Expert travel storyteller Jordan Adkins, founder of InspiredByMaps.com, brings a decade of adventures across 101 countries and 450+ UNESCO sites into rich, off-the-beaten-path narratives, melding ecological expertise with genuine, seasoned travel insights. His full bio can be found here.
Xaymaca rolls off the tongue like premium rum slides down the throat. If this ancient Taino word evokes images of the “land of wood and water,” that’s because that is exactly what Jamaica offers, beyond rum, reggae and Rasta.
And what better introduction to Jamaica than to jump right into the turquoise waters of Blue Hole in Ocho Rios, or into the Luminous Lagoon for a ‘glowing’ night swim? Be enraptured by the hypnotic glow of tiny organisms as you glide in the water.
If you just want to take it easy, pitch a beach umbrella in Negril’s Seven Mile Beach, stare off into the Caribbean blue, and savor a glass of chilled rum punch. Elevate the experience in ‘Mobay’ with a glass of martini instead.
Work up the courage to jump off a cliff into the sea, as you could in Negril, against the backdrop of marigold sunsets. If you like water cascading over you, pick your way up the limestone steps of Dunn’s River Falls and float in one of the small lagoons along the way. Visitors flock to this natural wonder on guided trips to make venturing up the falls safer and more fun.
For a quiet time away from the amped-up din of beach bars, hop on a bamboo raft and sit back and relax as a raft captain deftly maneuvers the long and slim watercraft up and down lazy waterways. Mark island time this way as you gaze up at the lush canopy of riverine trees sheltering your journey. Keep your eyes peeled for the rivers’ habitats that make regular appearances.
To remind travelers Jamaica is half ‘land of wood,’ a drive up the mist-covered rainforest of the Blue Mountains is in order. Jamaica’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Blue Mountains offer a perch to breathe in panoramic views of Kingston, the capital. More important, its microclimate creates the terroir for Arabica’s floral aroma and mild flavor.
Join a group tour to take you to one of the highlands coffee plantations for a look at how it’s done from bean to cup. Even better, stay in one of the overnight cabins and soak up the solitude. Wake up to bird song and verdant mountain views.
For reggae fans, no holiday to Jamaica would be complete without a pilgrimage to the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, a mere hour and a half drive down the Blue Mountains. Peek into where he made his music – a part revolutionary, part invitation to laze on the beach – and meet the dreadlocked Rastafarians he evangelized for.
Go beneath and beyond the miles of Jamaica’s white sand beaches on a group tour that will take you outside the usual tourist circuit. Public transport outside the cities runs on irregular schedules, so you can save time and enjoy more of your holiday on a guided tour.
Group tour operators have their own transport and network of travel insiders that get you to places and privileges only open to a select few. Choose from one of the tours below, plan when to take this Caribbean holiday, and worry less about whether you’ll catch the next bus in time for your flight.
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Jamaica South Coast Special
Jamaica Hidden Treasures Vacations and Tours
Location: Southwest Coast
Itinerary: Negril – Treasure Beach
Group Size: 10
Age Range: 6 to 65
Physical Activity: Low
Operator: Jamaica Hidden Treasures Vacations and Tours
Length: 3 Days
What to Expect
This short but sweet tour of Jamaica’s South Coast will take you to the white sands of Negril and the sandy beaches and rocky coves of Treasure Beach with a Black River safari in between.
- River safari
- Rum tour
- Farm tour
- Snorkeling
What the Experience Is Like
Start off with a sightseeing tour of Negril’s surrounding area before heading off to Seven Mile Beach. Relax in the shade of palm trees swaying in the breeze. Watch the sunset and the brave who dive off the cliff into the waters below, at Rick’s Cafe while the sounds of reggae waft through the air.
(Is the Seven Mile Beach really seven miles long? Find out in this three-day Jamaican tour.)
Continue on to the Black River for a Safari Boat tour before a look around the Appleton Estate for a rum tour. Close the day with a visit to YS Falls, a seven-tiered falls cascading into natural pools.
Drop by St. Elizabeth farms for a chance to talk to the locals. Breathe in panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea from the aptly named Lovers Leap before driving to Treasure Beach for a lunch at a family-owned restaurant. Then boat up to the Pelican Bar less than a mile offshore to enjoy cold drinks and 360-degree views in the middle of the ocean.
This partially guided tour is run by Jamaica Hidden Treasures Vacations and Tours which specializes in running budget-friendly, small-group nature-based tours with a dash of local flavor. Expect to stay at 3-star hotels or apartments and enjoy the flexibility of planning and paying for your own meals.
In a nutshell
If you are a water person and yearn for a short trip to Jamaica, this Jamaica South Coast Special is for you.
Kingston and Blue Mountain
Jamaica Hidden Treasures Vacations and Tours
Location: Capital City
Itinerary: Kingston – Holywell – Blue Mountains
Group Size: 12
Age Range: 12 to 65
Physical Activity: Low to Medium
Operator: Jamaica Hidden Treasures Vacations and Tours
Length: 3 Days
What to Expect
A peek into the life of a reggae icon and an aromatic jaunt into the source of Jamaica’s Blue Mountains coffee.
- Pilgrimage to reggae birthplace
- Coffee plantation tour
- Nature walks and mountain hikes
What the Experience is Like
Coffee and reggae don’t seem like a good pair (more like rum and reggae), but since the source of Jamaica’s Blue Mountains coffee is only an hour and a half drive from the capital, this Kingston/Blue Mountains tour makes one nifty package for a time-starved traveler.
(Want to see where the rhythmic reggae beats are mixed? Visit the Tuff Gong studios in Kingston in this 3-day tour in and around the capital.)
Still, there’s enough time to see where reggae started – in Trench Town, in the legendary Tuff Gong Studios, and in the home of the icon himself – now the Bob Marley Museum.
The winding drive up the Holywell National Park takes you through the growing, storing, curing and roasting process of the sought-after beans grown in a coffee plantation here.
The last day of your tour takes you to Jamaica’s only UNESCO Heritage site. You have a choice of lacing up for a trek up the Blue Mountain peak; an easier hike around a circular mountain trail with a river waiting at the end; or a leisurely stroll around Holywell Park for a chance to spy on birds and enjoy a picnic at the grounds.
This partially guided tour is run by Jamaica Hidden Treasures Vacations and Tours which specializes in running budget-friendly, small-group nature-based tours with a dash of local flavor. Overnight stays are in a 3-star motel or apartment with the flexibility of buying your own meals.
In a nutshell
If you are a mountain person, a coffee lover and a reggae fan, this 3-day Jamaican tour in Kingston and Blue Mountain is a must.
JAMAICA – Montego Bay Ocho Rios Negril Highlights
Bucket List Group Travel LLC
Location: North Coast
Itinerary: Montego Bay – Ocho Rios – Negril
Group Size: 12
Age Range: 18 to 60
Physical Activity: Medium
Operator: Bucket List Group Travel LLC
Length: 5 Days
What to Expect
This five-day taster tour of Jamaica will take you around the northern half of Jamaica. Dig your toes into the white sand beaches of Negril and the upscale shores of Montego Bay and stand in awe before the stunning natural attractions of Ocho Rios.
- A night swim in the bioluminescent lagoon
- Jungle trek
- Bamboo rafting
- Swimming with dolphins/stingrays
- Coffee tasting
What the Experience Is Like
Get your feet wet on a stroll along the white shores of ‘MoBay’s’ Doctor’s Cave Beach Club. Then head out for a night drive to the Luminous Lagoon where the waters give off phosphorescent light when tiny organisms are disturbed, such as when you dive right in for a night swim.
The next day takes you right into the royal blue waters of Blue Lagoon after a relaxing and scenic ride on a bamboo raft up the river Martha Brae. For those who prefer to stay dry, a trek around the jungle surrounding the Blue Lagoon may sound more inviting.
(Want to know the difference between Luminous Lagoon and Blue Lagoon? Sign up for this 5-Day Jamaica North Coast tour and see for yourself!)
Ocho Rios has more in store for you with a dolphin encounter. Standing in knee-deep water, wait for dolphins to come to you for a playful pat.
Or put on a snorkel and swim with harmless stingrays. Hikers would want to lace up for a trek on the Blue Mountain trails, home not only to Jamaica’s colorful birdlife but also to premium coffee, which you will get to sample before heading back down to Dunn’s River Falls.
Here, Jamaica’s natural wonder continues to keep visitors awestruck, as curtains of waterfall tumble over this ever-growing limestone formation on their way to the beach.
Welcoming visitors with a relaxed, bohemian vibe, Negril is perfect for an optional scuba diving or snorkeling adventure. Explore the culinary offerings and bars along Seven Mile Beach, or simply string up a hammock and put up your feet.
Grab a cold drink and watch in awe at the sunset, and at the cliff, divers putting on a show at Rick’s Cafe. Even wilder, muster the courage to dive off the cliff yourself. Just leave enough energy to enjoy Negril’s nightlife before flying off the next day.
Bucket List Group Travel LLC specializes in bringing together solo travelers with the same kind of adventures in mind, hence this fully-guided tour’s diverse interests packaged into one convenient offering. Your stay in a double occupancy hotel room comes with four breakfasts with an option to go vegan/vegetarian.
In a nutshell
If you want your Caribbean holiday to have equal parts water, woodland and wildlife with a splash of highly-prized coffee, then book this JAMAICA – Montego Bay Ocho Rios Negril Highlights tour today!
Best Jamaica Tour Package
Agate Travel
Location: North and South Coasts
Itinerary: Montego Bay – Negril – Kingston
Group Size: 4
Age Range: 2-80
Physical Activity: Low
Operator: Agate Travel
Length: 7 Days
What to Expect
A weeklong round-out of Jamaica’s highlights from the North Coast to the South.
- Optional watersports
- Rum tour
- Jamaican cuisine
- River safari
- Bob Marley Museum
What the Experience Is Like
Land at the Montego Bay Sangster International Airport (MBJ) and meet the driver/guide. Jamaica is renowned as the land of Rastafarians, and what better way to be introduced to the island than to spend the second-day meeting, singing songs, and playing drums with them at their village?
Continue on to Negril after lunch where miles of white sand beaches and stunning Caribbean sunset views await. Summon the courage to dive off a cliff at Rick’s cafe, or watch others put on a show.
Continue exploring Negril on your free day. Take up optional watersports, or simply soak up the bohemian vibe along the stretch of Seven Miles Beach or at any reggae performances by the sea.
(Want to experience Jamaica using all your senses? Come and have a taste – of pepper shrimp and rum – in this weeklong itinerary around Jamaica’s top tourist spots!)
On your way to Treasure Beach the following day, drop by the Appleton Rum Estate and the Middle Quarters. Take a peek at how rum is extracted from sugarcane and processed into the finished product. Arrive at Middle Quarters for a hearty lunch of pepper shrimp and other Jamaican street food.
As your tour winds down, embark on a Black River safari for an encounter with dolphins, crocodiles and the river’s avian residents. Boat up to the Pelican Bar perched atop a sandbar located less than a mile offshore to round out the day.
The drive to Kingston the following day will bring you to the Bob Marley Museum where the reggae icon lived from 1975 until 1981. Fill your soul with the rhythmic sounds of reggae and explore the Jamaican capital for the rest of the day. Grab the chance to party the night away before flying off from Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) the next day.
This private, fully-guided tour is run by Agate Travel which specializes in tailoring itineraries to suit every budget, travel preference, age group and group size. Your six overnight accommodations in 3-star hotels come with six breakfasts and one lunch. English-speaking guides accompany your private driver for each itinerary.
In a nutshell
If you want your Caribbean holiday multi-sensory and exclusive, then this 7-day Best Jamaica Tour Package is the best gift for yourself.
Explore Jamaica
Explore!
Location: South Coast
Itinerary: Port Royal – Negril – Kingston
Group Size: 16
Age Range: 16-85
Physical Activity: Low to Medium
Operator: Explore!
Length: 10 Days
What to Expect
An extended Jamaican tour for an in-depth experience of culture, cuisine and crystal clear waters.
- Highland coffee plantation tour
- Reggae history
- Cultural interaction
- Traditional food tasting
- Optional water-based activities
What the Experience is Like
Fly into Kingston and explore the capital at your own pace. Drive up the Blue Mountains on the second day to see where the prized coffee beans are grown, processed and brewed, which you get to savor before driving down to the Bob Marley Museum in the capital, Kingston.
Peek into the life of the reggae icon, and venture into places associated with him such as Trench Town and Tuff Gong Studios. Examine Taino/Arawak artifacts at the National Gallery, or cool off with ice cream at Devon House, once home to the Caribbean’s first black millionaire.
Head out to Port Antonio with a visit to Charles Town, a Maroon community. The Maroons were freed slaves or slaves who evaded recapture by the British and were granted relative autonomy. A refreshing dip in the turquoise waters of Blue Lagoon awaits the next morning before the drive to the jungle-lined white sand beach of Frenchman’s Cove. Sample jerk pork or chicken washed down with a cold bottle of Red Stripe.
Midway through the tour, you’ll have a chance to simply relax back in the hotel or join the optional Rio Grande River rafting tour. Drive to Montego Bay before noon with a lunch stop along the way. Spend the rest of the day at your own pace.
(Savor the floral aroma and mild taste of highly-prized Arabica coffee at source in this 10-Day Jamaica holiday.)
Understand why Rastafarians don’t cut their hair, listen to their music, and sit down to a plant-based ‘ital’ lunch. Continue on to Negril to enjoy its miles of white sand beach and soaring craggy cliffs where divers put on a good show at Rick’s Café just as the horizon blazes orange.
Enjoy another (free) day of exploring the area’s Seven Mile Beach, tasting Jamaican favorites like curried goat or patty, or going on an optional activity such as scuba diving, snorkeling, or glass-bottomed boat tours.
Toward the end of your tour, experience Jamaica away from the usual tourist circuit at Treasure Beach. Savor the freshest seafood and the most authentic jerk, and learn how to cook traditional staples like bammy or cassava flatbread.
Continue on with your cooking class the next day, or explore Treasure Beach’s mix of sandy and rocky shores and miles of coral-colored and black sands. Opt to boat up to the Pelican Bar less than a mile offshore, or venture up the Black River on a boat safari to spot dolphins, crocodiles and Jamaica’s native birds. The trip ends with a few hour’s drive to Kingston to catch your onward flight.
Explore! is a multi-awarded travel company with decades of experience in crafting tours offering just the right mix of highlights and hidden gems for a range of interests, age groups and group sizes. Stay in smaller accommodations close to the hidden corners of Jamaica, and enjoy flexible meal options for 9 breakfasts and 2 lunches at local restaurants serving locally grown food.
In a nutshell
Want to immerse in Jamaica’s history, culture, culinary heritage, and natural wonders both green (jungles) and white (sand)? Then gift yourself this 10-Day Explore Jamaica tour for a Caribbean holiday you won’t forget.
Caribbean Sunsets: Turks & Caicos Islands to Jamaica
Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours
Location: Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica
Itinerary: Nassau, Great Inagua, Port Antonio, Montego Bay
Group Size: 228
Age Range: 12 to 99
Physical Activity: Low to Active
Operator: Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours
Length: 9 Days
What to Expect
If you want to explore the Caribbean’s other tourist crown jewels on a luxury cruise, this tour will take you to paradise for a vacation of a lifetime.
- Wildlife encounters
- Remote islands and beaches
- Caribbean culture and history
- Colonial architecture
- Sumptuous cuisine
What the Experience is Like
Fly into Nassau and experience the glamour of the Bahamian capital, once the stronghold of pirates, in its clutch of Michelin-starred restaurants, coffee bars and well-preserved pastel-colored colonial buildings.
More architectural gems await at Harbour Island. Gaze at its New England-style architecture and keep an eye out for celebrities. In Long Island, walk around the marina or discover the town by bike. At a nearby saltwater blue hole, summon the courage to explore the deepest in the West Indies.
Together with Egg Island and Long Island, Harbour Island beckons with wild, rugged beaches, white sand beaches, and coral reefs teeming with marine life. Swim with turtles, spot the famous Bahamian swimming pigs, and explore these islands on foot, by zodiac or by kayak.
Cruise into Providenciales, or Provo, in the Turks and Caicos halfway through the tour. Admire the many beaches and bays the island chain is known for Grace Bay, Long Bay, and Blue Hills Beach, among others. Kayak on a 2-person glass bottom boat into the Grand Turk for a stroll on the coast. Or explore its clear, shallow waters with a snorkel or stand-up paddleboard while soaking up the serenity of the surrounding mangroves and small coves.
(Want to play ‘Cast Away’ but with fancy swimwear and martini in hand? Hop on this cruise and see where two James Bond films were shot in this 9-day Caribbean islands tour.)
Intimate encounters with thousands of pink flamingoes await you at Little Inagua Island. At Inagua National Park, spy on more than 100 native and migratory bird species against a backdrop of lush forests and bleach-white salt fields.
Your cruise winds down into Port Antonio on Jamaica’s east coast. Learn about the seaside town’s pirate past and admire the lush scenery slowly unfolding on a bamboo raft ride down the Great River. From here, continue on to the Green Grotto Caves in Ocho Rios, a labyrinth of limestone caves rich in colonial history and teeming with flora and fauna.
Finally, bid farewell to your cruise after disembarking at Montego Bay. Soak up the sun in ‘Moby’s pristine beaches before departing with Caribbean memories you will cherish for a long time.
Scenic is a multi-awarded tour operator with decades of experience in crafting fully-inclusive touring holidays on land, through rivers and across oceans. Enjoy stateroom or suite accommodation onboard the ship with meals per itinerary provided.
A team of specialists leads the tours, which include onboard lectures, shore-side expeditions, and ‘Freechoice’ experiences. Flights into the islands to meet the ship are not included.
In a nutshell, you’d rather pack and unpack one time and explore a handful of out-of-the-way islands with blinding white sands and inviting cerulean waters all while cozying up to diverse wildlife, skip the hassle of travel planning and sign up for these Caribbean Sunsets: Turks & Caicos Islands to Jamaica tour.
If none of these tours work for you in Jamaica, please do not worry. There is a wide variety of tour options in the country, and we are confident that there will be something that fits your needs and interests.
Take a look at all the group tours in Jamaica now, which you can sort by private or group, maximum sizing, budget, dates and much (much more). The team at TourRadar is also always more than happy to answer any questions, provide further information or assist in any way in finding the perfect tour for you.
