Things to do in Falmouth, Jamaica

Falmouth is the capital city of Trelawny Parish and is nestled on the northern shore of Jamaica. The city is also conveniently located in between two other popular tourist destinations, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay.

This popular Caribbean destination is home to lush forests, waterfalls, caves, long emerald rivers, picture-perfect beaches, and of course, the beautiful Jamaican people and their incredibly delicious cuisines.

In this article, we’ll list some of the best things you must do during your stay in Falmouth.

Without further ado, let’s get started.

Explore the Port

The port in Falmouth recently reopened in 2011after four years of digging up sea beds meticulously to create the triangular-shaped Pier, where the majestic port now lies.

The port features a number of restaurants, shops, and different tourist amenities. It is undeniably one of the prettiest and cleanest ports in Jamaica.

Stroll around the cobblestone paved streets, where you’ll find many unique shops featuring a nice collection of Jamaican themed jewelry, paintings, clothes, and woven items.

You’ll also come across famous retailers like Del Sal and Diamonds International.

Besides the shopping scene, there are some fine restaurants within the port area that serves delicious local cuisines. Taste the famous local delicacy, the Jamaican Patty or the Empanadas stuffed with vegetables and saucy meats.

Margaritaville, Pepper Jerk Center, and Tasty Patties are some of the places within the area where you can find these delicacies.

Historic Buildings

Back then, Falmouth was a sugarcane farming town, and its dwellers were very wealthy. The historic buildings today are a reminder that this town was once a very significant Georgian town.

Explore the city and check out some of the historic buildings. You can either tour alone or opt for a guided walking tour. Such a tour will help you get an insight into Falmouth’s rich history.

During your tour, you’ll come across Albert Town Market, a permanent house that was established in 1894 in honor of Queen Victoria’s two children. There you’ll get to see the clock stand, which is a popular local landmark.

Some other highlights of the tour include the courthouse, built-in 1815, Vermont House, the Water Square, and the Baptist Manse.

Visit the Great Houses

About 15 minutes away from the port area, you’ll find the Good Hope Estate, an old mansion that belonged to John Tharpe, who was the largest slave and landowner in Jamaica.

This 2000+ acre estate was once a sugar plantation that still remains to be one of the finest structures in town. The estate offers a stunning panoramic view of the Cockpit Mountains, Martha Brae River, and the Spain Valley.

Aside from touring the estate, you can also try the Appleton Rum tasting or test your love for adventure with ATVs, dune buggies, river tubing, and zip lines.

Another notable house is the Rose Hall, which belonged to Annee. She is known as the white witch and is believed that her ghost still haunts the estate.

The property is now a resort and features the Cinnamon Hill and the White Witch golf courses.

Raft Through the Martha Brae River

A short journey in the interior region of Falmouth, you’ll come across Martha Brae village, where you can raft through the Martha Brae River. Enjoy a 3-mile journey downstream that takes about an hour to reach Martha’s Reach.

The whole journey offers a beautiful and peaceful experience, while the rafters make a great companion. Once you’re done rafting, get on one of the trucks, and it’ll take you back upstream.

Glistening Water Lagoon

The Glistening water lagoon is another major landmark in Falmouth, and if you’re planning to stay overnight, this is a place you must visit. Also called the luminous lagoon, the water when stirred glows, creating a magical phenomenon known as bioluminescence.

The boat trip will last for 30 minutes or so, and if you want, you can even swim and enjoy the eerie phenomenon as it lights up with every movement. Once the boat trip is over, you can devour delicious cuisines at the waterside restaurant. There’s also a bar that offers a view of the glowing lagoon as you enjoy your drink.

Swamp Safari

If you’re fond of animals, a trip to the Swamp Safari is just what you need. Originally started as a crocodile farm in 1969, it has over eighty crocodiles that are owned by Charles Swaby.

You would be interested to know that Charles was featured as a stunt double in “Live and Let Die.” You’ll even get to enjoy a recreation of the movie at the end of the tour.

Crocodiles aren’t the only species you’ll come across. The place also has pythons, owls, alligators, and even lions.

Explore the Picture-Perfect Beaches

While Negril beach is unarguably the most famous beach in Jamaica, it’s too far from Falmouth and will take about two hours each way. That said, Falmouth also has some of the best beaches, such as the Burwood Beach and Doctor’s Cave Beach.

Red stripe beach and Burwood beach are the only beaches close to the port. The former beach is a private beach where the cruise lines offer shuttle service, and various amenities are available for rental. 

Burwood, on the other hand, used to be a deserted spot with no amenities but has been recently upgraded. The beach now has changing rooms, showers, and washrooms.

Also, there are lifeguards on duty at the beach, and for a price of $5, you can enjoy a pleasant beach day.

Doctor’s Cave is another perfect option. You can get there by either taking a shuttle service from the port or an excursion. However, opt for an experienced driver to avoid getting stuck in traffic.

A round trip to Doctor’s Cave will cost $20/ person, and the entrance fee to the beach is $6/ person.

At the beach, you can check out the trampoline, which is loads of fun or even go for snorkeling. If you’re famished after all the fun activities, enjoy a nice meal of pork or chicken jerk at one of the restaurants found in the area.

Final Say

That’s all you need to know for the best time of your life in Jamaica’s famous cruise port. Lastly, if you plan on touring the town alone, be safe. A guided tour is best if you aren’t familiar with the Jamaican culture and its surroundings.

Jamaica is one of the great places to visit in July.

Falmouth is undeniably one of the best places to be, offering fun and exciting experience to its visitors, from rafting through the Martha Brae River to touring the historic buildings to relaxing at one of the picture-perfect beaches. There’s just so much you can do in this majestic port city.