Hidden Jamaica Honeymoon

If you are looking for white sand beaches, lush mountains, delicious ethnic foods colorful dancing, crystal-clear seas and friendly faces, look no further than Jamaica for your honeymoon. But to avoid tripping over all the other tourists who flock to Jamaica's charms, you'll want to seek out hidden Jamaica—romantic getaways without the crowds.

The third-largest of the Caribbean islands, Jamaica is both geographically and culturally diverse. You'll find most of the major cities on the coasts, because the interior is dominated by rainforest-covered mountains and the unique, uninhabited "Cockpit Country," a limestone plateau marked by ravines and unexplored caves. Most resorts huddle along the north coast, with its secluded coves and white sand beaches. You'll find music and dancing practically everywhere on the island—the reggae, calypso, and ska that tourists have come to expect, but also newer Jamaica's own twist on more contemporary sounds. Although the island is dominated by people of African descent, the culture—including its cuisine—has been shaped by native Indian, Spanish, Middle Eastern, Chinese and British influences as well. Jamaicans speak English, as well as a local patois blending a variety of languages reflecting its long and varied history.

You can find out more about Jamaica by following the links listed below. The majority of couples who honeymoon in Jamaica choose the island's many all-inclusive resorts; if you're looking for lots of pampering and minimal hassle, an all-inclusive resort may be the route to take. But if you would like to actually see the island, meet its people and get a taste of its culture, here are some alternatives you may want to check out:

• Treasure Beach, otherwise known as “Jamaica’s best-kept secret,” is a good escape if it's solitude that you want. A string of (mostly) quiet fishing villages along four isolated coves with coral-colored beaches make up the Treasure Beach area, which is largely undeveloped by tourism—although you can still find plenty of accommodations in Treasure Beach's guest houses and nearby resorts and hotels.

• If you'd like to stay somewhere in leisure but still want to see more than just beaches, then you may want to check out The Caves Resort. The Caves boast spectacular views of lush vegetation, bronzed cliffs and beautiful beaches, all looking over the Caribbean. Ten hand-crafted cottages are nestled between the caves, which have sea views—or get cozy in one of their large furnished caves, where you can have a romantic dinner or just watch the waves come in.

• If you're open to "roughing it" (read: no air conditioning or TV), consider staying at the Great Huts, a private oceanfront vacation village that "blends a dramatic cliff-side seascape with the art, culture, and building styles of Africa and Old Jamaica." As the name implies, you might find yourself staying in a hut—or a tent, yurt, or treehouse. Every dwelling (even the permanent tents) features bamboo and driftwood beds with comfortable king- or queen-size mattresses. The cuisine is all natural and local: Our cuisine is natural: vegetables, fruits, Blue Mountain coffee, bread and fresh fish. Sabbath services are offered every Friday (guests of all religions are welcome), and a portion of the profits go to local charities.

• Port Antonio, in Portland Parish on the island's rainy, less-traveled northeast coast, offers a relatively quiet, genteel ambience nestled in the protective Blue Mountains. In the early part of the twentieth century, luminaries such as J.P. Morgan, William Randolph Hearst, and Errol Flynn all escaped to Port Antonio; you can even book a stay at Flynn's retreat on the 60-acre Navy Island. The mile-long white beach at Long Bay may very well be nearly deserted when you visit.

Is this honeymoon idea for you?

As with almost anyplace, Jamaica has its dark side: impoverished shantytowns and relatively high crime rates (especially in certain areas of Kingston), widespread drug use, and plenty of scammers and hustlers. For all that, Jamaica consistently ranks as one of the most popular honeymoon destinations; most couples manage to avoid the island's darker side in order to enjoy its many charms.

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Cost

You will find more discounts for your Jamaica honeymoon during the rainy season (May through November). You can get up-to-date information on what you can generally expect to pay for a Jamaican honeymoon at Lonely Planet.

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• Cranbrook Flower Forest. Jamaica is rife with beaches, but for something different, check out Cranbrook Flower Forest, a privately owned ecotourism attraction near Mamme Bay and Ocho Rios that boasts exotic tropical gardens, lawns, water pools and a tropical rain forest.

• Dance the night away. Jamaicans take their partying very seriously! The island boasts a vibrant nightlife, as well as a multitude of street festivals.

• Feed a hummingbird in your hand. At the Rocklands Bird Feeding Station, visitors are invited to feed dramatically colored tropical hummingbirds with a little bottle of nectar—the birds might perch on your finger, or take millet out of the palm of your hand.

• Raft down a river. In Port Antonio, you can take a two-hour trip down the Rio Grande from the Blue Mountains to the sea—on a bamboo raft.

• Ride down Bamboo Avenue. Speaking of bamboo, drive down Bamboo Avenue, several miles of giant bamboo that arch over the South Coast Highway between Middle Quarters and Lacovia.

• Go cliff-jumping. Add a little extra thrill to your honeymoon at the Caves Resort by jumping off the cliff into blow holes or the sea.

• Mayfield Falls. One of the island's most spectacular views is Mayfield Falls, just a two-hour drive from Negril. Count on an all-day trip—and bring a waterproof camera.

• Taste the local “likkle bickle.” “Likkle Bickle” is the local cuisine—jerk (slow-roasted meat), ackee and salt fish (fruit, vegetables, and cod all fried together), johnnycakes (biscuits), bammy (a starchy bread), cold coconut milk, mangos, pickled meats, crawfish, and fresh fish.

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Links

"Over the hills and far away - another Jamaica"

Article from the Guardian newspaper details unusual and out-of-the-way places to stay in Jamaica.

"Finding a More Authentic Jamaica"

This New York Times travel article takes you off the beaten track to the "real Jamaica" of Portland parish.

"High on Jamaica"

This excellent National Geographic Traveler article offers an in-depth tour of Jamaica's many charms.

"Rocklands Bird Feeding Station"

Article describing the Rocklands Bird Feeding Station, where you can feed a hummingbird by hand.

Jamaica Tourism Board

Official website of the Jamaica Tourism Board.

TreasureBeach.net

The official information service for the Treasure Beach guesthouse association.

Great Huts

Official site of Great Huts resort.

The Caves

Official website for this resort of handcrafted cottages "planted in a garden on the edge of the sea."
 

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Your honeymoon story

Have you done this trip (whether on your honeymoon or other travel)? We'd love to hear about your experience so we can share it with others . . . just drop us a line.

Last Updated: March 5, 2005