The 6 best hikes in Jamaica for tropical adventurers

14.12.2024 - 18:17 / lonelyplanet.com

Dec 14, 2024 • 6 min read

The attractions of Jamaica are easy to sell to travelers. Crystal blue waters, soft sand and a little reggae to go with your rum cocktail as the sun dips on another perfect Caribbean day.

However, venture beyond the beaches and lush banana groves and you'll discover a side of the country that most visitors don't see – a hiker's paradise where incredible trails zigzag through jungles and scramble over mountain ridges, and where rushing waterfalls seem to erupt out of nowhere.

If you're hitting the trails in the interior, it pays to hire a local guide. Trails (tracks in Jamaica) are often unmarked and overgrown, and advice from locals that your destination is “just a little way” may in fact mean several hours of walking. Here's a guide to our favorite trails in Jamaica.

Best day hike

2.4km (1.4 miles) round trip, 90 minutes, easy

Run by the Jamaica Conservation & Development Trust, the Holywell Recreation Area in the Blue Mountains above Kingston is the entry point for the beautiful Hardwar Gap.

Here you'll find 120 hectares of lush Jamaican woodland, with dozens of fern species, epiphytes, flowers and wild strawberries and raspberries.

The mist-shrouded, uppermost slopes are densely covered with rare primary montane forest, dominated by pine trees, and the birdwatching is fabulous.

Well-maintained, easy hiking trails lead off in all directions through the ferny dells, cloud forest and elfin woodland. The 2.4km Oatley Mountain Trail is the best walk, and it leads to a river that's good for bathing.

Guides aren't necessary for this hike but they can be great sources of information about the region's flora and birds – arrange one at the staffed ranger station, just beyond the entrance. After the hike, refresh yourself at Cafe Blue near Irish Town, a short drive downhill from Holywell.

Best hike in Jamaica

12km (7.4 miles) round trip, 5 hours, moderate

More than two dozen walking trails cross Jamaica's Blue Mountains, but the hike to the summit of 2256m (7402ft) Blue Mountain Peak to watch the sun rise over the island's capital, Kingston, is undoubtedly the best in the country.

Visit Casa di Giulietta (Juliet’s House) to see the famous balcony and learn about Verona’s Shakespearean legacy.

The hike starts from the village of Penlyne Castle, and many people spend the night here and set off in the dark before dawn to reach the peak in time for sunrise. One of the most popular accommodations, Whitfield Hall was damaged by fire in July 2022, but is already rebuilding and welcoming guests once again (at a limited capacity).

The first part of the trail – a series of steep switchbacks known as Jacob’s Ladder – is the toughest section, leading to a ranger station where you pay the US$5 park entry