Montego Bay is Jamaica’s second city, located on the north-western end of the island. Primarily a resort town, Montego Bay is home to many all-inclusive hotels and exclusive beaches. This often gives visitors a distorted view of the island’s culture and its people. Beyond the resort gates lie a pulsating city and a myriad of activities for just about every taste– water activities, adventure trips, nature and historical tours to name a few. The city is an excellent base for undertaking day trips to see what Jamaica’s north coast has to offer. The best way to experience the city and its environs is at your own pace and renting a car allows you to do just that! Here are six unique experiences to enjoy in and around Montego Bay in your own self-driven vehicle:
The Rose Hall Greathouse
The Rose Hall Greathouse is a commanding nineteenth-century Georgian-style mansion overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Besides its imposing beauty, what attracts visitors to the mansion is its sinister past. Former owner Annie Palmer was a cruel slave owner and sadist lover. Her ghost is said to roam the house to this day, and the best time to visit the mansion is after dusk for the Haunted Night Tour. The faint-of-heart may explore the imposing building during the day instead. If you take the night tour, don’t indulge too much in the witches’ brew to steady your nerves since you’ll need to get home safely afterwards.
Estimated Drive Time: 25 minutes
Distance: 16 kilometres
Seville Heritage Park
Ninety-minutes’ drive from Montego Bay lies Seville Heritage Park, another historical landmark which concisely and accurately relates Jamaica’s history in an enjoyable hour-long tour. The site marks the location of one of the first encounters between the Old and New World. It is here, where Christopher Columbus introduced the Americas to Europe. The history of the clash of cultures that followed, for the indigenous people, first from the Spanish then later the British and West Africans makes a visit to Seville a must-have experience.
Estimated Drive Time: 85 minutes
Distance: 88 kilometres
Rocklands Bird Sanctuary
Hummingbirds seldom stay still long enough to be photographed, let alone perch on a human finger. Yet, that’s exactly what happens at the Rocklands Bird Sanctuary. The original owner of the premises made this remote location her home and took daily strolls through the surrounding land admiring the birds and plants. Eventually, the birds grew familiar enough to follow her home and since then, the generations of birds at this property, have interacted closely with humans and today, would sit on your finger for a drink of nectar from a bottle. Twenty-minutes’ drive from Montego Bay, the ride up the mountainous road to get there is somewhat bumpy but the delightful experience of feeding the hummingbirds by hand definitely makes the journey rewarding.
Estimated Drive Time: 30 minutes
Distance: 14 kilometres
Good Hope Estate
Good Hope Estate is a former sugar plantation which has been renovated by Chukka to offer a whole day’s worth of cultural, adventure, culinary, nature and water activities. Located in Falmouth, Chukka Good Hope boasts over 2,000 acres of lush plants, panoramic views of the Cockpit country, the majestic Martha Brae River and a historic Great House, alongside the modern fixtures of ziplines, ATV and dune buggy adventures, river tubing, three pools and a 300-foot slide to create lifelong memories for the entire family.
Estimated Drive Time: 50 minutes
Distance: 41 kilometres
Green Grotto Caves
An hour’s drive from Montego Bay leads to the Green Grotto Caves, Jamaica’s largest cave system which blends ecotourism, soft adventure and history into an enthralling 45-minute tour. The caves secret passages and caverns have played a pivotal role in Jamaica’s history and have been used for different purposes by Jamaica’s various inhabitants over the centuries. Today, this green globe certified network of caves and its innermost grotto are virtually untouched despite the tourists which crisscross its floors daily in addition to the creation of footpaths, stairs, railings and soft lighting for safety.
Estimated Drive Time: 65 minutes
Distance: 69 kilometres
Martha Brae River
Park at the Martha Brae Rafting Village and get on board a thirty-foot long bamboo raft in the Martha Brae River. You’ll be steered downstream leisurely by an experienced raft captain as you gaze up at the lush green tropical rainforest-like canopy overhead and admire the beauty of the river and tropical plants on its banks for an hour. This is the epitome of laid-back island living.
Estimated Drive Time: 40 minutes
Distance: 34 kilometres
Discovering Jamaica at your own pace with a self-driven vehicle has never been easier. If you are planning to leave the beaches behind, check out the award-winning Island Car Rentals with offices at Jamaica’s two major international airports and one in New Kingston. . You can also book your preferred car hassle free on www.islandcarrentals.com. They have the largest, well-serviced fleet on the island, with 1,500 vehicles of all types and sizes. If you’d rather someone else do the driving, Island also has a range of services to satisfy individuals and groups in both the leisure and corporate markets, making Island Car more than just a car rental company.
Reservations Centre
Mon. – Fri. 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (EST)
Closed on Public Holidays
17 Antigua Avenue, Kingston 10
(876) 929-5875
(416) 628-8885
(954) 573-9838
1 866 978 5335 (Toll Free USA)
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.islandcarrentals.com
City Office
Mon. – Fri. 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (EST)
Closed on Public Holidays
Sat. & Sun. 8:30 am – 3:00 pm (EST)
17 Antigua Avenue, Kingston 10
(876) 929-5875
(876) 926-8012
Norman Manley Int'l Airport
5:00 am – 10:00 pm (EST)
Daily Including Public Holidays
Kingston (In Airport terminal)
(954) 573-9836
(876) 924-8075
(876) 924-8389
Donald Sangster Int'l Airport
8:30 am – 10:00 pm (EST)
Daily Including Public Holidays
Montego Bay (In Airport terminal)
(954) 573-9837
(876) 952-7225
(876) 952-5771
Born in England, Sarah developed her wanderlust at a young age as she traveled around Europe with her parents. As a young adult she spent every penny she could on experiences as opposed to possessions. Eventually she found a way to earn a living doing what she loved: traveling, writing and capturing images of the wondrous world we live in. When not on the go Sarah enjoys time in her “sometimes home” of Vancouver.