LBS Travel: 10 Things To Do in Montego Bay Jamaica

10-things-to-do-in-montego-bay

I used to frequent Montego Bay, Jamaica as a child. My Dad’s family is from the countryside of Trelawny and I remember going there to visit my Grandma, aunts, uncles and cousins. Though many of those memories have faded, experiencing Jamaica once again as an adult has its own set of lasting memories and experiences. Particularly, seeing the country from the perspective of a tourist was an entirely new experience for me and it was SO much fun. Who knew Montego Bay, Jamaica had so much to offer? Thanks to Strength of Nature and the Jamaica Tourism Board I had the opportunity to experience some really amazing sights and sounds. Here are my Top 10 Things to Do in Montego Bay:

1. Take an Island Routes Catamaran Ride

catamaran-cruise-jamaica

Island Routes is a tour company that offers an array of incredible excursions in Montego Bay. I particularly enjoyed cruising the shores on their Reggae Catamaran Cruise. Open bar, live DJ and the most hype “turn up” crew in all of Montego Bay? I didn’t want to leave.

rum-punch

If you go, ask for “Dellena” to be your bartender. She does the best dutty whine. She makes amazing rum punch. And she will have you turned all the way up.

2. Go River Tubing at River Bumpkin Farm

martha-brae-river

If you’re looking for a little adventure and a few different options, you MUST check out River Bumpkin Farm in Trelawny. With a mix of activities from tour-guided kayaking, hiking, biking and river-tubing, the farm has a little something for everyone.

fresh-coconut-water

 

On our guided River Tubing tour we did everything from taking a chill ride down the river to swinging from a Tarzan rope swing into the water and finally ending our tour with a limestone foot massage. If you head to River Bumpkin, you MUST ask for tour guide named “Surprise” (that’s his nickname). Not only did he offer us fresh fruit and sugar cane along our river tubing adventure, but he also allowed us to stop at the perfect location (a mini waterfall not too far from the end of the tubing adventure) to snap pictures, give us our limestone massages, and give us some history about the area.

river-bumpkin-farm-jamaica

This was one of the highlights of my time in Montego Bay. It’s a must- see. At the end of your excursion, you must sample the fresh Sweet Potato soup from the Jerk Hut. It is quite possibly the best soup I’ve ever tasted.

3. Visit the Rose Hall Great House

great-house-ROSEHALLPhoto Credit: Visit Jamaica

If you’re a history or architecture buff, you’ll enjoy a tour of the Great House in Rose Hall. The historic estate, built in 1770, boasts interior tours that give historic insight into the backstory of its owners including haunting tales of “The White Witch of Rose Hall”. This beautifully restored grand home in Jamaica boasts 18th-century decor and antiques, and offers tours during the day and at night.

4. Have Dinner & Drinks at Pier 1

Pier One on the Waterfront is a beautiful open-air Jamaican cuisine restaurant in Montego Bay that boasts views of the Harbor and includes an incredible selection of fine Jamaican cuisine including seafood and more. Go during the day to enjoy the fantastic views. Head there at night for the great drinks and nightlife.

5. Go Swimming at Margaritaville

Two words. Water Slide! It’s colorful and steep and SO much fun. There’s also a trampoline in the middle of the water, and an obstacle course to the tune of “Wipeout” that no one ever finishes. It’s pretty awesome. Just don’t drink and swim. The life jackets are optional.

6. Attend a Live Reggae Performance

reggae-performance

Find one somewhere and attend. At our resort – the Royalton White Sands – popular Jamaican songstress Etana gave a spectacular performance complete with Bob Marley covers. You simply can’t visit Jamaica without going to hear live reggae.

7. Spend Time on the Beach

lovebrownsugar-bathing-suit

The private VIP beach at the Royalton White Sands was just enough for me. I’m sure you’ve come to Montego Bay to relax and soak up sun, so be sure to head to the beach and spend a full day taking in the warm sand and cool water.

8. Visit the Countryside

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If you can, take an excursion out in the countryside of Trelawny. You can book an excursion through Island Routes like the River Bumpkin Farm (#2) to take out there.

jamaican-countryside

 

It’s nice to get out and see the real countryside of Jamaica.

9. Shop Local

Nothing beats local arts and crafts to take back home. Find a local shop or a street artisan (not a tourist destination) to buy some crafts for your collection.

10. Eat Fresh Jerk

jerk-chicken

Don’t leave Jamaica without experiencing authentic Jerk. Jerk chicken, jerk shrimp, jerk duck. Whatever it is you choose, have some jerk. It’s spicy and charred and amazing. If you don’t you’ll regret it.

Did I miss anything? If you’ve been to Montego Bay and experienced something amazing, feel free to comment! For those of you going, what are you looking forward to?

Christina Brown

Lifestyle influencer and digital mompreneur Christina S. Brown is a New York native, LA resident, and the founder of LoveBrownSugar.com and BrownGirlsLove. She's an award-winning storyteller, a motivational speaker and an advocate for confident millennial black women.

4 Comments
  1. River Bumpkin Farm is on my conistently-growing local list! Being on the other side of the island, I don’t get to visit MoBay as much as I’d like. Great ideas!

  2. River Bumpkin Farm is on my consistently-growing local list! Being on the other side of the island, I don’t get to visit that side as much as I’d like.