This offshore island lies south of the mainland and is a popular spot with the local yachtsmen. With its beautiful white sand beach and crystal clear waters, it has also become a popular destination for group outings. Whether you're skinny-dipping, swimming or just lazing on the beach, a day spent on the cay is guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience.
Jamaica's longest mountain range ascends high above lush plantain groves and the four parishes that skirt its foothills – Portland, St. Thomas, St. Mary and St. Andrew. The summit of Blue Mountain Peak forms the topmost crest of the titular mountain range, towering at an altitude of 2256 meters (7402 feet) above the range's smaller peaks. Thick swirls of clouds descend to meet the mountains from their heavenly realm, shrouding the mountain range in a blue color gradient that lends it its poetic title. The mountains represent one of the oldest features of the Jamaican landscape, having risen from the folds of the earth somewhere during the Cretaceous Period nearly 65 million years ago. Today, its verdant slopes are home to the world's second-largest butterfly and a wealth of endemic flora that carpets its sides in cheerful bloom. The mountains also contribute a great deal to Jamaica's famous coffee economy. The widely marketed Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is cultivated on the mountain's middle reaches, while its topmost reaches are cloaked in overgrown woodlands.
Emancipation Park is characterized by well-paved pathways, tropical plants and flower beds. Walkers and joggers head here in the morning to exercise on the jogging tracks, while the dewy green lawns sparkle under the glow of golden incandescent lights at night. This park was built as a symbol of liberation and its highlight is the large, albeit controversial, sculpture Redemption Song at the park entrance. This 3.35-meter (11-foot) sculpture has two statues made of bronze. They represent a nude female and a nude male figure looking up at the sky in hope of emancipation. The park is a popular venue for concerts, performances, exhibitions and other large-scale events.
This park is dedicated to the memory of Jamaica's national heroes. It is the final resting place of those most prominent Jamaicans who have made significant contributions to the country's development. Royalty, national and international leaders often visit to lay wreaths at the tombs. The accompanying expanse of open space, interrupted only by plants and flowers, is a relaxing interlude in a city that is fast becoming a concrete jungle. There is always an honor guard of the Jamaica Defense Force in the park.
This is an ideal getaway for a memorable picnic in paradise. The breath-taking waterfall is hidden in the rainforest, where the Daniels River plunges down a narrow gorge. Here, you can settle in for a lovely day of sunning, relaxing and bathing in picture-perfect deep rock pools. Choose a spot on the upper level of the river for the best view of the falls. Somerset Falls is past Hope Bay on the A4, about 10 miles west of Port Antonio on Jamaica's north coast.
Come by to have some peace of mind and spend some quality time with your friends and family. A walk across the well-manicured lawns reveals elegant and majestic indigenous and non-indigenous plants and flowers. It is a popular destination for school excursions, picnics and field trips. It also houses a small zoo, with exotic birds and other wildlife representative of the fauna native to the Caribbean and Latin America. Some work projects are being undertaken currently to further enhance the park's beauty. In March, the gardens host the annual Jamaica Orchid Society Show.
The beautiful Rio Grande River passes through the heart of Jamaica and is one of the major attractions of Jamaica. The water in the majestic river comes from the torrential rains which flow down from the Blue Mountains valley. The river is a popular spot for bamboo rafting. Various tour operators provide two-hour rafting tours through which you can enjoy the natural beauty of the area. If you are lucky, you will be able to see locals spear-fishing.
This offshore island lies south of the mainland and is a popular spot with the local yachtsmen. With its beautiful white sand beach and crystal clear waters, it has also become a popular destination for group outings. Whether you're skinny-dipping, swimming or just lazing on the beach, a day spent on the cay is guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience.
Castleton Gardens is located only 20 minutes from Kingston and is anchored on a landscape dominated by ravines and tall mountain ranges. This lush, unbelievably beautiful garden is located on 15 acres and is bordered by the main road on one side and a river on the other. The flora includes the most exotic, often indigenous ferns and majestic palms. Annual rainfall here is 45 inches! The picnic areas are sheltered by some of the island's most elegant trees. This is truly a nature-lover's paradise.
Jamaica's longest mountain range ascends high above lush plantain groves and the four parishes that skirt its foothills – Portland, St. Thomas, St. Mary and St. Andrew. The summit of Blue Mountain Peak forms the topmost crest of the titular mountain range, towering at an altitude of 2256 meters (7402 feet) above the range's smaller peaks. Thick swirls of clouds descend to meet the mountains from their heavenly realm, shrouding the mountain range in a blue color gradient that lends it its poetic title. The mountains represent one of the oldest features of the Jamaican landscape, having risen from the folds of the earth somewhere during the Cretaceous Period nearly 65 million years ago. Today, its verdant slopes are home to the world's second-largest butterfly and a wealth of endemic flora that carpets its sides in cheerful bloom. The mountains also contribute a great deal to Jamaica's famous coffee economy. The widely marketed Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is cultivated on the mountain's middle reaches, while its topmost reaches are cloaked in overgrown woodlands.
Holywell National Park is an extensive area that occupies over almost 300 acres (120 hectares) of lush woodland and forest. It is an ideal place for nature lovers, boasting a wide variety of bird species. The hiking trails meander through the jungle-like grounds giving way to well-needed rest areas with picnic and play areas. Many tourists go in search of the Blue Mountain coffee plants that are grown in this fertile paradise.
Emancipation Park is characterized by well-paved pathways, tropical plants and flower beds. Walkers and joggers head here in the morning to exercise on the jogging tracks, while the dewy green lawns sparkle under the glow of golden incandescent lights at night. This park was built as a symbol of liberation and its highlight is the large, albeit controversial, sculpture Redemption Song at the park entrance. This 3.35-meter (11-foot) sculpture has two statues made of bronze. They represent a nude female and a nude male figure looking up at the sky in hope of emancipation. The park is a popular venue for concerts, performances, exhibitions and other large-scale events.