Jamaica Holidays

Hear the word Jamaica and you’re likely to picture white beaches, spicy jerk chicken and a certain Bob Marley. And you’d be spot on – the Caribbean clichés come thick and fast on this laidback island. The picture-perfect coastline’s peppered with beach bars and swaying palms. Venture inland, however, and lofty mountains, lush banana plantations and tucked-away waterfalls take over decorating duties.

While the sunbathing conditions are top-notch all-year-round, there’s plenty to do away from the coast, too. Make sure you check out the 180-metre cascade of Dunn’s River Falls, near Ocho Rios. Elsewhere, Montego Bay – AKA Mo-Bay – offers up river rafting and Jeep safaris. Then you’ve got Negril’s Kool Runnings adventure park, where you can ride waterslides, canoes and go-karts.

If all you want to do is kick back and relax, Negril is ideal. With its peachy sunsets, ‘no worries’ attitude and famous Seven Mile beach, it’s Jamaica’s original chill-out destination. It also boasts a hotel that’s been dubbed the best in the Caribbean – Couples Swept Away. A bit further up the coast, Lucea scores brownie points for its half-empty beaches. And as you’d expect from the name, Runaway Bay's one of Jamaica’s more secluded spots, too.