterfall to see and play in. You can swim in the rock pools as you enjoy snacks sold at the concession stand.

Many tourists bypass the largest English-speaking city in the Caribbean due to the bad publicity and crime associated with it. It is the cradle of Jamaican culture, however and contains many historical sites and botanical gardens. The first English capital city -- Port Royal -- was built just across from Kingston in the 1600s and was later destroyed by an earthquake and tidal wave. Spanish Town, just outside of Kingston was the site of the Spanish settlement before the English ran them off.

Located at 2,000 feet in elevation, the city has one of the best climates on the island. The English built the city to escape the "hot tropics" of the coastline. It is a charming town and is a great homebase for birdwatching, caving, or to branch out and explore the mountainous regions or the south coast.

The "newest" resort destination on the west coast was discovered in the 1700s by rowdy pirates. The 1960s and 1970s saw the sleepy little town invaded by hippies from North America. Today, people are being drawn in even greater numbers to its famed seven-mile-long sandy beach and its spectacular sunsets. Fun and sun are the main attractions here, and there are few other attractions. The Negril Lighthouse, built in 1894, offers a panoramic view of the area after a climb of 100 stairs.

As you head back to Montego Bay to catch your return flight, you will pass through the remains of several Great Houses and plantation estates.

Treasure Beach is one of the many unspoiled and beautiful beaches on the southern coast of Jamaica. At the southeast end of the beach a sheer cliff rises 1,000 feet above the sea. Hikers enjoy going up the rocky road and then scaling the cliff near the lighthouse. The view is spectacular and belies a rather tragic story that gave the cliff its name. The story goes that in the 17th century two young slaves fell in love and asked the slavemaster permission to marry. Not only was the permission denied but the "master" stated that he was going to separate them permanently by selling the young girl off to another plantation. Unable to bear the thought of being separated for life they jumped from the cliffpoint to be joined forever in death.

Green Grotto Cave

The Green Grotto Caves are show caves and a prominent tourist attraction in Discovery Bay, St Ann on the north coast of Jamaica. Named for the green algae that cover its walls, the structure of the cave is strikingly different to inland systems; the cave is a Flank Margin Cave (old mixing chambers at the edge of the fresh water lens with the sea water) with two well-defined levels apparently indicating two periods with differing sea-levels. The innermost cavern contains a crystal-clear underground lake. FUN FOR THE FAMILY





The Blue Mountains


Shrouded almost perpetually by mists that give Jamaica’s highest mountains their bluish color, the Blue Mountain range sprawls across the eastern portion of the island for a length of 28 miles and an average width of about 12 miles. They rise steeply in an area so compact that it is possible to drive from the coastal plains to an elevation of over 7,000 feet in less than an hour.

Dunn’s River Falls has a very fascinating history. It is said to be the location of the legendary battle of "Las Chorreras". This battle was fought in the year, 1657 and took place near Dunn’s River Falls. It was between the English and the Spanish Expeditionary Force from Cuba. The battle was in fact for ownership of the island.







The Kool Runnings Water Park is located in Negril on Norman Manley Boulevard. It was established in early 2007 and consist of state-of-the-art facilities with activities for visitors of all ages, locals and tourists alike. The water park features seven slides, all of which have different names from famous Jamaican phrases and places in Jamaica. There is a lazy river, a kiddy island and Anancy Village where go-karting and bungee trampoline activities are available. There are also several restaurants and a souvenir shop.

The Rose Hall community has a proud heritage. In the 1960s, the late John Rollins, one of America's most successful business entrepreneurs, fell in love with Jamaica and bought the original Rose Hall Plantation. The imposing Great House regained its former glory with an authentic architectural restoration that includes a magnificent collection of furnishings and décor reflecting 18th-century Colonial style. The Rollins family vision has always been to transform the land into a tranquil paradise for themselves and for others seeking a Caribbean home by the sea. Today, Michele Rollins and her children continue John Rollins' dream of creating a vacation colony of the highest quality. As more kindred spirits arrive, they too find themselves enthralled by the magical spirit of Rose Hall.

Located just 20 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Ocho Rios, James Bond Beach is spectacular, beautiful beaches surrounded by crystal clear water on three sides and an amazing backdrop; the lush mountains of St Mary reaching straight down to the sea. James Bond Beach is well known for the fabulous fresh fish and seafood served at the two-storey Moonraker "Jamaican" Bar & Grill. The fish is so fresh we let you pick which one you want to eat! If you are looking for a little excitement James Bond Beach also offers the ultimate guided waverunner tours. The tours riders pass the famous Golden Eye, where Ian Fleming wrote the James Bond novels then pass on to UB40's home and some of the most breathtaking views that can only be seen on a personal watercraft. Additionally James Bond Beach is the home to many large international and local concerts, such as the Bob Marley Tribute, Sashi, and coming this summer a big show presented by Island/DefJam. Give us a call to see what special events we may be hosting.