• Dolphin Cove Jamaica
  Each of Jamaica’s Dolphin Coves are in a different setting but they’re all world-famous for giving kids the unique experience of swimming naturally with dolphins in the Caribbean Sea – no surprises this is the country’s top family attraction. Dolphin Cove
• Dunn’s River Falls, Ocho Rios
  The best known natural phenomena in Jamaica, Dunn’s River Falls are enormous and made for climbing. The ascent’s thrilling and even younger kids can manage – go easy and take advantage of all the lovely lagoons and ledges to rest up on along the way.
• Bob Marley Museum, Kingston
  It’s never too early to introduce kids to ‘Brother Bob’, and this very personal museum, set in the 19th century house he lived in until his death in 1981, is a good place to start.
• Kool Runnings Adventure Park, Negril
  Jamaica’s awash with fantastic waterfalls but, when only manmade white-knuckle terror will do, Kool Runnings is the country’s biggest and wildest waterpark – gorgeous Seven Mile Beach is nearby.
• Green Grotto Caves, Discovery Bay
  Over 1500m long and 12m deep, the Green Grotto is one of Jamaica’s most thrilling natural experiences. The tour’s fascinating for kids and finishes up at a lovely underground lagoon.
• YS Falls, YS
  YS has Jamaica’s shortest place name and the YS Falls: a complex of seven scalable waterfalls across a beautiful 19th century sugar plantation with ziplines in the tree canopy, horse riding and lagoon swimming.

• Eco-Dreamer Cruise, Bogue Lagoon
  Between the ziplines and water sports and rides, chutes and slides, it’s easy to forget how naturally spectacular the Caribbean can be. A four hour cruise round Bogue Lagoon Marine Sanctuary is a perfect reminder.
• Mystic Mountain Rainforest Adventures, Ocho Rios
  The one unmissable, high-octane Jamaican experience for kids is a day flying over, around and down spectacular Mystic Mountain on bobsleighs, gondolas, cable cars, ropes and ziplines.
• Jungle Tubing, Great River
  A couple of hours adventurous tubing over gentle rippling glides and long, rushing stretches of the magnificent Great River and it’s easy to see how it came by the names.
• Family Sail & Snorkel, Montego Bay
  A two hours cruise in Montego Bay and an insider’s expertise on the best snorkelling spots is a fun way to spend the morning with kids in one of Jamaica’s most iconic spots.

Educational value for kids

• Sailing on traditional Jamaican rafts down the mysterious Martha Brae River is great fun for kids and local navigators double as history experts so learning’s squeezed into the adventure without anyone noticing.
• Guided hiking tours in Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park are a thrilling way for teenagers to explore some of this magnificently wild UNESCO World Heritage sites; one of the most bio-diverse environments in the Caribbean.
• Jamaica’s one of the few Caribbean islands with good, year-round snorkelling and diving conditions. No surprises it also has some of the best schools in the world too and kids are (almost) never too young to learn here.
• Put Jamaica’s wonderful beaches together with the country’s long equestrian heritage and it’s just about the perfect place for kids to pick up the basics of horse riding. Gentle strolls and easy canters along the sand are the stuff holiday memories are made of.

• The National Gallery of Jamaica in Kingston is the longest established in the Caribbean. The permanent collection’s pretty intriguing and the annual programme of events and exhibitions always has something worth seeing with kids.
• Devon House was one of Jamaica’s very first 19th century millionaire’s mansions. Now publicly owned and beautifully restored, it’s wonderful to explore and the gardens are glorious. The history’s made entertaining for older kids and nobodby can resist the charming Devon House Bakery.
• Take a tour of Jamaica’s Historic Schools. The built legacy of wealthy Victorian benefactors, the extravagant architecture’s almost as interesting as the 19th century island education system.

Getting around with kids in Jamaica

Car hire’s as easy in Jamaica as most other Caribbean islands. The defensive local driving style takes a bit of getting used to in Kingston and busier towns. Keep your speed down on narrow coast or mountain roads and drive cautiously at night. Knutsford Express buses are best if you don’t want to self-drive: large, air conditioned and cover the entire island. Many tours and attractions include transport to and from resorts in their ticket prices.