Jamaica may be known for its marvelous beaches, but lazing at the beach and working on your tan are not the only things to do in Jamaica. There is more to Jamaica than its sandy coastline. If you travel inward away from the coast, you’ll discover that the country has many other wonders worth exploring. We are recommending these seven awesome things to do in Jamaica that isn’t necessarily on the beach.
Explore Kingston.
Kingston is the capital city of Jamaica and home to more than half of the country’s population of nearly three million. In this large, cosmopolitan city, you’ll find a bevy of historically and culturally significant sites, such as Devon House and National Gallery of Jamaica. Visiting Kingston also allows you to feel the fun island vibe in the country outside the beach resorts.
Pay tribute to Bob Marley.
The legendary musician Bob Marley is perhaps the most well-known product Jamaica has ever exported to the world. Marley brought reggae, the music of Jamaica’s soul, to the world stage. While the world lost this great music legend far too soon, his memory lives on. You can pay homage to the master of reggae music at the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston. The building in which the Museum is housed was once Marley’s home. Now it is home to his memorabilia and works.
Hike the Blue Mountains.
Officially the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, the Blue Mountains offers opportunities for challenging hikes up craggy mountain trails if you want some extreme, adrenalin-pumping adventure. The highest point of this mountain range on the eastern side of Jamaica, Blue Mountain Peak, rises more than seven thousand feet above sea level. The Blue Mountains is home to at least 500 species of flora and fauna, including the world’s second largest butterfly. It is also the source of Blue Mountain coffee, one of the most expensive coffees in the world.
Climb the top of Dunn’s River Falls.
Dunn’s River Falls is one of the most popular natural tourist spots not just in Jamaica but in the entire Caribbean. What makes it so famous is the fact that it looks like water cascading down a natural staircase. The water empties directly into the Caribbean Sea. If you’re up for a slippery and somewhat strenuous climb, you can make your way to the top of the falls. Or you can relax at the beach at the bottom of the falls and just watch the water while sipping on a drink.
Ride a raft on the Blue Lagoon.
Jamaica’s Blue Lagoon was made famous in the 1980s with the iconic movie Blue Lagoon, starring the then-teenaged Brooke Shields. But even if you haven’t seen the film, you’d understand why it’s popular once you see the vivid blue waters of the lagoon surrounded by lush greenery. Swimming there is an experience, with the warm Caribbean waters mingling with the cold undercurrent. You can also take a leisurely ride on a bamboo raft across the lagoon.
Chill at the Pelican Bar.
Visiting the Pelican Bar is definitely one of the best things to do in Jamaica. A shack on a sandbar nearly a mile off the coast of Treasure Beach, the Pelican Bar is a favorite watering hole among tourists and local fishermen out to while the time while playing dominoes or watching cricket. Chowing on fresh catch and chugging a couple of beers while watching the sunset from the Pelican Bar is a Jamaican experience not to be missed.
Feast on jerk cuisine.
Jerk cuisine, in which the meat is seasoned in spices like allspice and habanero peppers before grilling, is a specialty of Jamaica. It’s not for the fainthearted, though, given how spicy jerk food can get. You can enjoy jerk food anywhere in Jamaica, but if you want to have it as authentic as it can get, the place to go is Boston Bay, reputed to be the birthplace of this cuisine.
You don’t have to stay at the beach on your holiday in Jamaica all the time. There are so many things to do in Jamaica away from the beach that it’s hard not to have fun on your Jamaican holiday.
