Frommer's Favorite Experiences

Sunbathing on an Isolated Beach: Tired of fighting the crowds? Head for Treasure Beach on the dry, sunny South Coast. The undertow can be dangerous, so swimming is tricky. But crashing waves make it one of the most dramatic beachscapes in Jamaica.

Escaping on a Romantic Picnic: The best place to escape for a romantic picnic is along the coast east of Negril at YS Falls. Three kilometers (2 miles) north of the port of Black River, in a "Me Tarzan, You Jane" setting, you can actually swing from an overhead vine or a jungle rope into cooling ponds made by the waterfall.

Chowing Down on Island Cuisine: Try such Jamaican specialties as jerk-chicken, chowder with crabmeat, shrimp, conch, and lobster, or grilled smoked pork loin in a coconut or mango sauce at any number of Jamaica's restaurants. Island flavors are unexpected and refreshing.

Exploring the Blue Mountains: This is one of the biggest, wildest, and greenest parks in the Caribbean, ideal for exploring. You must hike 5 to 6 hours through thick vegetation (hearing amazing birdsong on the way) to reach the summit.

Building a Sandcastle at Doctor's Cave Beach: This 8km (5-mile) stretch of white sand made "Mo Bay" a tourist destination. Waters are placid and crystal clear, and there are changing rooms and a beach bar. This one is a family favorite.

Falling in Love again at Reach Falls: East of Port Antonio, this is one of the oft-photographed beauty spots of the Caribbean. Visitors enter a virgin rainforest for a cooling dip and perhaps some nude lovemaking under the watery cascades.

Traversing Tarzan Country: You can explore what feels like real Tarzan country, with mangrove trees and crocodiles in the wild, on an outing with South Coast Safaris through the Black River. Lots of wild things grow in these swamps, and birders delight in the bird life.

Drinking Daiquiris on the Beach: Beach Bars abound throughout Jamaica. One of the most popular beach bars is Time 'n' Place in Falmouth, a raffish beach bar built of driftwood that looks as though it might blow away in the next storm. The setting is so authentic that many fashion magazines, including Vogue, have used it for background shots. The bartender makes the island's best daiquiris.

Swimming in Somerset Falls: Waters from the Daniels River race down a deep gorge through a rainforest. Flowering vines, waterfalls, and foaming cascades form a lush backdrop. You can swim in the deep rock pools.

Rafting on the Rio Grande: Shades of Errol Flynn, this is the grandest rafting experience in Jamaica. The rafts are propelled by bamboo poles.

Shopping for Jamaican Crafts: Crafts come in many forms, ranging from alabaster and woodcarvings to weavings. But quality is highly variable. Any outlet of Things Jamaican, including the one in Montego Bay, has a good assortment of crafts, as does Harmony Hall outside Ocho Rios on the North Coast.

Discovering Green Grotto Caves: These limestone caves were once used to hide runaway slaves. They're a world of stalagmites and stalactites, with seemingly endless chambers and eerie Grotto Lake, which you can visit in a boat.

Learning to Surf at Boston Bay Beach: It's known not only for its white sands and clear waters, but also for the great jerk-pork stands. This beach has the biggest waves in Jamaica, and you can rent surfboards and even get a lesson.

Finding a Great Piece of Art: Its paintings may never rival those of the finest Haitian artists, but Jamaica is at least the second-best center for art in the Caribbean. Prices are still reasonable, too, even when the artist has a certain renown. Although paintings are sold all over the island, the finest art is found in Kingston at either the Frame Centre Gallery or the Mutual Life Gallery, the two leading display showcases for the best of the island's artistic talent.

Re-enacting scenes from the Blue Lagoon: Another beauty spot, this is where teenage Brooke Shields swam nude in the film of the same name. You can have the same experience in an enchanted pool fed by a natural amphitheater. The water, 56m (186 ft.) deep at its deepest point, is said to have aphrodisiac powers -- which you'll have to determine for yourself

Strolling along the Seven Mile Beach: This beach in Negril stretches 11km (7 miles) along the west coast. These golden sands are fine for families, though there are several (sectioned-off) nudist patches where guests bare all.