Out and About
Golf: Negril Hills Golf Course is 18 holes and is reached before entering Negril. It is less challenging than the championship 18-hole course at Tryall Golf & Country Club, but ideal for golfers who just want to hit some balls while in Jamaica. Tryall's par 72 course was designed by Ralph Plummer and hosted the Johnnie Walker Open for many years. Avid golfers report that it is a great pleasure to walk that course with its well-maintained gardens as it winds across the Tryall property with challenging proximity to the sea.
Horseback Riding: Paradise Plantation offers trail-rides on an enormous 2000-acre seafront property long owned by the Clarke family. Ride across Sweet River, along the shore, and into the sea for breathtaking vistas of the coastline and mountains. There is rich tropical foliage (mangrove, water hyacinth, etc.) and excellent views of a working plantation (cattle, dairy, lumber).
Canopy Tour: Chukka Caribbean Adventures offers a 2 1/2 hour long breathtaking canopy tour via zip line. The tour mixes amazing views of flora and fauna with the heart pumping adrenaline rush from flying through the air on zip lines over 1000 feet long at speeds exceeding 35 mph. This tour is for the serious adventurer.
Negril: Negril has a spectacular 7-mile sand beach, snorkeling off its cliffs, bars, restaurants, water sports, shopping. It is a fascinating combination of hustle-and- bustle, combined with the Jamaican “soon come” way of life. There are numerous restaurants/bars, and a current favorite is Idle Awhile with its prime beach location. Other dining spots: Charela and Cafe-au-Lait (Jamaican/French cuisine), Cosmo's (renowned for its seafood). Hire jet skis, take a catamaran ride, or try the Grand Lido Resort's half-day pass in order to enjoy their facilities and take a sunset cruise on the ship that once belonged to Princess Grace. The Jungle, the island's most popular “nightclub”, gets going very late (11PM), is especially active on Thursdays through Saturdays, and offers a free “ladies night” on Thursdays.
YS Falls: Years ago, the Browne family (known for growing delicious fruits, raising top quality beef, and breeding some of Jamaica's best race horses), found a hidden gem tucked away in a corner of their 2000-acre plantation and it was Jamaica's highest waterfalls. Rather than keeping this treasure to themselves, they turned the area into a park to be enjoyed by visitors. Take walks up the many levels of the YS Falls, try an unforgettable rope swing, enjoy a short zip line (canopy tour) over the YS Falls, and also tube down the YS River. The spectacular gardens are a perfect place to enjoy a delicious picnic lunch catered by our cooks that will give you the energy needed to try out everything there is to offer.
Black River: Boating up the Black River (the longest river in Jamaica) is an experience that seems to be right out of a movie. The Everglades-style ride offers views of mangrove, birdlife, and even many crocodiles. Watch as the boat captains feed the crocs who they have named—but only if they are good...Be sure to admire the gingerbread Victorian buildings in the city of Black River. You may also wish to add on a visit to the nearby and incredible Orchid Farm owned by Dr. Bennett.
Other Excursions: Appleton Estate offers tours of its rum bottling plant that has been in operation since 1749. They demonstrate how the rum is made from the very beginning to the very end of the process. Samples of the final product, including some new “high end” rums, are provided.
Shopping: Duty-free shops are easily found in Montego Bay and Negril, and so your shopping needs can be easily met if you want liquors, Blue Mountain coffee, jams and spices, t-shirts, paintings, books, cards, even Cuban cigars. In Negril, visit Times Square, a galleria of duty-free shops. Paintings and small gifts can be purchased at Décor Art & Mirrors in the Doctor's Cave area of Montego Bay.