Set between Montego Bay and Ochos Rios (circa an hour from each), is one of Jamaica’s most pristine natural harbours - Discovery Bay, a sparkling turquoise expanse known for its immaculate beaches. In the north coast of the island, in St Ann Parish, the city is also known locally as Dry Harbour. It is thought that Christopher Columbus landed in this spot, and is known for its open-air museum, breath-taking Green Grotto Caves, and gorgeous sugar white sandy beaches.
Discovery Bay is home to some of the Caribbean’s most spectacular beaches, for example the renowned Puerto Seco beach, as well as natural wonders such as the gently winding Pear Tree River, or, worth a visit is Columbus Park; an open-air archaeological museum, set across three acres, overlooking the ocean and featuring a range of artefacts.
The north coast offers other key attractions such as Dunnes River Falls and Nine Mile; its diversity spans five star tourist hotspots to some less-trodden corners such as Cardiff Hall and Fisherman’s Beach, known for their quiet beauty, sugar-white sands and clear waters ideal for snorkelling. Dunn River falls, just outside Ochos Rios is a star attraction; a spectacular 600-foot waterfall that cuts through a dense emerald forest and spills into sparkling sea waters.
St Ann Parish is known for being home to the birthplace of reggae legend Bob Marley, as well as its glitzy developments, crystalline waters and coral reef rich coast, whilst away from the tourist hotspots, there lies a fascinating, colourful culture with music built into its rhythms and craggy remote mountains through to tropical waterfalls and banana groves.
Thirty feet offshore, easily reachable by kayak, is the barrier reef complex that covers much of Jamaica's north coast. Taking a kayak out to the live reef will offer a tropical treat of colourful fish and coral, with snorkelling in shallow water or deeper waters for scuba diving.
Montego Bay is an energetic hub of buzzing nightlife, downtown market life, duty-free shopping and parties galore; ‘Mo’ Bay’ (as it is known locally) is Jamaica’s second largest town after Kingston. When it comes to beaches, there is everything from the celebrity dotted Doctor’s Cave Beach, which has an 100-year-old bathing club, through to less showy Cornwall Beach, known for its tasty fried fish.
Ochos Rios, or ‘Ochi,’ as it is known to locals, began as a modest fishing village, and today is a vibrant hub of slick shopping malls, magazine worthy beaches and buzzing nightlife. From white-water rafting to craft shopping, Ochi Rios is a charismatic melting pot of traditional Jamaican life and sleek tourist hubs.
Whether it be deserted coastline or hikes inland to hidden waterfalls, magical coral reef journeys, or bubbling local culture intermixed with shiny tourist hubs, live music or water sports, the north coast of Jamaica has it all.
