Across Jamaica, food, music and love appear in different ways: lively dancers moving to reggae, laughter shared over a traditional meal, and the natural beauty bursting across the island. It’s a destination I could spend months exploring. 

When Hurricane Melissa tore through the eastern end of the island in November 2025, communities faced significant challenges as thousands of residents were displaced and infrastructure was damaged. Yet Jamaica remains a culturally rich and effortlessly beautiful destination, welcoming 2.6 million visitors since reopening its doors in December 2025, and one that tourism officials and business owners are eager to share with the world. 

“Come Back” is the country’s renewed tourism slogan, reviving the popular 1970s campaign “Come Back to Jamaica”. As Bartlett touched on and the people of Jamaica echoed, the phrase is both an invitation and a reminder that Jamaica is as vibrant as ever. 

Below is a three-day itinerary highlighting some of the experiences, communities and attractions that make Jamaica worth returning to, or discovering for the first time.”

Since 2016, the Alligator Head Foundation has released approximately 18,000 hawksbill turtle hatchlings into the waters of Jamaica’s northeastern coast. This is just one impressive feature of the work going on here. With a core mission to revitalize natural systems and restore marine life, the foundation also maintains coral and mangrove nurseries.

Witnessing these green and hawksbill turtles in their natural environment, especially after learning about the efforts and extremes the Foundation goes to in order to keep them alive and healthy, was an enriching experience. Visitors can join the foundation on glass-bottom boat tours to spot turtles and corals throughout the week.

3:00 p.m. | Spirit of the Maroons 

At the foot of Jamaica’s world-renowned Blue Mountains, the sound of drums in the Charles Town Asafu yard carries across the road. Bamboo walls with illustrations rich in storytelling line the yard, and although I cannot see the kitchen, the scent of freshly grilled jerk chicken fills the space. Served in a traditional calabash bowl, we’re offered an entree of either fish, chicken, or a vegan option. As the meal arrives, so too does a small gathering of the dogs and cats who also call Charles Town home. As the meal concludes, Charles Town residents take the stage with drums and dancing, putting on a showcase of Maroon culture. 

While the origin of the word “Maroon” is not exactly known, it describes a people whose spirit could not be broken. There are five active Maroon communities in Jamaica, with an estimated five to ten thousand people residing across each. At the Charles Town Maroon Museum, visitors can experience authentic Maroon cuisine, learn cultural song and dance, and soak up the rich history and lived experiences of the community.

3:00 p.m. | Sea, sun and rum punch 

After exploring and capturing the perfect Instagram moment at Dunn’s River Falls, soak up the sun and admire the ocean floor on a catamaran snorkel adventure with Chukka Adventures. Sailing away from the shore of Dunn’s River Falls, this excursion begins with a scenic coastal cruise along Jamaica’s north coast. Lively DJs, Jamaican patties, time in the water and, of course, a little rum punch make this adventure perfect for a mid-day getaway. In Ocho Rios, Chukka Adventures is a hotline for connecting visitors with some of Jamaica’s most iconic natural attractions.

6:00 p.m. | Time to unwind

Departing the northern coast for an eastern retreat, the lush and colourful Port Antonio, capital of Jamaica’s Portland Parish, awaits. Port Antonio is a magnet for celebrities, says Candace Thomas, a Jamaican Tourist Board host. As we drive through areas with private residences, gates shrouded in tropical shrubbery, and the glimmer of the ocean in the background, I can certainly see why Port Antonio is Jamaica’s luxury destination. Life moves at a slower pace here, and there’s no better destination to enjoy a meal and relax on the island than Geejam Hotel and Recording Studio. 

Located across six acres (2.4 hectares) of lush tropical rainforest, Geejam offers visitors an opportunity to experience the foothills of the Blue Mountains before a swim in the Caribbean Sea. Complemented by an infinity pool stretching toward the horizon and a strong reputation for its dining, the experience overall is superb. Visitors do not have to be overnight guests to experience the effortlessly relaxing atmosphere of the Geejam Bushbar, where live shows, Jamaican cuisine and chill vibes carry into the night