Be whisked away by the sound of steel drums, taste of rum, and sight of sea life up close in turquoise blue waters. Welcome to Jamaica.
Whether you're looking to go snorkeling, visit coffee farms, hike mountains, or jump in waterfalls, Jamaica is the perfect spot for travelers–especially for a honeymoon!
Since it was our honeymoon, we decided to treat ourselves and book an all-inclusive resort to alleviate our own stress on where to eat, what to do, and how to get around. Here is our full 7 Day Trip Itinerary to inspire you on your journey to Jamaica!
Watch our full honeymoon adventure:
Best Time to Visit: October - June
Total Cost: ~$6,000 including excursions
About Jamaica
Jamaica is a small island located in the Caribbean. The warm, humid weather mixed with gorgeous turquoise waters teeming with diverse sea life make the island a glorious sight.
The locals are especially hospitable and the majority speak English very well, so language barrier is not an issue. Learning about the country and getting around was a breeze. With tourism being one of the country's top industries, there are plenty of opportunities to immerse oneself in the culture.
Where to Stay
Secrets Wild Orchid - From the moment we checked into Secrets Wild Orchid, we were met with incredible service. Our ocean view room was gorgeous and filled with all sorts of goodies--including a mini bar and snacks, robes and slippers, and more.
Located on the tip of a peninsula in Montego Bay, Secrets Wild Orchid shares a beach front with two sister resorts--Secrets St. James and Breathless. Booking with one resort grants access to all three resorts (Breathless requires Preferred Club upgrade) including their pools, bars, restaurants, and entertainment. Having extra space room to walk around added so much value to our stay. Three resorts for the price of one? Yes please!
We upgraded to preferred status, and it was well worth it! The private beach, jacuzzi, views, and service made the trip that much more luxurious.
A glimpse of our room:
What to Do
Hang Out at the Resort
We intentionally scheduled a couple days into our plans just to enjoy the resort. The resort offered a fair balance of free and paid activities. Some include:
Guided snorkeling
Stand up paddle boards
Kayaking
Scuba diving*
Catamaran tours*
Water skiing*
Parasailing*
Wake/kneeboarding*
Tubing*
Banana Boat ride*
Boat tours*
Deep sea fishing*
Glass bottom boat*
*Cost extra
Catamaran Excursion to Negril, Snorkeling, and Rick's Café
Board the Sunset Dreamer and head out on this incredible adventure! This excursion takes you up the south coast of the island and allows almost an hour of snorkeling time. We saw tons of coral, sea urchins, fish, and other incredible creatures.
After you've snorkeled for a while, you will head to the world famous Rick's Café, where you can cliff jump into the turquoise sea, grab some delicious dinner, listen to live music, and watch the sunset. This was Jess's favorite excursion.
Excursion to Blue Hole and Dunn River Falls
Jairus's favorite excursion was Blue Hole, and we both loved Dunn River Falls.
This tour takes your to Fern Gully Island--a natural waterpark of sorts--and leads you through a rain forest of turquoise water falls, a rope swing, and different cliff jumping opportunities. Life jackets are provided, but are not required if you're a strong swimmer.
Dunn River Falls was incredible. While it could be considered highly commercialized, there's a reason for it. You start at the base of the falls which flows into a beach on the ocean, and climb your way up with your group, linking hands the whole time. As to be expected, the guides are a ton of fun and make great jokes along the way.
Chukka Catamaran and Power Snorkeling
We couldn't get enough snorkeling, so we decided to go on a second snorkeling excursion with Chukka. The property features a choice of several activities, and has a bar and pool to relax before or after your tour. We loved swinging on the wooden swings, lounging in the hammocks over the water, and just hanging out.
The Catamaran took us to a reef just off the shore, and allowed us to snorkel with powered sea scooters for about 30 minutes.
What to Pack
Temperatures in Jamaica range between 73°F to 89°F, creating a tropical oasis no matter what time of year. From mountains to beaches, there are so many things to do. It's best to look into excursions before you head out to allow you to bring appropriate clothing and other items. Here is what we suggest:
Clothing
Ball caps and wide brimmed hats
Sun shirt
T-shirts and tank tops
Lightweight dresses
Linen or synthetic collared shirts
Swim suits (bring a couple so they can dry out in between)
Swim cover ups
Chacos or other sturdy sandals
Flip Flops
Toiletries
Sunscreen (minimum SPF 50)
Bug Spray (though mosquitos weren't too bad at the resort while we were there)
Sunburn relief gel/lotion
Other Items
Sunglasses and straps
Waterproof phone case
GoPro waterproof camera and selfie stick attachments
Hydration supplements
Personal beach towels for excursions
Personal snorkeling gear if you have it
While this list is far from comprehensive, these are a few items that we're so glad we brought, or some we didn't bring but wish we had!
Full 7 Day Itinerary
Day 1 - Travel Day
Fly into Montego Bay, Jamaica
Meet up with pre-arranged airport transfer
Check into Secrets Wild Orchid Preferred and make your candlelight dinner reservations (we waited and missed our chance to do this!)
Grab a drink and hit the beach or pool
Visit the Mexican restaurant for dinner
Day 2 - Resort Day
Order room service for breakfast--including fresh mango juice!
Go kayaking on the bay
Chill at the pool and swim up bar
Book your excursions for the week
Get dinner at the Jamaican Restaurant
Day 3 - Catamaran Excursion to Negril, Snorkeling, and Rick's Café
Get on the shuttle bus and board the Sunset Dreamer Catamaran
Enjoy the party boat
Go snorkeling and see all of the incredible sea life
Go cliff jumping at Rick's Café in Negril
Get dinner and drinks at Rick's Café
Head back to the resort and enjoy the night life and shows
Day 4 - Excursion to Blue Hole and Dunn River Falls
Board the shuttle bus and enjoy the journey to Blue Hole (Island Gully Falls) in Ocho Rios
Jump into the stunning waterfall, and walk/rope swing through the rest of the natural water park
Shuttle to Dunn River Falls
Climb the incredible Dunn River Falls that flows straight into the ocean
Get dinner, hang out with resort friends, and eat snacks at the Coco Beach Club
Check out the night club at the resort
Day 5 - Resort Day, Beach Day, Hobie Sailing
Get Breakfast at the All World Café
Order room service and bring it to the beach
Get a spiked coconut from the coconut water cart
Rent a Hobie and go sailing for an hour
Chill at the beach and pool
Get dinner at the French restaurant
Hang out at the Piano Bar with resort friends and watch the night's entertainment
Day 6 - Chukka Catamaran and Power Snorkeling
Visit Chukka and check out the different activities they offer
Board the party boat and go snorkeling using the Yamaha Seascooters
Spend the rest of the day relaxing at the resort
Get dinner at the Italian restaurant
Day 7 - Travel Home
Get breakfast at the resort
Grab one last drink from the bar and chill by the beach before checking out
Fly home
Jamaica was the most wonderful place to spend our honeymoon. We loved every moment of the trip, and didn't want to leave! While we typically prefer a more rugged style of vacation, we agreed that all-inclusive is the way to go if you're really hoping to relax and unwind, yet still explore!
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