Must See

Kingston

Kingston is not only Jamaica's capital but also the cultural heart of the country. On the southeast corner of Jamaica, at the foot of the Blue Mountains, Kingston is the seventh largest port in the world, which has turned the city into an industrial centre. Georgian architecture sits beside modern office blocks, which look out to the urban sprawl on the outskirts.

The busy city centre may be a little stressful, so take refuge in the National Art Gallery, which has a colourful display of modern art or wander around the Hope Botanical Gardens, made famous by its orchids. Artefacts and relics of the ancient culture of the Arawak Indians may be seen in the White Marl Arawak Museum.

Visits should also be made to the Crafts Market and Harbour, where there is a museum about the ancient capital Port Royal, which was submerged under the sea after an earthquake in 1692. Port Royal was under the domination of Captain Morgan and his buccaneers at the time and was known as the 'richest and wickedest city on earth'.

The Blue Mountains, which form a picturesque backdrop for the city, can be reached after a short drive up from the Kingston for hiking and guided tours.

Montego Bay

Montego Bay (or Mo'Bay, as it is more colloquially called) is the tourism centre of the island, offering more guest rooms than in any other part of Jamaica. A long reef protects the bay and sizzling beaches, whilst the clear, Caribbean waters lap against the white sand. There are 3 main beaches in Mo' Bay: Cornwall Beach, just a few yards from the local Tourist Board Office; Walter Fletcher Beach, close to the centre and a short walk from the Upper Deck Hotel; and the beautiful, white , sandy Doctor's Cave Beach (named after its one-time owner, Dr McCatty and its cave that has since eroded away). Golf can be played at the area's four 18-hole championship courses.

You can stay on the beaches, or visit the sugar plantations, Rockland Feeding Station for birds (where you can hand-fed hummingbirds), or the famous Appleton Rum Factory. Trendy Gloucester Avenue boasts restaurants, art galleries and duty free shopping, whilst Harbour Street is a popular shopping area, where vendors sell their goods at the Crafts Market. The town also offers some of Jamaica's best dining in its cafes or at its roadside stands where spicy local food is served.

Montego Bay is the home to many festivals, such as the Reggae Sumfest. The Montego Bay Yacht Club hosts the bi-annual Pineapple Cup Miami to Montego Bay Yacht race.

A short way inland from the Bay is Rose Hall, a restored Great House on a sugar plantation. Visitors to the area may also go on a guided river-ride on a bamboo raft, or visit Cockpit Country where Maroons (descendents of escaped slaves) still live.

Ocho Rios

Lying 108 km (67 miles) east of Montego Bay and 87 km (54 miles) north of Kingston, Ocho Rios is known as garden lover's paradise. Shaw Park Botanical Gardens offer an abundance of indigenous plants, flowers and trees, whilst Lush Fern Gully provides a look at foliage unique to the island. Hibiscus and poinsettia grow in profusion unlike anywhere else on the island.

The name of the town is said to have come from the old Spanish word for roaring river or, in modern Spanish, eight rivers. Here, visitors can witness one of the most stunning sights in Jamaica: Dunn's River Falls, a crystal clear, 180 metre-high waterfall that can be walked up like a staircase to the nearby botanical gardens.

Visitors can also tour local plantations and Great Houses, or enjoy afternoon tea at Firefly, Noel Coward's hilltop home and final resting place. Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond, lived in the village of Oracabessa, and his home, Goldeneye, is now an exclusive villa resort close to James Bond Beach. Bob Marley was born and buried in the nearby village of Nine Mile, where there is a family-run attraction.

Port Antonio

Set between a double harbour and mountains, Port Antonio is a relaxed town with the charm of a sleepy fishing village. Founded in 1723, the town became Jamaica's centre for banana export in the late 19th century. One of Jamaica's first hotels was built here in 1905, and Port Antonio soon became a magnet for the rich and famous, including Errol Flynn, who owned nearby Navy Island. Once renowned for Flynn's wild parties, the island is now a favourite for picnics and daytrips.

Jamaica's spicy jerk-style of cooking originated in Port Antonio, and some delicious examples can be found at Boston Beach east of the town.

Runaway Bay

This area has some excellent fine beaches, where visitors have the chance to go horse riding or scuba diving. The Runaway Caves are nearby, which offer a boat ride 35m (120ft) below ground on a lake in the limestone Green Grotto.

Spanish Town

A short drive to the west of Kingston is Spanish Town, the former capital of Jamaica, founded by the Spaniards in about 1534. Although the British destroyed much of the original town, they built some fine examples of Georgian architecture, particularly in Spanish Town Square. The Spanish Cathedral of St Jago de la Vega is the oldest in the West Indies.

Beaches and the Water

Jamaica has some fantastic facilities for anyone who wants to be on, in, under or near the water. There are many attractions for divers, including sponge forests, underwater caves, coral reefs and shipwrecks close to shore. In some areas, visibility can reach 30.5 m (100 ft). Popular dive sites include the wreck of the Kathryn; Ricky's Reef, with its vividly coloured fish; and the Throne Room near Negril, where it is possible to see corals, nurse sharks, sponges and cubera snapper.

Surfing is best on the north coast, east of Port Antonio, where long lines of breakers roll into Boston Bay, and water-skiing, scuba diving, sailing, deep-sea fishing, windsurfing and parasailing are also available at Negril. The Blue Lagoon is a salt-water cove offering swimming, fishing and water-skiing and is considered one of the finest coves in the Caribbean.

There is some excellent fresh- and sea-water fishing to be had in Jamaica; the sea is rich in game fish, such as yellowtail, kingfish, bonito, wahoo and the prized Blue Marlin, whilst the rivers are full of hognose mullet, mountain mullet, small snook and drummer. Spearfishing is permitted among the reefs.

For those who simply want to relax near the water, the best beaches are mainly on the northern coast.