4 amazing things to do in Jamaica with kids beyond the beach

Words by Antonia Windsor

Mention Jamaica to most parents and their minds will instantly turn to the image of an all-inclusive beachfront resort with the kids happily engaged in a game of water polo while they sip a cocktail to the background beat of reggae.

And you can definitely get as much of that as you want on this Caribbean island. But there is also plenty to do away from the resorts. Perhaps climb a waterfall like some wannabe action hero, potter along a fragrant mountain trail, craft your own farm-to-bar chocolate or spook yourself silly on tales of murder and mayhem.

Here are just a few of the best things to do with kids in Jamaica.

There is plenty to do away from the resorts

1. Climb Dunn’s River Falls

The highlight of most visits to Jamaica is a trip to Dunn’s River Falls. Even a cynical teenager won’t be able to help but belly laugh as they slip and slide up the limestone terraces of this impressive waterfall.

Situated near Ocho Rios on the north coast the falls tumble about 600ft onto a soft sand beach. You could just admire it while you swim in the warm sea, but where’s the fun in that? Much better to book a guide and attempt the ascent from the beach to the top.

You’ll have to hold on tightly to the person in front of you in a human chain as you navigate the tricky bits where the water gushes through your legs, but it eases off halfway when there is more freedom to jump into cool pools and take selfies.

If you are travelling with little kids then you can walk down the steps from the entrance at the top to the large upper pool of the waterfall where you can paddle without making the climb up from the beach below.

How to do it

Arrive early if you want to avoid the cruise-ship crowds that can sometimes throng here later in the day. Wear water shoes with grip because the rocks are slippery (these can be bought here for a few dollars if you haven’t packed them).

Lockers are available to put your stuff in (you will make the climb in just your swimwear). The guided climb takes about 45 minutes to an hour. Find out more.

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Dunn’s River Falls

2. Head to the Blue Mountains

You might have heard of Jamaica’s Blue Mountain coffee, but it is still a surprise to see the size of the mountains in the east of the island. When it’s hot on the beach below, you’ll find cool air up in the hills, and it can be a welcome relief to spend a day here.

A good spot to head for is Holywell Park, which is more than 3,000ft above sea level and popular with local families who come here from Kingston at weekends. The trails here are easy for little legs and you might see hummingbirds and giant swallowtail butterflies.

How to do it

Bring layers because temperatures are much cooler than on the coast and wear hiking shoes or trainers. Entrance to the park costs US$10 for adults and US$5 for children.

There are five short, family-friendly trails to explore, including a waterfall trail, along with picnic areas. Best reached by car or an organised Blue Mountains tour. Find out more.

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Blue Mountains

3. Make a bar of chocolate

Crafty kids will love the chocolate-making workshop at Pure Chocolate Jamaica. It’s in a small artisan studio in Island Village, Ocho Rios, and led by the passionate owner Rennae who will tell the story of how Jamaican cocoa beans become glossy bars of chocolate.

Kids get a chance to try tempering the chocolate before pouring it into a mould and decorating their choice of sprinkles and toppings. Rennae also teaches how to make a caramel sauce, which she turns into fudge, and everyone gets four pieces to dip in their remaining chocolate and cover with toppings.

Importantly you also get to taste lots of the collection, including flavours infused with local ingredients such as Blue Mountain coffee, coconut, jerk seasoning and Scotch bonnet pepper.

How to do it

Workshops take place at Shop 24 in the Island Village complex, Ocho Rios, on Jamaica’s north coast. The experience lasts about 90 minutes to two hours and is a good option for rainy afternoons. Find out more.

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4. Visit a haunted house

For older children and teenagers who enjoy ghost stories and dramatic history, few Jamaican attractions rival a visit to the Georgian property, Rose Hall Great House.

Perched on a hill between Montego Bay and Falmouth on Jamaica’s north coast, the restored 18th-century mansion houses one of the island’s most famous legends: the tale of Annie Palmer, the so-called “White Witch of Rose Hall”, who is rumoured to have murdered her three husbands as well as slave lovers and has haunted the house ever since.

By day, guided tours explore the grand interiors, antique-filled rooms and sweeping Caribbean views while introducing children to Jamaica’s plantation-era history. But it is the candlelit night tours that most families remember.

Guides lead visitors through shadowy corridors while actors bring the stories to life with theatrical flair, somewhere between historical tour and ghost story. Great for kids who enjoy being spooked.

How to do it

The house is located on Rose Hall Road, Montego Bay, in St James Parish on Jamaica’s north coast. Tours last about 45 minutes to an hour and it is worth booking ahead in peak season, particularly for the night experience. Find out more.

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There are beaches and adventures aplenty here

Where to stay in Jamaica with kids

Families wanting to see a different side of Jamaica should head south to Jakes in Treasure Beach, a part of the island that feels worlds away from the polished all-inclusive resorts of the north coast and is known as the breadbasket of the island for its multiple smallholding farms.

Set along a string of fishing coves in St Elizabeth Parish, the hotel has a rustic hippy feel: pathways twist between brightly painted cottages in electric blue, pink and sunshine yellow; outdoor showers are framed with shells and local stone; roof terraces provide viewing platforms for the sea.

Children quickly disappear into the hotel’s loose, barefoot rhythm, paddling in rock pools, ordering fruit smoothies at breakfast and making friends beside the saltwater pool, while parents settle into the slower pace of Jamaica’s south coast.

The family-run property has become something of a Treasure Beach institution, deeply tied into the local community and far more connected to everyday Jamaican life than many larger resorts (the owners are also involved in the popular island literary festival).

Families can take yoga classes, bike through farmland and dine high in the mountains at a farm-to-table dinner. Accommodation ranges from simple bohemian rooms to larger villas suited to families, many with sea views and private outdoor spaces. If you really want to push the boat out, Calabash Bay Villa comes with its own swimming pool and chef.