Tourist Attractions & Monuments Jamaica

Typical example of a tiny beach that was left abandoned, but is currently under renovation and therefore closed. One Man Beach unfolds a perfect curve between two long stone piers. On the left, a few trees like beautiful umbrellas. Everywhere, clear water licks a strip of sand often deserted.

Treasure of the nature or blessing of the gods, the bay of Sanku is at a time. This virgin and unknown cove of most Jamaican is a unique site.

A wide range of about 500 m and so long, it is divided between sandy and rocky funds, and can be crossed by foot, swimming or boat. You can place yourself in the environment by having water up to the knees and feeling the feeling of being the master! Four sources of mineral water - including one hot water - also spread along the cove, feed the sea into fresh and fresh water. To the point that seawater is soft, desalinated. At the fourth source, the strongest, that of the healing that flows from the bottom of the earth, you can even swim against the tide, in a refreshing water.

Located at the end of Dead End, it is one of the few free beaches in MoBay, but it is not really exceptional. Very busy before the creation of Harmony Beach, it is tiny, next to the airport and therefore noisy because of the heavy air traffic. The water and the beach are very dirty... It was not recommended, except for the Friday night atmosphere where street vendors, tourists and locals come to spend a convivial moment.

North of Negril, Bloody Bay marks the geographical beginning of the seaside resort of Negril. In the 18th century, this bay, well protected from the swell and sea currents, was one of the favorite haunts of pirates based in Jamaica. They could watch for Spanish galleons sailing between Spain and its colonies, Hispaniola and Cuba, before attacking them to plunder them and extort copious colonial spoils. But the English authorities kept a close eye on the situation. In 1720, the English army captured the pirate Jack Rackam, called Calico Jack because he had the habit of wearing Indian underwear, with his crew on the beach at Bloody Bay. The prisoners were transferred to Spanish Town for trial. It was during the trial that it was discovered that two of her acolytes were wearing petticoats. The two female pirates were identified, Anne Bonny and Mary Read, and executed with their captain.

The whalers also used to stop in the cove. After unloading their cargo of freshly caught whales, the sinister sailors would butcher their prey in peace. The blood regularly reddened the calm waters of the cove. It is from this practice that the bloody bay inherited its name, and not from a bloody fight between pirates and settlers as one might think! Today two large luxury resorts occupy the bay, the Riu Palace Tropical Bay and the Couples Negril.

Located at the northern tip of the main beach, Booby Cay is a modest islet of white sand dotted with rocks and covered with tropical vegetation. Its deserted beaches were chosen for the filming of the movie 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, based on the work of Jules Verne. The island takes its name from a bird, the Booby bird which, after spending a long year at sea, returns to nest in the islets near the coast. Its eggs, once considered a delicacy, are no longer available today. The Arawak, the first inhabitants of the island, bequeathed this gastronomic tradition to the local fishermen who slowly but conscientiously ensured the near disappearance of the bird. Today, the islet is an ideal destination for a day trip; picnic on the sandbank with grilled fish and lobster, which can be combined with snorkeling (fins, mask and snorkel provided) or diving, sailing trips... There is no lack of proposals to attract tourists. The price is negotiated for a round trip by boat to Booby Cay since the spot is not accessible by foot. All of them offer snorkeling above the coral reefs rich in multicolored fish. Contact the Glass Bottom boats lined up at the water's edge on 7 Mile Beach at least half a day in advance, and find out the departure times according to the tide. The boat is not private, so you will be with other tourists on board.

Of the old military fort built by the British and the port of Lucea that defended the cove and the north coast of Jamaica, only the traces of the walls marked by a few piles of stones and a cannon pointed towards the horizon remain. The fort was built in 1756 under the name of Lucea, before being renamed in 1778 after the wife of King George III of England, under whose reign it was built, Queen Charlotte. The fort was defended by 23 cannons, one of which is still pointing towards the horizon.

The garden is enchanting, haunted by a colony of birds and small animals, and criss-crossed where the flowers and tropical essences deploy generously.

The structure of the building, rebuilt and renovated in 1908, dates from the era of slavery without the accuracy of origin. The police station served as a prison for convicts throughout the region.

A family recreation park with relaxation areas and a bar-restaurant. Small boutiques with a naive style painted with bright blue and red offer handcrafted souvenirs and postcards. The excursion along the banks of the river and to the caves can be done with the help of a guide, and the proposals are affluent because there are even more guides than visitors.

12 km east of Montego Bay, take Greenwood Avenue, the road that climbs from Greenwood Plaza, turn left at Brooks Heights, then turn right at Belgrade Avenue. There you will find a large flowered driveway with all the shades of bougainvillea leading to the massive and perfectly maintained old mansion built in 1760 by Sir Richard Barrett. The solid stone structure contrasts with a warm wood-paneled interior. The period furnishings are a testament to the lifestyle of another century. One enters the house through a huge ballroom containing, among other marvels, ceramics and porcelain and a splendid collection of musical instruments in perfect working order, polyphonies, organs, piano (from the same craftsman who supplied Beethoven, John Broadwood). The two-level dining room overlooks the garden on one side and the sea on the other. The bedrooms on the second level have retained their original furniture. From the immense wooden gallery, the eye is lost on a sea with silver reflections.

Bibliophiles will be seduced by the first editions - including a Dickens - of the large library which contains more than 300 books. Throughout the rooms, portraits allow us to meet the members of this prestigious family. The visit ends with a well-deserved stop at the bar, set up in the former outdoor kitchens. In the heart of the beautifully flowered garden, a collection of carriages from the last century recalls a bygone era.

Belvedere Plantation is an interesting half-day tour of what was life in the plantations, just after emancipation. It is located inside the land in the direction of Mandeville (see between Montego Bay and Mandeville).

You can't miss the main square of Montego Bay's Downtown: Sam Sharpe Square, where two giant lighted screens have been installed and are easily recognizable behind a small fountain in a rotunda-shaped paved square. Here you will find the interesting Montego Bay Cultural Center, housed in a beautiful 19th century building, a permanent night and day entertainment, and one of the most famous relics of the island's slave era, The Cage. Originally built in 1806, its bell tower put in place in 1811, the first building was replaced in 1822 by the current building, a modest square red brick and mortar structure topped by a tiny brick-tiled belfry. Its size, small for a prison, indicates how symbolic its role was. Vagrants, unruly sailors, runaway slaves or those who had not left the city by 3pm to join their plantation as the ringing of a bell told them to, in short all undesirables spent the night in this miniature prison. There they waited for their fate to be determined, either to be sent back to the plantation for severe correction or to be transferred to a real prison. A striking and even terrifying place that says a lot about the treatment inflicted on slaves. Its colonial architecture with its small old bricks contrasts with the modernity of the colored concrete houses around. The former night prison now houses a very classic souvenir store.

It is the largest marine reserve in the Caribbean and the first national park established in Jamaica. Established in 1992, the marine reserve extends from Sangster Airport to the islet of Sea Winds, approximately 15 km2 which includes the sandy spit developed as a beach along the Hip Strip. It is established as a non-profit trust and NGO. Its purpose is to protect the environment and marine resources of Montego Bay, which is composed of three marine environments: mangroves, seaweeds and coral reefs. Each of these environments is home to numerous animal and plant species, whose survival maintains a fragile ecological balance. A guide of the rules to be respected by all, visitors as well as industrialists or fishermen, and of the severe sanctions corresponding to the infringements, has been published. It is available at the diving centers. The trust organizes cleaning operations on the coast (for example, 21,000 plastic bottles have been recycled since its creation!), as well as programs to raise awareness about nature protection among students and schoolchildren in Montego Bay. Among the warnings for tourists, let's remember a few. Do not touch the corals under any circumstances, the smallest contact can cause irreversible damage. Leave plants,shells and fish in the water, even if they are dead. Boycott black coral or turtle shell handicrafts (sea turtles are protected in Jamaica).

This spot has remained wild and preserves an intact biodiversity, a rare thing on this side of the Jamaican coast, which is overrun by huge tourist resorts . It is composed of a desolate landscape, a lagoon with brackish brown waters (the reason why it was not built), bristling with bare tree trunks. On arriving, a few photographs are necessary. Small stalls offer wooden objects and shells from the nearby reefs, truly local and sincere handicrafts, as well as freshly picked fruits to refresh under the sun.

In the heart of the inextricable Cockpit Country, known by Jamaican cavers, the Windsor caves are not very popular. It is not advisable to venture in alone, besides, near the caves, Jamaicans equipped with lamps and knowing the maze of galleries offer to guide you. Going deep into the earth, the caves, some of impressive dimensions, follow one another for more than a kilometer, inhabited by colonies of bats (more than 50 000!), in a labyrinth of stalagmites and stalactites.

Built in 1798, this austere building between neoclassical and neo-gothic testifies to the skill of Jamaican craftsmen of the 19th century. High ceilings and black and white marble floors characterize its interior design. It is the first Masonic temple on the island built by the Scottish lodge of Athol Union. From expansion to embellishment, it put the Scottish Lodge in such debt that it had to be sold. The Baptists bought it at auction in 1832 and occupied it until 1950. William Knibb College moved in in 1961 for 14 years.

The future museum should house the thousands of items recovered from Kingston Harbour.

This unofficial site is a tiny gaseous spring that escapes from the rock into a basin, before flowing directly into a river. The special feature? The gases make the water flammable on the surface, flooding the water with yellow flames all over the basin. The demonstration is operated by some rastas who squat the place, waiting for visitors. To negotiate the demonstration before any lighting of lighter. Coming from Ocho Rios, turn left 10 m before the sign "Welcome to Saint Ann's Bay" until you reach a small bridge, turn left.

The former Shaw Park hotel has moved far away from the sea to the taste of white sand lovers. From its first life, only its outbuildings remain its outbuildings, its magnificent 10 ha lush gardens on the sides of a gentle hill dominating Ocho Rios. Fougères, bromeliaceae, hibiscus, orchids, anthuriums… Praise for local flora is no longer to be done. The vegetation on the terraces that match the sides of the hill, poeny it and there by fountains. Visits are guided.

The management of the place has changed hands, and name. The Coyaba Garden has become Konoko Falls but the attractions offered on the site hardly change. The nature lovers will not miss to visit this nice botanical garden located on the heights of Ocho Rios. It is planted with a dense but well-tamed tropical vegetation, wet with a natural fresh water spring that supplies most of the city of Ocho Rios with drinking water, embellished with a small waterfall, ponds inhabited by carp, crayfish or mullets... It offers a pleasant and relaxing walk, especially during the hot weather. Go up the falls with your guide before taking a refreshing bath in the natural pool Maja. Don't miss a stop at the mini-zoo to discover some of the local wildlife.

Museum. In a large colonial style house, the museum traces the eventful history of the island, from the dawn of the pre-Columbian Arawak civilization to the post-emancipation period, passing through the glorious hours of piracy and the darker hours of the slaves' struggle for freedom. We have not forgotten to celebrate the great Jamaican figures from the region, and Bob Marley shares a small space with Marcus Garvey. The bar, a refreshing stop, offers natural fruit juices and coffee from the Blue Mountains. A good cultural and historical stop in the middle of this green earth Eden.

The factory may not look like much, but this is where one of the world's finest coffees, Blue Mountains Coffee, is made from beans picked one by one according to strict rules in the high Jamaican mountains in the center of the island. The roasting days are the most interesting, as you can see the entire process of coffee making. A modest sales stand offers Blue Mountains coffee at a much better price than the supermarkets, a good deal. We recommend that you call ahead to let us know you're coming, thus avoiding the end-of-month inventory closures. Founded in Kingston on September 17, 1942 by Leslie Minott, the company began by exporting Jamaican spices to Great Britain and the United States. During the war years, exports were suspended and the company turned to bottling syrup. In 1943, the founder decided to settle in Mandeville and started the production of pimento oil, which he would export to Europe and its perfume industries. Coffee production did not start until 1952, when international prices boomed. Jamaican Standard Products is now the country's largest coffee producer with 45% of the production exported. At the height of the season, during the harvest period, the company employs some 450 people.

A visit for those who love to get lost. Ann M. Haynes-Sutton Ph.D., owner, manager of Marshall's Pen and environmentalist, will welcome you. It's true that Marshall's Pen is hard to find, but if you ask for "Old Mr. Sutton's house", you'll quickly realize that everyone here knows it and you'll end up at the stone columns that mark the limits of the property, which is 5 km from downtown Mandeville. Once the land of the Count of Balcarres, governor of the island from 1795 to 1801, the farm covered more than 1,600 hectares but has since been reduced to less than 10% of its surface. The old plantation only produces coffee for its own consumption. The remaining 120 hectares are now used to raise some 200 head of cattle. The owner's son, Robert Sutton, a renowned ornithologist and co-author of a guide to the birds of Jamaica, Birds of Jamaica. A Photographic Field Guide, has also turned it into a nature preserve. Birdwatchers, scientists and photographers of all kinds are very welcome and privileged to benefit from on-site accommodation and excursions in search of the rare bird. Indeed, more than a hundred species of birds have been listed in this family reserve, including 23 of the 25 endemic species of the island. Lovers of beautiful houses will admire this sumptuous colonial residence, with its English country flavors.

The Soroptimist Women's Auxiliary is a craft center founded by the lady patrons of St. Mark's Church, has an eloquent motto: God gives the birds their food, but they must fly to get it. Its aim is to provide training and short-term employment for young women in need. The workshop's gift shop offers handicrafts, baked goods, needlework and crochet. The workshop's most famous creation is Jah Clarence, a Rasta rag doll, and his wife Queen Clarice.

A nice garden is reached before reaching the heavy wooden gate of this church built in 1820. Outside is the cemetery in Mandeville, where the graves of the distinguished citizens of the past centuries contradict those of English soldiers who have not escaped a severe outbreak of yellow fever. On Sunday, the church receives the faithful in great dress, lace robes or fly and enrubannés hats for the ladies, strict black costumes and ties for the gentlemen. Religious songs resonate well beyond the church.

The prison has been in operation since 1714. As a result, we will only see the forum.

Old King's House houses the Museum of Crafts and Technology in what was once stables. Tools dating back to another century evoke old trades. The Georgian style building, built in 1762, is the governor's former residence. Only its facade of red bricks was saved during the fire that destroyed it in 1925, and since its marches, on August 1, 1838, the slave emancipation declaration was pronounced.