Jamaica is a lush, verdant land of majestic mountains, tropical rainforests and photogenic towns. A big island in the sun with a meandering coastline over six-hundred miles in length, laden with beach, after beach, after beach.
Your first glimpse of one may be once you’ve checked-in at your luxury hotel, immediately tempting you to go closer and feel the sand between your toes. At Jamaica Inn, in Ocho Rios, the crescent of Champagne-coloured sands lapped by warm Caribbean seas is a perfect example. It is private – like many on the island – so it never gets crowded.
Beachside activities may be as relaxing or as active as you wish. Gently swing in a hammock between swaying palms or bask on a sun lounger and soak up the rays, fruit punch in hand. Alternatively, take a dip in the sea or go kayaking, snorkelling and sailing or why book a diving trip to a reef offshore, to an underwater paradise brimming with marine life? On land, you could go horse-riding on a beach at Montego Bay, another popular coastal region punctuated with strands of golden, sugary sands.
As you zigzag around the shoreline, you can discover small, secluded coves with untouched sands, craggy boulders and crystalline seas, along with black-sand bays exuding a wild, rugged air. By contrast, there’s the famous seven-mile beach of Negril, well-known for its white sands, serene turquoise waters and phenomenal green flash sunsets.
There are busy strips on Jamaica crammed with tourists and noisy vendors, but these are best avoided in favour of a more relaxing holiday. As we mentioned, it’s a big island and so we have been very select and made sure our featured luxury hotels are situated on the best beaches, so all you need do is chill out until it is time to return home!