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Jamaica / Special Interests / Family

By Jane Anderson

Jamaica is one of the Caribbean’s best destinations for families. Children are very well received and there are a wide range of family activities from canopy tours through the jungle and banana boat rides at Aqua Sol Theme Park to interactive reggae exhibitions at Island Village in Ocho Rios.

Thrill-seeking families can enjoy fantastic activities with Adventure Company Chukka Caribbean Adventures, offering river tubing and kayaking, 4x4 off-road safaris and even a Jamaican dog-sled experience complete with local rescue dogs. Visit Dolphin Cove in Ocho Rios where you can swim with the dolphins, sharks and stingrays, explore the fascinating underwater world in a glass-bottom kayak and interact with exotic species on the Jungle Trail.

Mystic Mountain in Ocho Rios offers visitors the chance to soar up the mountain on the Rainforest Sky Explorer or skim through the tree-tops high above Jamaica's tropical landscape on the Rainforest Zip Line. When you reach the top station, 700 feet above sea level, catch your breath and enjoy spectacular panoramic views of Ocho Rios with its tropical landscape before having a go on the Jamaica bobsled coaster ride which races through the forest, ‘Cool Runnings’ style.

Located in Negril, Kool Runnings Water Park has 10 different water slides including the Jamaica Bobsled slide, which is 40 feet up above the ground and 350 long. Float on inner tubes down the ¼ mile lazy river Rio Bueno or for smaller kids, try Captain Mikie's Coconut Island featuring spray park attractions, water cannons and tipping coconuts.

Families can also take a tour through the Rastafari Indigenous Village in Montego Bay, and learn about the local Rastafarian way of life. Meet the village family and enjoy a tour of the herbal garden, learn about their history and culture as well as try samples of the local, organic food including roast yam, roast corn and coconut water.

There are very few playgrounds in Jamaica, however the larger fast food outlets - MacDonalds, Burger King and KFC - do often have children’s play areas. Kingston has a small funfair at Emancipation Park (with a merry-go-round and Crazy Golf) and Devon House is quite a popular spot for all ages.

The island also has an extensive range of hotel accommodation offering kids clubs and babysitting facilities, including the Half Moon Hotel and Round Hill Resort and Villas, as well as all-inclusive resorts such as Sunset Beach Resort in Montego Bay. Most villas are well geared up for children too. Nannies and babysitters are easy to arrange. Costs will vary according to your needs, but you should expect to pay a minimum of US$8 per hour for babysitting, more for a nanny.

The Meet-the-People program also allows families to experience Jamaica the islander way, by teaming visitors up with a Jamaican host family that will welcome them into their home and town, guide the family around local attractions unknown to many tourists, and give a unique look into the Jamaican culture.

Recommended accommodation view more

  • Coyaba Beach Resort & Club Boutique/Small Hotels & Inns

    A small and refined family owned hotel set in bountiful gardens just east of Montego Bay in Jamaica. 50 rooms. Read more

  • Half Moon Hotels & Resorts

    A large, long-established elegant resort on two miles of shoreline and beaches east of Montego Bay. 398 rooms, suites and villas. Read more

  • Round Hill Hotel & Villas Hotels & Resorts

    Jamaica’s most refined hotel, in an exquisite setting of villas and hotel rooms on a hillside and private peninsular just west of Montego Bay. 36 rooms and 27 villas with 74 suites. Read more

Browse Family on other islands

Anguilla | Antigua and Barbuda | Barbados | British Virgin Islands | Cayman Islands | Dominican Republic | Grenada & Carriacou | Nevis | Saba | St Barthélemy | St Kitts | St Lucia | St Martin/St Maarten | St Vincent and the Grenadines | Tobago

Or read our other island guides

Anguilla | Antigua | Aruba | Bahamas | Barbados | Bermuda | Bonaire | British Virgin Islands | Cayman Islands | Cuba | Curacao | Dominica | Dominican Republic | Grenada and Carriacou | Guadeloupe | Haiti | Jamaica | Martinique | Montserrat | Nevis | Puerto Rico | Saba | St Barthélemy | St Eustatius | St Kitts | St Lucia | St Martin/St Maarten | St Vincent and the Grenadines | Tobago | Trinidad | Turks & Caicos Islands | US Virgin Islands

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Looking for inspiration?

  1. Sample some fiery jerk chicken or pork at one of the many stands in Boston - the home of jerk 
  2. Take a tour of Appleton Estate, Jamaica's oldest rum producer
  3. Spend the day exploring Dunn's River Falls & Park
  4. Enjoy a round of golf at one of Montego Bay's five, 18-hole courses
  5. Immerse yourself in local culture and pay a visit to the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston

Jamaica Events

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