"Visit a Maroon Village You won’t regret a visit to Accompong Town, an authentic Maroon village in the hills of Cockpit Country.The Maroons, descendants of enslaved West Africans first brought to Jamaica by the Spanish, fought British slaveholders—by cleverly usingthe nearly impenetrable hills and hollows as a base from which to strike—and eventuallywontheir independence. Since 1738, they’vemostlylived in their own communities, largely autonomous and separate from other Jamaicans. The best time to visit is the firstMonday inJanuary, for the annual Maroon Day Festival, when hundreds of Maroons from around Jamaica and abroad, as well asa few thousand tourists, descend on Accompong Town for a day of drumming ceremonies, food, and celebration. You cantour the village by appointment; make arrangements to visit with a driver. Amuseum,near the entrance to the village, displays historic artifacts, photos, and memorabilia. The Peace Cave, a short hike from town, is where Captain Cudjoe, the warrior and leader, signeda treaty with the British that recognized the Maroons as an independent nation and granted them 1,500 acres of land in the region. Walk around and take in the gorgeous, serene mountainous views, and learn the extraordinary history of a free people."

"Jamaica's most touristy site—famous for being featured in the James Bond movie Dr. No. —is also one of its most beautiful, in spite of the countless bodies that visit and attempt the climb daily, both locals and tourists. The view of the falls is spectacular. And call it cheesy, but it's actually fun trying to ascend stone steps while being splashed by 600-foot-high powerful falls that cascade down into a jade pool. Grab a licensed guide on-site if you need one, otherwise latch on to one of the human chains you'll spot when you arrive. The falls are just a stone's throw from Ocho Rios, so any route or shared taxi will make a stop here for a few bucks."

"White River Go tubing on the White River with Ocho Rios Jamaica Tours and cool off in one of Jamaica’s most picturesque bodies of water. The jade colors of White River, dotted with fishing boats along its banks, rocks, and leafy banks, make it an idealchoice for shutterbugs and nature lovers. Combineyour tube floatwith a stop at Irie Blue Hole, for a fun leap into the river-fed sinkhole."

"Swimming-Hole Wonderland With a 20-foot waterfall, a deep turquoise pool, and underwater caves, the Irie Blue Hole is a specialfind. You’ll need to hire a guide in nearby Ocho Rios to bring you up the mountain to explore this off-the-beaten-track place, but it’s one of Jamaica’s most stunning swimming holes. The lush setting,surging blue waters, and options for cliff-jumping will keep you there for hours. This gorgeous blue hole is now attracting more visitors, but it never feels too crowded. Yet!"

"Luminous Lagoon Adventurous souls should planon a moonlit dipin the bioluminescent Glistening Waters, also known as Luminous Lagoon. Boats leave from amarina, located an hour north of Montego Bay,on scheduled night tours. As your tour boat speeds out into the dark of night, you'll spot fluorescent blue streaks inits wake—bioluminescence that's created when living microorganisms (in this case, dinoflagellates) are disturbed. You can jump in for a swim, too, and glow in the dark as you splash about. It's an amazing phenomenon to witness, and it's said to exist in onlyfive lagoons or bays in the world. Back at the marina, the Glistening Waters restaurantoffers beautiful views, as well as pre-cruise drinks and food."

"Catch Sunset at Lovers' Leap Have you ever had a drink while standing at the top of a 1,700-foot vertical drop, as the sun sets into the ocean? That’s what you get at Lovers’ Leap, less than a half-hour's drive from Treasure Beach.Pay a small entrance fee and walk through thebar to reach the balconywith the jaw-dropping view. Of course, there’s a legend to go with the name ofthe cliff: Two enslaved lovers jumped together from this spot to their deaths to escape from their colonial master who wanted the girl for himself.A wood carving of thelovers stands just outside the entrance.The sunset panoramahere is arguably the moststunning view in all of Jamaica ."

"The Majestic Blue Mountains Lush sourceof the mellow, world-famous Blue Mountain coffee, Jamaica ’s longest mountain range is nature at its best, seemingly a worldawayfromnearbybustling, noisy Kingston.In thesemountains 7,400 feet above sea level, the air is cool, the views—ofvillages and falls across the mountains—are magnificent, and, yes, the peaks look blue. The winding narrow roads, though occasionally nerve-racking, add to the overall mystical atmosphere.A handful of hotels and cabins,including the prestigious Strawberry Hill, providelodging. Staying in the mountains overnight is highly recommended so you can take the famous sunrise summit hike."

"Spot a Crocodile If you've ever longed fora ride downa river to spot crocodiles—and who among us hasn't? [editor's note: me!]—you can do just that on the Black River in southern Jamaica . The river cruises are a popular tourist attraction, but they never feel overrun. Enjoyanhour-long cruise past tall mangroves and ferns, spotting tropical birds and stopping when the guides greet crocodiles. The enormous reptiles swim right up and evenopen their jaws whilepassengers cringe and wonder if the guide’s hand is about to disappear.Don't miss this fun chance tosee some of Jamaica’s wildest interior."

"Peter Tosh Memorial Peter Tosh, the reggae artistand cofounder of the Wailers, was born in thesceniccoastal village of Belmont, and it's here you'll also find his tomb and memorial. Fans can visit Tosh's burial site on sprawling property maintained by his surviving family as the Peter Tosh Estate.Stop by the grounds and chat with family members, whowill tell you about the life of Tosh, one of the most popular Rastafarians in the world, and let you visit his grave in exchange for a donation. Die-hard reggae fans willwant to include this stop on the way around the western coast."

"Steven’s Aqua Nature Park Aqua Nature Park, a well-maintained and verdant retreat 40 miles east of Negril,offersvisitorsa chanceto take a dip and cool off in the Venture River. The river, which flows througha swimming hole on the property, has small, colorful fish and a cascade. Owner Steven delights inconductingwalking tours of his family's property, and canteach you quite a bit about the Jamaican plants and fruits he grows. (Don'tmiss seeing theenormouscotton tree.) A casual restaurant and bar,withsome reggaeplaying in the background, rounds this experience out intoa lovely, low-keyafternoon escape for couples, families, or anyone looking for a taste of real Jamaica."

"Get Lost in Jamaica's Most Beautiful Falls Reach Falls is an off-the-beaten-path delight.Locatedup in the John Crow Mountains on Jamaica's east coast, this30-footjade-colored cascadetumbles intoseveral pools in thesurroundingrain forest. You'llneed a bathing suit and a waterproof camera to capture the natural splendor. Local guides are available to help youmakeyour way across the swimming holes and levels, and show you the best spots. Or you can explore it solo. Because of its distance from tourism spots, there are no crowds, no harassment, just an entrance fee to your very own Garden of Eden. On-site changing rooms are available as you exit by the parking lot. Small fun fact: The fallsplay a minor role in the 1988 Tom Cruise movie Cocktail."

"Though few tourists venture to Kingston, the capital and hub on the eastern coast of Jamaica, music fans should make the day trip to visit Bob Marley's former home, now a museumdedicated to Marley'slife andimpact on the world.A guided tour of this museumtakesabout an hour and a half and includes a 20-minute video presentation. Even devoted reggae fans will likely learn more about Bob than they ever knew. Exhibits includemultiple awards, guitars, and his bed with an engraved headboard depicting a lion."

"When inKingston, make time for a stop at Devon House, a grand 1891 Georgian mansionthat wasbuiltfor George Stiebel, Jamaica 's firstnon-white millionaire. The lovely upright house and its 11 surrounding acres are now protected as a National Heritage Site, but that doesn't mean that there's not fun to be had. The sprawling grounds includeshops,restaurants, a bakery, and apopular ice-cream shop, I-Scream. House tours can be arranged, but the grounds, landscaped with stately palms and fountains, are the highlight—it’s a great spot to take a stroll, read, shop, or dine. The mansion and its manicured lawns are also used for weddings and lavish events."

"Jamaica’s primary public art museum, the largest of its kind in the Caribbean, is a key part of the island’s history. Established in 1979, it houses more than 2,000 pieces ranging from pre-Columbian works to those of contemporary Jamaican artists and also mountstemporaryexhibitions on various aspects of Jamaica’s history and culture.The collection continues toexpand and nowincludes videos, graphic designs, and street art. Guided tours are available, and there's an on-sitecoffee shopand gift store."

"Explore a Wicked Pirate City Port Royal, once known as the wickedest city on earth and the Sodom of the New World, revels in its pirate past. Theonce-great city, now a fishing port, was at its height in the 1600s, when numerous brothels and drinking establishments thrived on pirates' plundered gold.In 1692, the effects of an earthquakesubmerged partofthe port, a tragedy that has actually preservedthe townfrom being torn down or built over. Entire buildings and streets are clearly visible just beneath the water. The town that remains on dry landoffers visitors fascinating archaeological sites to explore, includingfortified walls, cannons, andcrumblingbuildings."

"If you’re looking for a break from the beach and the noise, head to Konoko Falls Park (formerly known as Coyaba River Garden) for a quiet picnic, swim, and nature walk through beautifully manicured gardens. The Mahoe tiered waterfalls—a smaller, just-as-picturesqueversion of Dunn’s RiverFalls but rarely crowded—cascade through the park, and an on-site museum showcases the history of Jamaica’s first inhabitants, the Taino. The park offersgorgeous views of Ocho Rios’s bay below. Climbing and swimming in the falls, at your own pace, is great fun."

"Mystic Mountain is one of the most fun and relatively new attractions in Jamaica for both adults and adventurous kids. It’s hard to say what’s more exhilarating: the gorgeous rain-forest backdrop and mountain views, or the roller coaster–like bobsled ride that takes you along winding tracks while you scream your lungs out. If that’s still not enough, hop on the Sky Explorer—a chairlift that will carry you slowly above the canopy, at 700 feethigh, for breathtaking views of the entire Ocho Rios area and even adjacent Dunn’s River Falls. Or get your bathing suit on and hop inside the steel waterslide that willdump you into an infinity-edge pool overlooking Ocho Rios’s stunning bay below."

"Mayfield River Hike and Falls The hike up the Mayfield River to the waterfall nicknamed the Washing Machine requires walking in the river itself at times, and at one point, swimming through a tunnel. Along the way, you'll be surrounded by lush fern trees and bamboo. You'll need water shoes, a swimsuit, and a sense of adventure to take part in this, one of the best ways to see Jamaica 's verdant interior. The trailhed is an hour's drive from from Negril, and you'll find lockers and a small restaurant there. Guides are always on hand to show you the way—you won't make it without them, they know all the right places to place your foot. (Be generous with your tips—they may be having a great time, but this is their job.) The reward at the end of your hike? Two waterfalls. Swim underneath and feel the refreshing force of nature."