The most beautiful natural sites to discover Jamaica

A postcard beach, protected by the National Marine Park, whose history dates back to 1906 when Dr. Alexander McCatty donated his seaside property to the city of Montego Bay. The cave that owes its name to him was destroyed by a cyclone in 1932. It is so enclosed between the hotels that you can't see it before entering! In addition to the white sand, the turquoise sea lined with palm trees, there are bars and restaurants, toilets, deckchairs, umbrellas, etc.

The famous Jamaican rafting trip - actually a bamboo raft ride - is a classic of Jamaican culture that we recommend you do here if you are in Montego Bay. A magical cruise on the Great River awaits you. Sometimes smooth like a lake, sometimes bubbling, it is a fascinating translucent emerald green color. The environment is magnificent and the jungle is discovered in all its beauty. The descent of the Great River is managed here by Chukka Mountain Valley Rafting, but independent captains propose better prices as soon as you arrive on the spot (we can negotiate but know that the work is hard). We are enchanted by the decoration of the rafts, very long and stretched on nearly 9 meters, equipped with a super comfortable double bench and decorated with palms and fresh flowers. During the descent, we are accompanied by the singing birds, the gurgling of the river, and the reggae - always - pulsated by his raft and other rafts crossed on the road (which sell beers, rum...). The local guides are super relaxed and good vibes and are inexhaustible about their forest. The atmosphere is very authentic, especially on weekends, when groups of friends come to bask in this river that forms natural bubbling baths. The must - included in the price - is the "limo on the river", a relaxing foot and leg massage with "limestone", a clay-like limestone.

This natural phenomenon resulted in an amusement park style sound and light show, with an on-site restaurant open for dinner. It is the meeting of the fresh, cool water of the Martha Brae River with the warm, salty water of the Caribbean Sea that has given rise to microorganisms called "bioflagellates", an extremely rare phenomenon that has only been observed in 5 other places on the globe. These tiny organisms create a bioluminescence that translates, in simple terms, into bluish glows triggered by any movement. Thus, from the boat launched in the night, we can see beams moving at the bottom of the water: fish. We are surprised to see the boat's wake take on incredible fluorescent hues. A highlight: volunteers can immerse themselves in these sparkling waters to see the contours of their bodies light up as they swim, a truly magical moment to experience at least once in a lifetime. The guided tour also includes a historical review of the town of Falmouth and the lagoon. A lagoon that, just before the arrival of violent cyclones, sees many boats come to anchor there. The reason is that the" luminous lagoon ", protected by a compact mangrove, is the safest cove of the whole north coast when strong winds blow and the sea gets rough, it remains sheltered. We recommend the Falmouth Mystic package which, in addition to the luminous lagoon, offers you a drink and a show of traditional Jamaican dances.

A heavenly place with waterfalls and 3 pools of natural mineral water, located on one of the oldest plantations of the island. To reach the waterfalls, one crosses the property by tractor with trailer along the river in a thick vegetation (count 20 minutes). A short walk leads to the main waterfall. Natural pools invite you to swim. A zipline offered here by Chukka is a must do here. A tree climbing course in the canopy is possible for the family as an option. Restaurants on the spot.

This is Montego Bay's new free public beach, which opened in late 2021. A success that we recommend to you. First of all, the beach is beautiful, with its white sand, its deckchairs and its very calm azure water (supervised swimming). As it is free, students come to relax on the lawn under the palm trees in the shade. There are games for children, jerk chicken, fried chicken and burger stands, drinks, and brand new, well-maintained sanitary facilities. The entrance is secure, the family atmosphere friendly and calm.

If there's one tourist attraction in Jamaica that you shouldn't miss, it's Dunn's River Falls! You'll hear about it long before you enter the Ocho Rios area and you'll see it on every tourist brochure and postcard. No matter what you do, you can't escape it, it would be a crime of lèse-Jamaïque, so you might as well make up your mind, you must visit Dunn's River Falls.

As soon as you arrive, even before entering the property, the tone is set: signposting, huge parking lots for buses, welcome banners in all languages, multiple ticket booths, queues, turnstiles, swarms of tourists crowded around the banners of the guides, rubber sandal rental stands that prove to be very useful for climbing in the bed of the waterfalls, concrete tracks and stairs... It is a real amusement park, don't expect wild falls. As for the natural charm of the landscape, it is better to forget it, but it is still beautiful and pleasant to bask in it.

Visit. The concrete path winds along the tumultuous falls that drop some 180 meters to the sea where the river ends its course. The impressive falls are set in a lush green setting, alternating turbulent cascades and natural pools. However, some passages seem to have been tamed and consolidated by the hand of man. The principle of the attraction consists in integrating yourself in a quasi-permanent human chain and to go up the falls laboriously, in line, hand in hand in the middle of the tumultuous waves, with organized photo stops. The ascent lasts about 30 minutes, but the effort is not negligible. The help of a guide is advised because some passages are quite perilous and the current is very strong in some places. The pictures of the soaked tourists taken by photographers will be proposed on the way out. The less adventurous will be able to choose the dry and emotionless option, that is to say to go down and go up along the waterfalls by the stairs. At the bottom of the falls, the beach is pleasant and deserves a swim stop. The exit of the site will be done, without possible detour, by the immense market of craft industry, obviously very expensive, where the salesmen spend their day sitting in front of their stand to call the tourists.

On the spot. A bar-restaurant and its few shaded tables serves simple dishes directly on the sand. There is now a picnic area, a children's playground and a pizza kiosk within the park.

Tips. Because of the crowds, it is better to go on a weekday morning than on a Sunday afternoon. Avoid cruise ship days, and arrive early in the morning for a more intimate time with Mother Nature. Don't forget to bring: bathing suits and towels, sunscreen, tennis shoes or water shoes, waterproof phone bag and a change of clothes.

Tip: Little Dunn's River will be your free stop of wonder! The Dunn's River falls end in the sea, and it's really worth the trip. Hot and cold currents and natural massages under the waterfalls will complete your freshness break. A small beach very appreciated by the locals since they have free access to it.

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.

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.