Best Beaches in Jamaica

The beaches in Jamaica need no introduction. The beautiful island nation is the leading beach destination in the world, an award that was conferred on Montego Bay, Jamaica’s second largest town, in the recently concluded World Travel Awards ceremony held in London on 7 November. Given that these awards are seen as the ‘Oscars of the travel industry’ the recognition goes a long way in substantiating the island’s image as a favourite destination for a tropical escape under the Caribbean sun.

If you are planning a beach holiday with your family or friends, you can literally have a pristine, white sand right at your step by staying in rentals in Jamaica that encompass their own stretch of private beach. Away from the crowds, you can swim, snorkel, play volleyball, make sand castles and enjoy beautiful long walks under the starlit sky.

Outside the beaches of your own Jamaica rental, you can explore the miles of inviting beaches, some secluded, some buzzing with social activity and at all time alive to the sounds of reggae music floating through the breeze. Whether you are on a honeymoon or on a family vacation, you’ll find a beach that is just perfect for you.

Jamaica’s beaches are as beautiful as they are plentiful. However, there are some that really stand out and these are listed below.

Seven Miles Beach: Located in Negril, this beautiful beach has been consistently voted as amongst the best in the world. The water here is crystal clear and so calm that on most days you can wade out close to half a mile. It is also perfect for water activities such as scuba diving and snorkelling. Some stretches are secluded while others buzz with activity. There are also some clothing-optional stretches along the beach.

Doctor’s Cove Beach: This is one of the best beaches in Montego Bay and is appropriately named. It was founded in 1906 by a group of doctors who came to swim there. The crystal clear water here is fed by mineral springs, so it's usually a comfortable temperature. The water is also known for its healing properties. The beach is popular with both tourists and locals and there are many places to grab a Jamaican pattie and cold Red Stripe for lunch.

Boston Bay Beach: Located just outside Port Antonio, one of Jamaica’s best kept secrets, this small beach is much sought out by the locals and tourists. It is also from this beach that jerked meat, Jamaica’s most famous fast food, got its well-deserved fame. The beach was owned by "Happy Hooker" author Roger Moore, who later donated it to the Jamaican government.

Blue Lagoon Beach: Again in Port Antonio, this is the beach where Brook Shields starred in the movie "Blue Lagoon." The beach is beautiful and generally secluded. Given its depth, the colour of the water here is deep blue.

Places to visit in Jamaica

Jamaica as a tourist destination has lots to offer. The island is relatively small and so going from one place to another doesn’t take time. However, most attractions are concentrated on the north coast of the island and so if you want to set base here you can choose among a wide range of Jamaica rentals comprising private villas and cottages facing the sea or located in town centers within walking distance of attractions, restaurants, bars and shops. Here are some places that are definitely worth a visit.

Ocho Rios: Fondly referred to as Ochee by the locals, this is Jamaica’s most famous tourist town located in the beautiful green parish of St. Ann. In fact the parish is known for its beautiful gardens.

Ocho Rios is famous for Jamaica’s signature attraction, the Dunn’s River Falls. While the waterfalls are beautiful what is more interesting is the fact that you can actually climb up the slippery limestone rocks over which the water cascades on its way to the Caribbean Sea. There is the Dolphins cove nearby where you can spend an entire fun-filled day swimming with the dolphins, exploring rainforest trails and enjoying a picnic on the beach. You can also visit the nearby Green Grotto caves that once served as home to the original inhabitants of the island and later to the runaway slaves, pirates etc.

Montego Bay: The second largest town on the island, after Kingston, is home to five challenging golf courses. It is also the ultimate party destination boasting the famous ‘Hip Strip’ where you can shop, eat and party at the numerous bars and nightclubs.

Negril: This laid back sleepy town is world renowned for its beaches, most notably the Seven Miles Beach has been voted as one of the best consistently. The sunsets here are equally spectacular.

Kingston: The capital, cultural and commercial hub of the island has lots to offer in terms of museums, galleries and a thriving music scene. Fans of Bob Marley can visit the interactive Bob Marley museum and gain an insight into the legend’s life and works.

Port Antonio: Considered to be Jamaica’s best kept secret, Port Antonio has attracted the rich, the famous and the celebrities from across all walks of life. You can hike up the misty Blue Mountains and explore the awe-inspiring trails around the Rio Grande Valley.

There is much more on offer on the island than these places. Stay in Jamaica rentals which are staffed by the locals and they will provide you insider’s tips of what to see and do both in terms of seeing the main attractions as also going off the beaten path.

Jamaica offers better infrastructure to its visitors during the high season

The high season in Jamaica will jump start on 16th December and both the government and private players are leaving no stone unturned to provide a memorable experience to the visitors. Jamaican rental communities are offering great services and rates to attract visitors and ensuring they have a great stay.

Tourism is the leading industry of this beautiful Caribbean nation and the government has taken great efforts to promote it as an attractive and affordable destination. In fact, the Jamaica Tourism Board (JTB) became the first ever board to showcase its country using 3D technology. The 3D film, first premiered at the World Travel Market at London aroused great curiosity and interest in Jamaica. In fact, the island walked away with seven awards during the World Travel Awards ceremony including the leading destination in the Caribbean award and the world’s leading beach destination award. So those looking for sun, sand and the sea can head to Montego Bay, the town that ensured Jamaica’s win in this category. Apart from the beaches, Montego Bay is also a haven for the golf enthusiasts boasting not less than four world-class championship courses.

The development of the new pier in Falmouth which will begin to welcome ships in January next year is also expected to give a huge boost to the economy. Jamaican rentals like Silver Sands Villas in Jamaica are upbeat about the increase in business opportunities this will bring to them.

The new Ian Fleming airport will soon begin operation. The country is also opening a new casino and is investing in the gaming industry to target the emerging markets in Asia.

Silver Sands Villas Jamaica is going the extra mile to ensure that the guests have a comfortable stay. The company is well aware that the guests with children are worried about the safety of their children while traveling in vehicles and so is offering free car seats to children traveling in its transport facilities.

Jamaica hot spots

Visitors to Jamaica who want to gain a first hand perspective of the place can be among the residents and enjoy the taste and feel of a true Jamaican lifestyle by staying in a ‘home’ instead of a hotel. The ‘homes’ refer to Jamaica villas, cottages, condos or apartments that you can rent for the duration of your stay. Known by various names such as Jamaica accommodation rentals or Jamaica villas, these homes are clean, well staffed and located in garden settings with beautiful views of the beautiful Caribbean Sea. Service of these Jamaica villas is excellent and the price quite reasonable. Here you can be a part of the local community and contribute to community.

Places of interest

Offering miles of beaches along the Caribbean Sea, Jamaica is a perfect holiday destination for singles, honeymooners and families. Some of the most popular areas for vacationers include Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril. Then there are other areas of cultural interest such as Port Antonio, the South Coast and Kingston.


Accommodation options
There are numerous hotels, vacation homes, villas, cottages and all-inclusive resorts catering to all tastes and budgets. By far, the most popular option is Jamaica villas that provide the best of services and hospitality at the most affordable rates.

Attractions
There is no death of attractions in Jamaica. You can visit, amongst others, Dunn's River Falls and the Green Grotto Caves in Ocho Rios. Then you can go trekking up the majestic Blue Mountains. Besides, there are historic plantations, museums, and parks you can explore and cultural events that you can enjoy.

Activities
Most activities in Jamaica center around water including swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing and boating. From the famous Blue Lagoon to Seven Mile Beach in Negril to the Luminous Lagoon, you will be spoilt for choice.

The high season in Jamaica is fast approaching and so if you are planning a visit to the island, do make sure to book your Jamaican rental well on time to get the best deals and avoid disappointment.

Things to do in Jamaica: Visit Dolphin Cove

If you are planning a family trip to Jamaica, you can include a visit to the Dolphins Cove in Ocho Rios. To deviate a bit from the topic, you can stay in Jamaica rentals that cater especially to families, couples and large groups and offer a personalized experience and value for money than hotels and all-inclusive resorts.

Coming back to the Dolphins Cove. It is a perfect venue for a family trip. You can inform the staff of the Jamaica villas and they will arrange transport to the marine park. The park is an idyllic tropical retreat set against the backdrop of Jamaica’s picturesque North Coast. It is surrounded by 5 acres of lush tropical rain forest encompassing a natural cove.

The park promises you an experience of a lifetime—you can swim with the dolphins, and if you are adventurous enough, swim with the sharks also. Besides, you can also go kayaking in a glass-bottom boat on the Caribbean Sea and even captain your own mini-boat. Spend some interesting time interacting with stingrays (barbs clipped) and if you are tired, relax on the pearly white beach.

The park offers something for everyone. The entrance fee allows the visitors to enjoy the following activities as often as they wish: Captain their own mini-boat, explore the coast, interact with the stingays, enjoy a glass-bottom kayak ride and explore the under water world, appreciate a hilarious shark show and interact with the exotic birds, iguanas, birds and snakes on the jungle trail.

And then there are other activities, the most fascinating being swimming with the dolphins. The trainers will give you a basic lesson on how to deal with the dolphins and what you can expect. Once you are in the water, two bottleneck dolphins will join you. Once you start floating, they’ll push you forward with their fins. The dolphins are trained to obey their trainer’s whistle and once he blows it, they’ll immediately leave you fending for yourself!

For the adventurous, there is a swim with the sharks. You can head to the shark enclosure and sit holding a trained nurse shark on your lap and also swim with them, hold and feed them and learn about their evolutionary secrets.

Once you are done with the activities or want a break, you can relax on the glistening white sandy beaches, enjoying a picnic or simply appreciating the tropical surroundings. You can also shop here for the famous Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee and other souvenirs such as jewellery and wood carvings. And finally, don’t forget to enjoy the Shark Show while the one-legged pirates roam freely along the boardwalk of “Little Port Royal” and perform a “jig or two”.

And if all this activity leaves you happy but tired, head to your Jamaica villas to relax, relieve the moments, and be pampered to the choicest of dishes prepared by the cook.

Health and wellness tourism in Jamaica

Jamaica’s natural bounty and year round warm, tropical weather is largely responsible for its growing reputation as an important health and wellness destination. Catering to the increase in demand for wellness services, Jamaican rentals are now offering their guests personalized spa services to their guests in the privacy of their own accommodations.

Indeed, the island has witnessed an increase in the number of spas across the country, and more specifically in towns of high tourist interest. And as already stated above, the people can also enjoy these services in the comfort of their own private Jamaica rentals.

A recent research by the American Academy of Family Physicians has highlighted the fact that 60% of all problems brought to the physicians are related to stress. It has also reported that US corporations lose approximately $150 billion each year to stress-related disorders. It is little wonder then that these corporations are now offering spa experiences to the employees to mix business with pleasure such as to provide healing experiences as also a platform to motivate and build relationships.

Jamaica has emerged as a leading health and wellness destination given its proximity to the USA, the affordability of its high quality services and the healing environment provided by the sun, sand and the sea.

Sensing business opportunities, Jamaica’s investment and export promotion agency, JAMPRO, has secured technical assistance from the Commonwealth Secretariat to undertake the development of a road map for the growth of health and wellness tourism in Jamaica to facilitate the country's foray into the multi-billion dollar global medical tourism industry.

Jamaican rentals like Silver Sands Villas are upbeat about the increased in business opportunities this has opened up and are already providing spa services to their guests at affordable costs.

Cruise destinations Jamaica: Ocho Rios and Falmouth

Ocho Rios is the cruise capital of Jamaica. However the development of the new pier in Falmouth which will become operational in January will mean that the town too will get its fair share of limelight. Vacation rental communities such as Silver Sands Villas Jamaica are sure to benefit from the influx of tourists when the new pier opens.

Both Ocho Rios and Falmouth have much to offer to the visitors. Let us first start with Ocho Rios.

There are many interesting attractions that will keep you occupied all day long in Ocho Rios, however, if you were to start at one place, the ideal spot would be Dunn’s River Falls. It is a magnificent series of falls that cascade from a height of 600feet and trickle down slippery steps to finally join the vast expanse of the blue sea. You can even climb up the steps and reach the top of the waterfalls, and then from there, proceed to the vibrant and a colorful local market.

If you are traveling with your kids, you must take them to Dolphin’s Cove. Here your kids and you can enjoy watching the adorable antics of the dolphins and even swim with them.

However, this is just the beginning of your exciting adventure in Ocho Rios since there is much more that this beautiful paradise offers. A visit to the Coyaba River Garden and Museum will give you the opportunity to enjoy a colorful display of a species of different flowers and plants. Among the many beautiful varieties, one, which is worth marveling at, is the multi-colored New Guinea impatiens, also known as Busy Lizzie.

Ocho Rios is also famed worldwide because it is known to be the home of the legendary writer Ian Fleming, who made this place his base for penning down the famous James Bond novels. You can visit his hilltop home Goldeneye and also enjoy live music performances in the evening at the popular James Bond Beach.

Falmouth, the beautiful town of the Georgian era also has much to offer. There are many historical buildings in Falmouth that are remnants of the colonial era. One such building is the old courthouse which was built in 1815. The church reflects a Georgian design complete with well proportioned vertical and horizontal grads crossing the building as also fanlights, shingled walls and jalousies. It was damaged by a fire in 1926 but was later rebuilt.

Stroll through the lively old town where you can appreciate the 18th century architecture. You can bask in the old-world charm and talk to the locals to gain an insight into its background and culture.

Jamaica is well known for its plantations and great estates one of which is the Good Hope Plantation spread across 2000 acres. This coconut and cattle plantation is best explored on horseback. The history of the plantation dates back to the 18th century. One of ht greatest attractions here is the 18th century Great House named Good Hope set against the dramatic blue–gray mountains. It is renowned for its exquisite gardens and country trails. The road up from Falmouth winds its way by 200–year–old stone fences past fields and orchards, cattle and horses, a living testimony to an era of grace and gentility.

You can also visit the Luminous Lagoon at Glistening Waters. The lagoon gets its name from the bio–luminescent micro–organisms that inhabit the waters and emit a phosphorescent light when the water is agitated. The best time to visit the lagoon is at dusk and enjoy a boat ride. If you take along a stick, you can disturb the waters and see the phenomenon. If you wish, you can also swim in the luminous waters.

Falmouth is located on the north coast of the island and at a convenient distance for day trips from Silver Sands Jamaica.