Kingston, the capital and largest city of Jamaica, is located on the southeastern coast of Jamaica and faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit. It is the largest English-speaking city in the Caribbean.
Visit the Bob Marley Museum, discover local flora at the Hope Botanical Gardens and glimpse colonial life in Port Royal, which was once the hideout of notorious pirate Henry Morgan, until a third of the town was destroyed by an earthquake in 1692.
Stroll past stately Georgian townhouses in the old streets and palm-lined squares of Spanish Town, Jamaica's former capital. Pop into the San Jago de la Vega cathedral, the most interesting historical building in Jamaica and famous for its English and Spanish styles – one Romanesque, the other Gothic.
Then see relics of Jamaican history at Columbus Park, which marks the alleged 1494 landing of Christopher Columbus in Discovery Bay.
Away from the city, follow a network of hiking trails through coffee fields, along riverbanks and into upland tropical rainforest in the 78,000ha Blue Mountain-John Crow Mountain National Park. Hike to the summit of Blue Mountain Peak (2256m) for panoramic views over both the north and south coasts.
Or head to Catherine's Peak and Mount Horeb, discovering mountain villages and some of the 500 species of flowering plants and 200 bird species that live there: try to spot the giant swallowtail butterfly – the largest butterfly in the western hemisphere, as well as hummingbirds, rufous-throated solitaires, yellow-bellied sapsuckers and greater Antillean pewees.
Paddle a bamboo raft down the lush Rio Grande Valley and take a rejuvenating dip in the hot therapeutic mineral waters of the Milk River Spa, where the spring-fed water temperature often reaches 33°C (91°C).
The best time to visit Kingston is during the winter dry season from December to April, when temperatures average 27°C (80°F), rising to an average high of 31°C (87°F). The north coast resorts, such as Montego Bay are best between January and March.
Kingston has a hot tropical climate with two distinct wet seasons: during May and June, and from September to November. However, you can still expect a lot of sunshine even during the wet seasons.
The relatively cooler winter dry season from November to April is generally the sunniest time of the year.
For more climate info: Kingston Weather Guide…
Jamaica is the third-largest island in the Caribbean, located in the Western Caribbean, 145km south of Cuba and about 160km west of Haiti. The island is around 235km long and 82km across at its widest point.
By air, Jamaica is serviced daily with non-stop flights from several cities in Europe and North America.
Information on how to get to Jamaica…
Latest update Jamaica honeymoon destination: 6 July, 2022