5 Places in Jamaica Which Remind Me Of “Foreign”

For now, my travels have mostly been local because it’s cheaper, involves less planning, less packing and little to no time-off. It’s also very satisfying to explore my own home. However, I still dream of traveling to distant shores when the time is right and as such, I spend an enormous amount of time watching and reading about travel. During my local adventures and travel research, here are five places in Jamaica which remind me of foreign destinations I’ve seen online.

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1. Turtle Bay – Algarve, Portugal

These picturesque rock stacks and islets look like something straight off the coast of Algarve in Portugal! However, this picture was taken at the Turtle Bay Beach in east Portland, Jamaica. Skip the Schengen visa and expensive flights, and experience the illusion of Portugal’s most stunning coastline with its towering cliffs and hidden bays in Jamaica for FREE. I can guarantee that Jamaica’s “Algarve coast” will be much emptier too, and if you’re lucky you may even have it to yourself like I did on a random Saturday in December 2021.

2. Bull Head Mountain – Colorado, USA

Do these pine trees look like something you’d find in a tropical maritime country like Jamaica? Absolutely not, but you’d be wrong! 50% of Jamaica is over 500m above sea level, and it’s possible to climb from sea level to over 1000m in Jamaica from just an hour of driving! With that said, pictured above is the trail to the Bull Head Mountain Peak in Clarendon, Jamaica, the island’s geographic centre. Located at 1097m above sea level, this altitude allows the Bull Head Mountain Park to enjoy a unique microclimate which supports plants typically suited to a temperate climate such as the towering fragrant pine trees pictured above, and other interesting conifers. Minus the cows, I just know this trail could pass for any hiking trail in the Rockies of western USA! No need for a visa, folks.

3. Our Mountain Swings – Bali, Indonesia

As mentioned earlier, Jamaica is a very mountainous island nation. Our economy depends heavily on tourism, and in recent years we’ve expanded our offerings from the traditional “sun, sand and sea” to include mountain experiences. In addition to Blue Mountain coffee tours, hidden waterfall escapades and cross country cycling, shrewd entrepreneurs have taken Bali to Jamaica by introducing these trendy Instagram-worthy mountain swings! There’s no line to get a photo on these swings and the fee they charge is nominal. As of 2024, there are three such swings in Jamaica located in:

• Spring Hill in the Blue Mountains
• Campbelton Mountain Adventure Park in Hanover (near Montego Bay), and
• The hills overlooking Ocho Rios, the latest addition to Jamaica’s “Bali Swings.”

4. Sandals South Coast – Maldives

For all you know, this photo could have been taken from a Maldivian resort website– could you tell the difference? Ha! Well, take my word for it that these posh overwater bungalows are located in Montego Bay at the Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort, similar to the ones at Sandals South Coast in Whitehouse, Westmoreland. The main difference is that these bungalows are twice the price of the ones located in the Maldives, but perhaps the money and time you save on flights from North America to Asia may make this luxurious Jamaican escape worth it. I hope to stay at a Sandals Resort someday.

5. Negril Cliffs – Santorini Sea Caves, Greece

Last but not least, are these gentlemen in Santorini, Greece? Nope, I can assure you that this photo was taken at Joseph’s Cave in West End Negril, Jamaica. You may remember that I recently enjoyed a dream staycation in West End Negril at the Rockhouse Hotel, and the view of the rugged cliffs and caverns from the water could rival those from the Santorini Sea Caves. So, be my guest. Skip the Schengen visa and just come to Jamaica instead. 🙂

Wrap Up

This article was fun to put together. Long story short, when in doubt, vacation in Jamaica! You could tag a whole different continent and no one would be able to spot the difference, ha!

If you enjoyed this post, you’d also like:

• 5 Places to Raft in Jamaica
• 10 Interesting Types of Tourism in Jamaica
• 10 Interesting Jamaican Place Names
• The Best Time to Visit Jamaica

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