Jamaica South Coast Attractions
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The quiet side of Jamaica offers numerous natural attractions and wildlife refuges, including those for the rare, protected manatee as well as crocodiles. Boat trips are taken at Black River, Jamaica's longest, to a freshwater swamp filled with herons and snowy egrets. Birdwatchers and hikers can visit Marshall's Pen, a 300ac/120ha cattle farm with gardens and a renowned bird sanctuary.Mandeville can be visited, a breezy hill town with a distinctly British feel. The main road between Mandeville and Black River passes through Bamboo Avenue, a translucent green tunnel formed by century-old bamboo groves.
Alligator Pond, Jamaica
Each morning, the local women in isolated Alligator Pond haggle over the catch delivered by the fishermen. Scuba diving, snorkeling and nude sunbathing are pastimes indulged in here.
Black River, Jamaica
Situated in the mouth of the river from which it takes its name, the town of Black River is in a little known area of the island where a quiet rural life style still exists.
Bamboo Avenue
Bamboo Avenue is a protected grove of giant bamboo that arch over the road for 3mi/4.8k to create a tropical canopy.
Invercauld Great House and Hotel
Invercauld House built in 1894 is an example of Jamaican architecture, and is typical of the elegant late-19th C waterfront homes built in Black River by well-to-do merchants.
Black River Safari Boat Tour and YS Falls
Black River can be toured by boat guided with a running commentary on the area's ecology and history. Over 100 species of birds have been recorded in this area. YS Falls, Jamaica's largest and most uncommercial is a highlight
Milk River Bath
The spring water is a constant 92° F/32° C at Milk River Bath and is supposedly the most radioactive in the world. Bathers are limited to three 15 minute treatments per day.
Spanish Town, Jamaica
Spanish Town was founded by the Spaniards in about 1534. The British destroyed much of the original town but built fine examples of Georgian architecture. It served as Jamaica's capital until 1872.
Hellshire Hills
Largely unspoiled, the Hellshire Hills rise to 787ft/240m on a peninsula projecting into the Caribbean south of Spanish Town. Fringed by a string of coral reefs, many ships have run aground here making it an abundant hunting ground for treasure divers.
Anglican Cathedral of St James
The Cathedral of St James was built by the Spanish in about 1525 but destroyed and rebuilt by the British in 1660. For more than 300 years it has served the Church of England. Many prominent Britons and Jamaicans are buried in its crypts.
People's Museum of Craft and Technology
The People's Museum of Craft and Technology in Spanish Town exhibits implements, machinery, utensils, architectural methods and industrial culture.
Mandeville, Jamaica
Mandeville, a town in the breezy Manchester Mountains resembles a town in the English Midlands with cottages and a town square.
Marshall's Pen, Great House
Marshall's Pen and Great House is an 18th C Great House on a 300ac/120ha wildlife sanctuary. Visitors can contact the house to arrange tours.
