100 reasons to visit Jamaica

You may be wondering why Jamaica is the preferred vacation destination for many people across the globe.

Simply put, the island is home to the best of the best - natural attractions, cultural festivals, beaches, food, and the warmest, most fun-loving people you'll find on the planet.

If you've visited Jamaica before, you know exactly what we're talking about.

And if you haven't, what are you doing?? Your Jamaica experience is long overdue.

If you're still not entirely convinced, here are 100 reasons to visit Jamaica. (But the truth is, eve just one of these is enough to make the trip to the ‘Jewel of the Caribbean’ a bucket list item.)

100 reasons to visit Jamaica

Start planning what to do first!

1. The Jamaican people

2. The beaches: There's nothing better than laying on or strolling along the white sand beaches, rocky beaches, or the black sand beaches

3. Swimming in the crystal clear sea

4. Jamaican dark rum

5. The lush, untouched vegetation of Portland

6. A visit to the Bob Marley Museum

7. All the colors of the Caribbean Sea as it changes from one end of the island to the other

8. Being in the birthplace of Reggae music

9. A chance to spot Usain Bolt

10. Attending Boys & Girls Track & Field Championships (locally referred to as ‘Champs’) to spot the sports superstars of tomorrow

11. Amazing luxury villas and 5-star hotels … and 4-star … and 3-star …

12. Tiny Whistling Frogs

13. Tasting sky juice or bag juice (shaved ice and colored syrup)

14. Trying the jerk pork and roast breadfruit at Boston Bay… in fact jerk chicken, sausage, fish…

15. Bird watching: Jamaica offers up an incredible range of species

16. Rafting down the Rio Grande or Martha Brae on a 30 ft. long bamboo raft, and then trying to steer it yourself

17. Jumping off the cliff at Rick’s Café in Negril

18. Chilly evenings in the Blue Mountains curled up by the fire

19. Swimming in the Blue Lagoon, Portland

20. Being where dancehall music originated

21. Exploring island history at one of the 18 former forts on the Jamaica National Heritage Trust list, including Rockfort, which all visitors arriving via Kingston’s airport can spot on their way into the city

22. Distinctive boutique and designer hotels

23. A day at the Blue Hole Mineral Spring in Westmoreland, or Blue Hole at “Irie Falls” in St. Ann

24. Partying through the Carnival season

25. Strapping on a life vest and bonding with strangers on a Sunday as you all climb into a large fishing canoe and head out to sea from Port Royal to the impossibly beautiful little island of Lime Cay

26. Stepping back in time while touring perfectly-preserved Great Houses from colonial days

27. Scuba diving and snorkeling to discover a whole other world of tropical splendor below the surface

28. Goldeneye, former home of author Ian Fleming, where he penned all of his James Bond novels, and now owned by Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records and the man known for introducing Bob Marley and reggae to the world

29. Several James Bond film locations, including the famous scene with Ursula Andress and the white bikini

30. Half a Bombay Mango with a scoop of Devon House ice cream in the middle for dessert

31. Off the beaten-path waterfalls: Mayfield Falls, Cane River Falls, Reggae Falls, Tacky Falls and so many more

32. Standing for the national anthem at the cinema and the theatre before the show

33. A day at a vegetable and fruit market

34. Banana chips (join locals in sharing the news if you spot the elusive Chippies brand)

35. EITS Cafe, high in the hills above Kingston

36. Kayaking or riding a wave runner out to sea, stopping and looking down through the clear water to the sand 30 meters below the surface and possibly spotting a five-foot-long sting ray

37. Joining the locals for the Sunday night lineup at KFC (Hint: try the BBQ)

38. Snacking on Solomon Gundy and Excelsior water crackers

39. Reach Falls, internationally famous for the waterfall love scene from the movie Cocktail

40. Haggling with a vendor at a craft market for the perfect souvenir

41. Discovering ‘peenie wallies’, ‘battyriders’, ‘fudgie’ and ‘nutty buddy’

42. The national parks and gardens, especially picnics on Sundays in Hope Gardens while the steel pan or military band plays

43. Breakfast of ackee & saltfish, johnny cakes, and boiled green bananas

44. Playing golf at one of several Championship golf courses across the island

45. Taking the plunge in one of the many ice-cold rivers of the ‘land of wood and water'

46. Streetside ‘drum’ or ‘pan chicken’

47. Scotch Bonnet Peppers

48. The legend of Annie Palmer, White Witch of Rose Hall Great House

49. Doctor Birds (long-tailed hummingbirds)

50. Driving the three miles of the winding road through Fern Gully, laid along the exact route of a former riverbed and home to an enormous variety of ferns (it is said over 300) and other flora. (Stop off and take a pic with one of the wooden carvings of “exaggerated males” for a small fee at one of the craft stalls along the route.)

51. Saying ‘I Do’ in paradise

52. A visit to Trench Town Culture Yard, the former home of Bob Marley, and to learn the history of the Government yards in Jamaica

53. Jamaican sweet treats: Gizzada, grater cake, plantain tarts, coconut drops, ‘Blue Drawers’, tamarind balls, sweet potato pudding, Easter bun, and Christmas pudding

54. Explore amazing caves: Green Grotto, Nonsuch Caves, Two Sisters Caves, and more

55. Partying with locals and people from all around the Caribbean on the mound and in the stands at a cricket match at Sabina Park

56. Everything on the menu of the Jamaican fast food chain, Island Grill

57. Irie FM, the all-reggae radio station

58. Standing at the top of Blue Mountain Peak at dawn

59. Trekking into Cockpit Country

60. Sleeping policemen (ask and all shall be revealed)

61. Discovering your ‘foot bottom’, ‘head top’, ‘neck back’ & ‘hand miggle’

62. Rum bars – drinking white rum while learning how to play dominoes or ludo

63. Driving through the Gorge along the river and across the famous Flat Bridge

64. Ginger tea, rum and ginger, ginger beer, and traditional Christmas sorrel laced with ginger (Jamaicans love their ginger)

65. Passengers in an airplane cabin applauding a safe landing

66. Drinking an ice-cold Red Stripe

67. Sunday evenings up at Dub Club in Kingston, listening to music and seeing the lights of the city below

68. Discover a mento band, preferably one playing on the beach so you can start dancing right there

69. ‘One Stop’ shops where you can buy anything

70. Port Royal, once the ‘wickedest city in the world’, home to pirates and buccaneers

71. An outing to YS Falls, and ziplining along its length

72. Attending the Accompong Maroon Festival and witnessing the emergence of the new Young Warriors

73. Crocodile and wildlife spotting on the Black River Safari

74. Watching the sunset in Negril

75. Lunching on fried escoveitch fish with bammy or festival out at Hellshire or Fort Clarence beaches

76. Enjoying a nice cup of fresh Blue Mountain coffee at Gap Café in Irish Town

77. Vibing 'til dawn at a concert with locals – Sumfest, Rebel Salute, Major Lazer & Friends, Rock Steady & Ska Music Festival

78. Riding bareback on a horse in the Caribbean Sea

79. Drinking freshly chopped cold coconut water and then eating the jelly by the roadside

80. Trying Jamaican fruits: Star apple, Otaheite apple, almond, blim blim, jackfruit, duppy soursop, hog apple, jimbilin, iney guinep, kamranga, june plum, naseberry, pomegranate (panganot), passion fruit, ortanique, a variety of mangoes, several types of pineapple, bumpy and honey banana, pear, rambutan, stinkin toe and so much more…

81. Driving through Holland Bamboo Avenue

82. Trying every type of Patty: Beef, chicken, shrimp, lobster, callaloo, and more, from every brand -Tastee, Juici Beef, Mother’s, Brick House, Devon House Bakery … (it could take some dedication)

83. A visit to the indigenous Rasta Village

84. Becoming a Jamaican bobsledder, sort of... by jumping on the bobsled ride at Mystic Mountain in Ocho Rios on a family outing

85. Fantastic deep-sea fishing and two major marlin tournaments

86. Floating around in the sea at Doctor’s Cave Beach and testing the mythology of its healing properties (we predict you’ll feel better than before you got there)

87. Stopping at Middle Quarters for a bag of pepper shrimps on a road trip across Jamaica

88. Swimming with dolphins in Treasure Beach

89. Holding a baby crocodile at the Swamp Safari Village

90. Running alongside Seven Mile beach in Negril when you participate in the Reggae Marathon

91. Spending a Saturday at Jamnesia in Bull Bay near Kingston learning to surf with Rastas, the first surfing family of Jamaica, then listening to live music into the night

92. A visit to Maroon Town and the healing waters of Nanny Falls

93. Street dances ... listening to Reggae & Dancehall from huge speakers and learning the latest dances

94. Trying the ganja at the Stepping High Festival

95. Treasure Beach

96. Swimming in the luminescent sea at Glistening Waters in Falmouth

97. Enjoying an ital meal for dinner

98. Climbing Dunns River Falls

99. Trident Castle

100. Learning a few words of ‘patois’, the local dialect.

Did we forget anything? Let us know what ‘must do’ Jamaica Experience you think should definitely be added to this list via:

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