Kingston is the capitol and the largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. Ocho Rios to Kington was a 84 km drive on well laid road and took about an hour and 15 minutes. Our activities in Kingston :
- Bob Marley Museum
- Sabina Park – Cricket Stadium
- Hiking in Blue Mountain
Bob Marley Museum – For fans of Bob Marley, visiting Jamaica without touring the Bob Marley Museum is akin to traveling to India Paris and skipping the Taj Mahal. Here, you’ll see his guitar and other treasured possessions donated by his wife, Rita, as well as his favorite rooms as they were set up during his life. There’s also an 80-seat theater on-site, as well as a record store and a gift shop selling all the Bob Marley paraphernalia you never knew you wanted.
Sabina Park Cricket Stadium – Being a big follower of the game of Cricket while growing up in India, I have always wanted to check out all the cricket stadiums around the world. Sabina Park in Kington is where Test Cricket and one-day internationals are played. During the day/month we visited, there were no cricket matches scheduled. We were able to walk into the stadium as there was nobody at the entrance to stop us getting in. There was just a grounds man inside the stadium, who took us around the stadium.
Hiking in Blue Mountains – The eastern part of the Jamaican Island is dominated by the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park. The park was designated UNESCO world heritage site in 2015 due to its unique and diverse flora and fauna. Hiking in the Blue mountains is a popular activity on a trip to Kingston. The Blue mountain peak is at a majestic 2256 m (7402 ft), and is made all the more dramatic for the fact that it is possible to see the sea from the top (and from several points on the hike up there). We did an intermediate hike.
Catherine’s Peak intermediate hike – We drove up to the trail head which starts at the Jamaica Defense Force’s camp at Newcastle on the road to Holywell, 45 min drive from Kingston. We parked the car at the far side of the parade square. We went quite early and did not see too many people around. After parking the car, walk back to the other side of the parade square, keep left and follow the tarmac path up into the army camp. Explain to the lone soldier in the guard post that you wish to walk to Catherine’s Peak and he should oblige by taking details and handing over a permit. Pass through the single-bar barrier on the left and follow the trail, up and up and up. It takes about about 45 minutes in each direction and gets very steep towards the summit. There is only really one wrong turn that can be taken – into the Clifton Mount coffee farm, a mistake which should soon become apparent. The peak is marked by radio antenna masts and a triangulation point installed by the original surveyors. If the weather is clear, then the views are spectacular. The descent is back down the same track.
We went on the hike in Blue mountains early in the morning the next day. After the hike, we came back to the hotel, took a shower, had lunch, and drove back to Montego Bay. The drive took us a little more than 3 hours (171 km).