Americas · 8 cities
Things to Do in Jamaica
Eight Jamaican destinations in one place: how far the resorts really are from the airport, which waterfall trip is which, and when the hurricane season matters.
5,591 tours listed by Viator 8 cities we cover Free cancellation
Where to go
Cities of Jamaica
In the order Viator’s own catalogue puts them — most-booked first, not alphabetical.
Full list
All cities, by region
Grouped by region using Viator’s own map of the country. The first block is the places it files directly under Jamaica.
Practical info
Know before you book
The things that change a decision — not a retelling of the guidebook.
The transfer is the part people underestimate
Montego Bay airport to Negril is about ninety minutes, to Ocho Rios up to two hours, and to Port Antonio four. Arriving late in the day means arriving at your hotel in the dark after a long drive — worth factoring into which flight you book.
Three different waterfall trips, and they are not alike
Dunn’s River near Ocho Rios is the famous one — a climbable cascade, and busy when ships are in. The Blue Hole nearby is smaller and wilder. YS Falls in the south-west is the quietest and prettiest of the three, and the furthest from the resorts.
Kingston is a separate trip
The capital is four hours from Montego Bay across the island and is not a resort day trip. It is where the Bob Marley Museum, the music history and the Blue Mountains are. Treat it as its own two or three days rather than an excursion.
The two Marley sites are very different
Nine Mile is his birthplace and burial site, deep in the hills on rough mountain roads about two hours from Ocho Rios. The Kingston museum is his home and studio, in the city and far easier to reach. Both are worthwhile; only one is a comfortable day out.
Hurricane season runs June to November
The statistical peak is August to October. Most trips in those months are unaffected, but this is the one Caribbean destination decision where travel insurance and a flexible booking are worth the extra cost.
Two currencies in circulation
The Jamaican dollar and the US dollar are both used, and many ATMs dispense either. Tours and hotels quote in US dollars; small shops and local transport work in Jamaican. Paying in US and taking change in Jamaican usually loses on the rate.
When to visit
Jamaica through the seasons
What is open, how busy it gets, and when to book ahead.
Dry season
Dec–Apr
- Best for
- The most reliable weather, every boat and excursion running, calm sea.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Christmas through March is the price peak — book transfers and tours before arriving.
Shoulder
May–Jun
- Best for
- Warm sea, short afternoon showers, rates well below the winter peak.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- The best value window of the year, with the weather still largely on your side.
Hurricane season
Jul–Oct
- Best for
- The lowest prices, empty beaches, and the island at its greenest.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- August to October is the statistical peak — take the flexible booking option.
Late autumn
Nov
- Best for
- The storm risk falling away while prices are still low.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- November is the quietly good month between the storms and the December price jump.
Frequently asked
Jamaica: common questions
How many days do you need in Jamaica?
A week at one resort area with two or three excursions is the usual shape. If you want the island rather than the coast — Kingston, the Blue Mountains, the south — allow ten days and plan to move base at least once.
What does a tour in Jamaica cost?
Jamaica is not in our fifty-city price index, so we will not quote a median. Resort excursions are priced in US dollars and include long transfers, which is what makes a half-day waterfall trip cost what a full day would elsewhere in the region.
Which resort area should I choose?
Negril for the seven-mile beach and sunsets; Ocho Rios for the widest choice of excursions and the shortest drives to them; Montego Bay for the shortest airport transfer. Port Antonio is the quietest and the least developed, at the cost of four hours from the plane.
When is the best time to visit?
December to April for the most reliable weather at the highest prices, or May, June and November for most of the same weather at considerably less. July to October carries the storm risk and the lowest rates.
Is it easy to get around independently?
Less so than in most Caribbean destinations. Route taxis are cheap and local; hire cars face narrow roads and left-hand driving; most visitors use hotel transfers and organised excursions, which is also how the excursion market is priced.