Holidays in Jamaica 2025/2026

Named after the azure haze that hangs over this chain of emerald peaks, the Blue Mountains are Jamaica’s oldest feature and twinned with its rugged neighbours, the John Crow Mountains, they form the country’s only national park. It’s a remote sprawling wilderness that is a thrill to explore, thanks to its winding 4x4 tracks and wild walking trails. Witness untouched beauty stretching as far as the eye can see, a rainforest home to a rich horde of wildlife, including the western hemisphere’s largest butterfly, the giant swallowtail. Its lower slopes are now swathed in coffee bean plantations that are world-famous thanks to the gourmet Blue Mountain coffee brand, while higher up lies a history of former settlements and hideaways. While the sunrise view from its highest peak, Blue Mountain, is the signature sight, any outlook over this wild land is extraordinary.

It’s one of Jamaica’s most iconic places but Dunn’s River Falls really lives up to its billing. A stunning stepped cascade encased in pristine rainforest, take on the exhilarating climb up its unique sculpted limestone tiers for an epic view over its entire majesty as it empties into the sea directly below. Several lagoons and pools make for ideal pit stops as you ascend the Falls, each perfectly cooled by the surrounding shade of the trees. Even at busy times, this is a Jamaican icon you simply have to see for yourself.

Like reggae, jerk is part of the make-up of Jamaica. There’s no better place to savour its spicy notes than at one of the famous Scotchies restaurants that dot the island. Food lovers come for the mouthwatering plates of jerk chicken and pork they serve up and when it’s the locals sniffing out its sizzling barbecues, you know it’s going to be good. It’s a charming environment to eat in; the casual rustic thatched huts give a real local feel and the authentic outdoor atmosphere is filled with the smells of open-air cooking and sounds of happy diners. If the spice gets too much, cool your tongue with another Jamaican staple: Red Stripe beer.

Beaches aren’t the whole picture in Jamaica, but they’re still out of this world. The pick of the bunch is Seven Mile Beach in Negril, a faultless golden curve fringed on either side by swaying palms and turquoise waters. It’s the ideal place to flop but for those with energy still to burn, there’s plenty of activities to keep you busy, from jet skiing to snorkelling, catamaran cruising to kayaking and even trotting along the sands on horseback. Food shacks and reggae beats only add to the atmosphere of this slice of Jamaican paradise.

If you want to feel like a film star, then look no further than the former home of James Bond creator Ian Fleming. While 007 had a licence to kill, at GoldenEye you have a licence to chill. It’s hard not to, either, with beautiful beach huts and villas sprinkled across silken sands in a serene cove that invokes a sense of relaxation. If it inspired Fleming to pen all 14 of his Bond novels here, then it’s good enough for us…

No vaccinations are recommended for Jamaica but the country is regarded to have a risk of contracting the Zika virus. However, please consult your GP at least four to six weeks prior to travel for current advice.

The time difference is GMT -5 hours

The flight time from London to Kingston is around 10 hours.

The currency is the Jamaican dollar.

British passport holders don’t need a visa to travel to Jamaica.