Montego Bay travel guide

Doctors Cave Beach

The story of Montego Bay's most famous beach began in 1906, when a group of doctors decided to found a bathing club on a beach property donated for the purpose by Dr Alexander James McCatty. Access to the small beach at the time was through a cave - hence the name Doctor's Cave. The cave was destroyed in 1932 in a fierce hurricane, but the bathing club has lived on and the beach has become legendary.

The water is warm and crystal clear, and Sir Herbert Barker, well-known British osteopath, claimed back in the 1920s that the waters of the beach have curative powers, which made the bathing spot even more alluring for foreign visitors.

Today, access to the beach, which is located in the middle of Montego Bay's 'Hip Strip' is controlled through a smart entrance way and a complex of changing rooms, showers, gift shops, and the 'Groovy Grouper' beach bar.

Rose Hall

Legend has it that the stunningly beautiful Annie Palmer was murdered at the Rose Hall Great House in 1831, but not before she had rid herself of three husbands (allegedly by using voodoo magic). Annie herself was killed during a slave uprising on the estate, brought about by her battle with a slave girl for the love of the estate supervisor. Annie is now known as the 'White Witch of Rose Hall'.

The house, originally built in 1780, was abandoned for many years, but has now been restored. A gift shop and pub are in operation in the dungeon, where the white witch is said to have imprisoned and tortured slave victims. Investigation into the ghost story suggests that Annie Palmer is fictional, as there never was a mistress of Rose Hall by that name. However, the story endures powerfully in the local imagination and makes exploring this wonderful house quite spooky, especially on a night time candlelit tour.

Montego Bay Marine Park

The Montego Bay Marine Park is proclaimed to protect some of Jamaica's best coral reefs and marine resources. The park is divided into zones where different activities (for example various watersports and fishing) are allowed or restricted. The park's resource centre is found at Pier One Marina on the waterfront in downtown Montego Bay, and provides information about the park, and ecological presentations. Private operators also run undersea submersible tours of the reefs.

The marine park offers wonderful scuba diving and snorkelling. Venomous Lionfish have become common in the park and although they are beautiful visitors are warned not to touch them as contact with the poisonous spines is painful and in rare cases can cause convulsions or paralysis. A really fun way to explore is to swim/snorkel out from Doctor's Cave Beach or Sunset Beach. This should only be attempted by experienced swimmers, who should have either a diver's flag or a bright life vest.

Falmouth

The old Georgian port town of Falmouth makes for an interesting visit. The centre of the town is Water Square, which features a market full of little craft stalls that dates from 1895. Also of interest is the former residence of John Tharp, a notorious slave-owner, and the town house of rich plantation owner Edward Barrett. St Peter's Anglican Church, and the William Knibb Memorial Church (a chapel built in memory of Jamaica's enthusiastic Baptist abolitionist) are also worth a look. The best way to explore this historic town is on a walking tour with one of the well-informed local guides.

Besides the cultural attractions there are lovely beaches to roam and laze on. For the adventurous, there are river rapids and canopy jungle tours to be enjoyed just outside of the town. The famous Jamaican attractions of Dunn's River Falls and Dolphin Cove are also good excursions to combine with a trip to Falmouth.

Croydon in the Mountains

Jamaica's national hero, Samuel Sharpe - the slave who led the bloody 'Christmas Rebellion' of 1831 and helped to expedite the emancipation of Jamaica - was born on this still-working plantation in the interior, 24 miles (39km) from Montego Bay.

Guided tours of the Croydon coffee and pineapple plantation run from Montego Bay, and have become a must-see for every visitor to the island. Visitors gain some interesting insights into the history and processes of coffee and pineapple production, as well as the chance to savour some of Jamaica's exotic fruits. One of the highlights is just the location, which is beautiful. A delicious meal is served at the end of the tour and the owner of the plantation often makes an appearance.

Transport to and from the main Montego Bay hotels and the Grand Palladium Resort in Hanover is provided by the plantation.

Hip Strip

The 'Hip Strip' is undoubtedly Montego Bay's liveliest area, jam packed with sun-seeking visitors from dawn till dusk, and full of wonderful local eateries and relaxed bars where reggae music is the only thing stored in the jukebox. Tourists looking to let loose and have a real rum-fuelled party should check out the surprisingly wild nightclubs of the area.

Craft-sellers, vendors, uncommonly aggressive ladies of the night, and hopeful ganja-dealers abound, so visitors should be mindful of their possessions. However, strolling along the strip and experiencing the vibe, warts and all, is essential on a trip to Montego Bay. This is the perfect place to trawl for souvenirs, enjoy a few cocktails, and meet the locals, many of whom are friendly and willing to dispense advice about what you should see and do in Jamaica.

Greenwood Great House

The Greenwood Great House was built between 1780 and 1800 and is generally regarded as 'the greatest' of Jamaica's Great Houses. It was the residence of Richard Barrett (cousin of renowned poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning) - who is said to have presided over 33,600 hectares and 3,000 slaves. The Greenwood Great House stands as testament to both the grandeur and cruelty that the British brought to the Caribbean.

Greenwood has not undergone extensive renovations, and appears to modern-day visitors largely as it was inhabited. A tour of the House will take in the Barrett's original library (home to some astonishingly rare books), some sombre oil paintings of the family, some fine antique furniture and a collection of unusual musical instruments.

Described as 'the finest antique museum in the Caribbean', an excursion to the Greenwood Great House is highly recommended for visitors to Montego Bay interested in the colonial history of the island. Guided tours are the only way to explore the house and they last about 30 minutes.

Rocklands Bird Sanctuary

Rocklands Bird Sanctuary offers visitors the chance to get up close and personal with the island of Jamaica's wide variety of colourful birdlife. Founded in 1954 by Lisa Salmon (affectionately known as 'the bird lady'), today the sanctuary is managed by the knowledgeable and charming Fritz, a man who is blessed with an almost St Francis-like gift for beckoning birds down from the surrounding boughs.

The highlight of the trip is the opportunity to hand-feed hummingbirds - including the Doctor Bird, Jamaica's national bird - while relaxing in the shade on the Sanctuary's patio. The sanctuary is lush and full of plants and flowers so apart from the bird sighting opportunities it is a lovely place to wander off for a nature walk.

The sanctuary is nearby Montego Bay, but the roads are bad, so many prefer to travel with a tour and an experienced driver.