Priti Barua

Priti Barua is a Brighton dentist with a passion for global travel. Living in India, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong as a child with a pilot for a father, Priti Barua got the travel bug early and as an adult has experienced a whole host of other destinations as well as returning on occasion to old favourites. One particularly enjoyable trip saw Priti Barua travelling to Jamaica for a Caribbean holiday she would never forget.

Jamaica is a fascinating Caribbean island which still retains much of its African character, with a colourful and vibrant culture and many hidden gems awaiting the intrepid traveller. From lively waterfront resorts to secluded coves, Jamaican beach life revolves around the twin island loves of fantastic local foods and live reggae music. One of the most popular coastline haunts of both locals and tourists alike lies in the famous Montego Bay. Doctor’s Cave Beach with its vast tracts of fine golden sand lapped by glistening turquoise waters may be one of the more populated beaches yet a year round ban on football, vendors and radios makes it feel surprisingly intimate even in the height of the season. Exquisitely maintained changing rooms, a variety of restaurants serving delectable local fare and a series of water sports for the more adventuresome make this beach well worth a visit.

The coastline is not the only area of Jamaica which benefits from beautiful stretches of water. Two popular pastimes on the island are river rafting and visiting the cascading waterfalls. River rafting is the antithesis of white water rafting – lying back on a bamboo raft being punted down beautiful stretches of river with breaks for swimming, food and drinks is a highly relaxing way to spend an afternoon while also taking in the sights, sounds and smells of natural Jamaica. There are several waterfalls including Dunns River Falls, which while always busy are so beautiful they are worth jostling the crowds to see.

One of the truly hidden gems of Jamaica has to be the Firewater Healing Spring, a mineral pool in St. Ann’s Bay which is said to have mystical healing powers for all who bathe in it. Virtually impossible to find by the inexperienced, those who take the time to hire a guide and take the trip into rural Jamaica may just find that any ailments they have mysteriously disappear.