"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."

"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."

"A Place to Cool Off Chill out from the sun at the Blue Hole Mineral Spring, a 50-foot deep turquoise natural pool sitting 20 feet below a cave opening. Jump off the cliff edge like the Jamaican divers on site, if you're feeling brave. Otherwise, head down slowly on the ladder and let go from a closer distance (like I did). There's a small entrance fee to this park--located about a half-hour drive south of Negril in the town of Brighton--which includes access to an on site bar and restaurant, as well as an outdoor traditional swimming pool. But my guess is you'll be too tempted by the underground shimmering and therapeutic fresh water."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"Hike or Canoe to Cascades There’s no shortage of refreshing waterfalls in eastern Jamaica . But after Reach Falls, I’d say Somerset—also located on the east coast—is a close second in natural beauty. Somerset Falls’ cascades can be reached by hiking or by canoe ride along the river. Either way, it’s a stunning, still relatively verdant area teeming with bird life—resident parrots—and caves to explore. It’s easy to find too, ideal for a day trip from either Port Antonio or Ocho Rios. Look out for a billboard right off the paved northern highway, about an hour and a half north of Ocho Rios."

"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."

"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."

"Shaw Park Botanical Gardens Jamaica's interior beauty includes several botanical gardens. Shaw Park, located in Ocho Rios' surrounding hillside at up to 800 feet above sea level, is a great stop for families, with a large waterfall cascading through, gorgeous flower gardens and plenty of picnic space. When you want to get away from the heat and chaos of downtown Ocho Rios, head up to the hills and relax here. It's a US$10 entrance fee and the park is open during regular business hours."

"Bird and nature lovers will fall for the gorgeous gardens of the Rocklands Bird Sanctuary. Home to hundreds of endemic as well a migrant species of birds, you can spot Jamaica’s national bird–the Doctorbird or Red-billed Streamertail hummingbird–as well as the Mango hummingbird and Caribbean doves, among others. The highlight of visiting the sanctuary is feeding hummingbirds right out of your hand, with seeds or with a bottle filled with sugary water. (Photo by Alex Massengale)"

"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!"