Top 5 Nature Places In Jamaica – Travellitza Personal Guide

Now when the world is upside down and we are forced to think differently, can we still dream us away on our future travels. Since we are staying home and should be at home, there is now more time to dive deep. So why not dream? Why not plan travels or set goals for what you want to experience? Maybe we all also learn how much we should start appreciate our freedom and our normally freedom to move and travel as we had and of cause will have again when that time comes. That is the reason why we should dream, make plans and do the things because we are not promised tomorrow.

It is very important now that we don’t travel, actually not even move out not even in our own countries. It is very important that we listen to the rules around the world, so we all can look forward to a better tomorrow for each day. Since this writing is about Jamaica I will for everyday their goes think about what Bob Marley said to his son David Nesta Ziggy Marley …” Money can’t buy life”. We need to understand and learn from that and now the setting has an extra value and meaning.

One of my goals in my career as a travel agent for a charter travel agency was to work and live on the island Jamaica. I did not know much, I just followed my intuition. I actually did not know what to expect other then Bob Marley music and reggae style culture. Which I did not even know what that includes, felt like or represented. Now I have lived in Jamaica in 3 months and it was living in an adventure and a totally different world. A surprising and beautiful version of life.

That is why I wanna share with you my personal best places that I will like to recommend for you. Remember most of my favorite experience is often authentic places and not always between the must seen from our travel guides.

We all know that getting the opportunity to enjoy and experience Jamaica must be one of your dreams in the future 😉

This is my favorite place on the Island of Jamaica. This is where you will see the real Jamaican lifestyle along the way to Port Antonio. It is also the place where you get, after my personal opinion, the most authentic, more secluded and private experience in Jamaica. Do yourself a favor and stop along the drive to try the bamboo rafting from Port Antonio on Rio Grande. You can also stop for amazing views along the way near the sea or in the hills of the nature with a lot of palm trees. In general, in this area the treasure is the nature experience and the small local towns that you pass on the way. I recommend you drive to the Blue Lagoon and take a boat trip around in the area and make a stop on the Monkey Island where there is a small more private beach. Here you will get to experience one of the closest things to nature that has been almost untouched and left alone by tourists. The place is highly popular for movie shoots, and it is still frequented by actors from time to time.

My personal tip to you here is to either experience renting a villa or live in a kind of three house hotel. Port Antonio area is having the best experiences of three houses hotels and villas. Don’t forget to share this with a special one, the energy and vibe is perfect for that.

A must do in this area is to visit the famous Frenchman’s cove beach. It is just like a magic postcard; a perfect place for peace and relaxation. A good tip is to double check the weather forecast because in this area of the island it rains more than the others sides of Jamaica. But let’s be honest, that is also why they have the most beautiful nature. 

Ps. One of the best things is to stop on the road at the small local shops made of three houses along the road. Here is where you will find the best fruit and vegetables, and for a great price if you can impress with few sentences of Patwa, the local language of Jamaica.

Negril the place on earth that screams HIPPIE. Back in the day, Negril was a local hippie town and a very quiet place with only locals. No tourists, no hotels or resorts and no people on the beach. This is before what is now famously known as the “Seven Mile Beach” was put on the world-tourist map.

Today the reality is different. Now the before local and small-town Negril, has a booming hippie vibe, that’s draws tourists from all over the world. I mentioned the before “Seven Mile Beach” and I can tell you that it is actually one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen on my travels. When I say clear water and white sand, I mean it. You have to go and watch It yourself. 

Of course, since it has gone from relatively unknown to infamous, you will have to share the experience with other tourists, but trust me: the relaxed “Yeaah Man” vibe and the beautiful sight won’t be lessened for that.  

Ps. My best tip for Negril area is always to think: “go of road” or “side roads”. 😉 What do I mean? A long the main road in Negril you find a lot of small local food places. Yes, honey it does not look like a restaurant as you are use too, but I can tell you that it is some of the best food I have ever tasted in my life. Go local, taste local food and you will get your eyes up for the best and most appreciated things from Jamaica. Now when you are on it, why not stop at the local Rastaman and buy a fresh coconut and drink it? Yes, it is healthy – so you can just sip along. 

When I see the nature in Jamaica, I’ve always seen it as very fluffy. Fluffy with a lot of woods, lots of palm trees in the wild, jungle and so on. In the middle of that landscape and in the jungle, you find the most beautiful nature made waterfall; the YS Falls.

It’s located against the south coast of Jamaica, the opposite side of where the heaviest tourism is. What makes YS falls special is that it is a waterfall in seven different layers in the water and in the cliff of the waterfall. That makes it unique from other waterfalls and easier for you to swim around in the waterfall on different levels, allowing you to enjoy the cascading falls. If you prefer your calm serenity with a side of adrenaline, you can jump directly in the water by swinging from the tree vines. Get your Tarzan on!

Eco tourism and sustainable tourism is something that I find very interesting and I believe we will see much more of that in the future.

What is particularly beautiful about the Ys Falls, is that it’s surrounded by jungle, and that there are natural pools around which are filled by the water from the waterfall. For me this is what makes this place worth a visit.

If you like more adventure you can also try the Zip-Lining over the waterfall! GO, GO, GO!

Ps. To help you with your planning, there is many amazing experiences in this area. So you can always make more stop and explore more In that area. Depending on what you like, there is example; crocodile safari on Black River, Appleton Estate Rum factory, Treasure beach (best in the evening – make a overnight stop here) and my absolutely favorite bar Pelican Bar in the middle of the Caribbean sea build simple and special and with real Jamaican vibe.

This place was unknown for me for a long time. I didn’t really know what to expect or what the experience would be like, but after having been I can say this much; don’t miss this. Don’t let yourself be booked full with all of the tourist places in Jamaica, because with a simple drive to Blue Whole, you will see a great compilation of the “Land of Wood and Water”.

Basically, you have everything here. Nature, waterfall, lianas (vines) and the incredible blue waters in the middle of the jungle.

You like adventure? No problem, you just jump out from the waterfall, do a dip and a crawl and all of a sudden you will find yourself in the middle of a exploration of the jungle. The area is huge, and you will find several new and exciting paths to walk every which way you turn.

Mostly local guides will be showing you around, allowing time for bathing under the waterfall and doing some exploring, hiking or cliffjumping.

Ps. I am a chicken, but even though I am not into all the adventures things, I still enjoyed to sit down and relax and watch the clear blue water in the waterfall as well as the jungle around. Mother nature made this blue whole in the middle of the jungle. Fluffy Jamaica. A good tip is to come early morning or later afternoon since the middle of the day will be crowded with people from the cruise ships.

The moment that I came to the Blue Mountains, I realized: “Wow this country has everything”. The view over the Blue Mountains was totally different from the other nature and views in Jamaica. If you can, imagine all green colors in the world in an amazing nature context with a lot of hills and only mountains as long your eyes can see. That is the Blue Mountains.

Again, you don’t find so many tourists here either. You have a thousand of curvy roads, nature, local villages and single houses on the way. Blue Mountain is also the highest peak of Jamaica at 2256 meters.

I waited with the best thing to end this blogpost. The best of this area in the mountains, is that they have one of the worlds best and most expensive coffees; Blue Mountain Coffee. The coffee is still made the old school way, picked around the area and every single bean is hand inspected.

It is without a doubt the best coffee I’ve ever tasted and I normally don’t even like coffee.

Ps. Just don’t expect that it is similar to what you drink normally in the morning. Blue Mountain Coffee is special and unique and is a coffee you should sit and enjoy while overlooking the mountain in peace and tranquility so find an authentic place to overnight in the mountains.

We all know that getting the opportunity to enjoy and experience Jamaica must be one of your dreams in the future 😉 Who knows maybe in the future I will be there to assist you on your absolute unforgettable travel to Jamaica.