Visiting Jamaica in the low season offers a more relaxed and intimate island experience. During these months, tourist numbers drop and prices for hotels and tours often fall. You can enjoy beaches and attractions without the usual crowds, which makes your trip feel like a personal adventure. Most days, the weather is still warm and sunny, but sometimes it rains in the tropics, so the landscape is lush and green. During this time, you can rent a car and explore hidden gems in Jamaica at your own pace. You might even have some places all to yourself.
The low season in Jamaica is from July to November. Here are reasons you should visit:
Here are some of the best places to visit in Jamaica during the off-season. These are secret treasures, like waterfalls, caves, and old lighthouses. Travelling to each of these places during off-peak times is great because you'll have a unique experience when the crowds are gone.
The Mayfield River in Westmoreland has 21 waterfalls that flow down in a series. It is in a rainforest valley with dozens of natural pools and mini-falls where you can swim and relax. The tallest waterfall, called the "Washing Machine," is about 3 metres high and makes a bubbly pool that feels like a natural hot tub. You can drive to this beautiful river walk from Negril in 90 minutes, so it's a great day trip into Jamaica's lush interior.
Visiting Mayfield Falls in the off-season is a nice change of pace. During the busy season, tour groups often visit the more famous falls. However, in the summer or fall, you might only see a few other people or even have the falls all to yourself. With a local guide, you can climb the gentle waterfalls, swim in the cool turquoise pools, and listen to the sounds of nature. The seasonal rains make the rainforest around the river green and lively, and the crystal clear water flows steadily. Wear water shoes to keep your grip on the rocks, and bring a waterproof camera for pictures.
Jackson’s Bay Cave is an extensive limestone cave system hidden on Jamaica’s south coast. This cave network stretches for several kilometers underground, located in the Portland Ridge area of Clarendon near a secluded beach called Jackson Bay. It is known for its dramatic chambers filled with stalactites and stalagmites. Uniquely, an underground river flows through parts of Jackson’s Bay Cave, carving out passageways. The cave is undeveloped. There are no electric lights or paved paths here.
Because it’s off the typical tourist trail, Jackson’s Bay Cave is rarely crowded, even in peak months. You’ll likely need to arrange a trip with local guides to explore safely. The trip may include a short boat ride to the cave's best entrance or a hike through coastal scrubland. It's cool inside. Wildlife is less disturbed during these quieter months. On the cave walls, you might see bats roosting, petroglyphs, or markings left by the Taino people, the island's first inhabitants. Bring a headlamp and good shoes, and be ready to get dirty. Jackson's Bay Cave is a great place to go caving if you love nature and geology.
Roaring River Park is a heritage and nature park in Westmoreland, built around limestone caves and a bubbling river. The Roaring River emerges from underground springs and flows through the park. The main cave at Roaring River is a series of cathedral-like chambers with stalactites overhead, and a natural mineral spring pool inside where you can take a dip. This area was once part of an 18th-century sugar plantation, and the caves have a rich history. Today, Roaring River Park has landscaped gardens and a small museum.
In Jamaica’s low season, Roaring River Park is more peaceful. You can wander the gardens and explore the cave with a guide. Imagine climbing into the cave and seeing only the light of your guide’s lantern dancing on the cave walls. Outside the cave, you can soak in the mineral spring pool. The surrounding countryside is green from July to November, making the riverbanks and gardens look like a tropical paradise.
Belmont Cave is a dry limestone cave that is hidden in the Cockpit Country of Trelawny. Cockpit Country is a large area of karst hills and valleys that is known for its unusual geology and many caves. There are more than 1,000 caves in the region's large limestone. Belmont Cave is on a forested hillside close to a village called Belmont.
It is called the "Drip Cave" because it has bright rock formations and delicate dripstone features that make it look like a white limestone cave. The cave has two close-to-each-other entrances that lead into a single network of rooms. Inside, you'll see the usual cave features: stalactites hanging from the ceiling, stalagmites rising from the floor, and a few bats flying around in the dark.
Going to Belmont Cave during the off-season is a real adventure. Cockpit Country is far away and not many casual tourists visit at any time of year. The smell of wet earth and plants is strong after a rain shower, and mist hang around in the deep valleys. A guide can lead you on a short hike through thick plants to get to the entrance of Belmont Cave.Listen to birds chirping and lizards rustling in the leaves as you get closer. The guide might point out fossils or markings in the cave, or talk about how Maroon warriors once used the caves to hide during colonial times. Wear good hiking boots because the cave floor can be uneven.
Thatchfield Great Cave is one of Jamaica's most amazing underground sights. This cave system is in St. Ann Parish, near the north coast. It is famous for its maze of passages and large rooms. Thatchfield Cave is so big. It goes deep into the earth and has long tunnels and high-ceiling caverns. Inside, you'll find complex rock formations like limestone stalactites, flowstones that look like frozen waterfalls, and a small underground waterfall. Heavy plants cover the entrance to the cave, and its exact location is sometimes kept secret to protect the fragile environment. This cave is also home to bats and other animals living in caves, which shows the ecosystem is healthy.
Since there aren't as many people on the island, you can often set up a private or small-group tour of this cave. The weather above ground might be hot and humid in the summer or early fall, but you'll find cool, damp air when you go down into Thatchfield Cave. Guided by experts who typically provide helmets and lights, you’ll learn about the cave’s geology and the efforts to preserve it. They’ll help you navigate narrow passageways and point out formations that look like ancient sculptures.
The Morant Point Lighthouse is at St. Thomas Parish's easternmost point in Jamaica. Built in 1841, it is the oldest lighthouse in Jamaica and the first cast-iron lighthouse in the Western Hemisphere. The tower is about 30 metres tall and has guided ships for over 100 years. It is painted in bright red and white stripes.
The lighthouse is on a remote coastal plain surrounded by a wild landscape of swamps, coconut trees, and scrub. The area is a National Heritage Site because it is important to Jamaica's maritime history. Next to the lighthouse is a windy beach with driftwood and crashing waves. It is the very edge of the island.
The low season is the best time to visit Morant Point Lighthouse if you want to be alone and see beautiful scenery. You might have to drive on a rough road. So, you must have a rental car or 4x4 and then walk a short distance, across a wetland if it has rained. You can't always go inside because it's usually locked unless a caretaker is there. Instead, you can walk around the base and think about how the Kru men from Africa built it in 1841 in a remote place. If you visit in late summer, you may see signs of sea turtle nests on the beach.
Perched atop a dramatic cliff in St. Elizabeth, the Lover’s Leap Lighthouse is one of the most breathtaking views in Jamaica. The lighthouse was built in the mid-20th century around 1967, and stands 30 metres tall with a steel frame. What makes Lover’s Leap truly special is its location. It is about 520 metres above sea level on the edge of a sheer limestone cliff. This is one of the highest lighthouse sites in the world, overlooking the Caribbean Sea far below.
The spot comes from the legend of “Lovers’ Leap” – the tale of two star-crossed lovers who leapt from the cliff to stay together. A small observation deck and restaurant near the lighthouse allow visitors to safely enjoy the panoramic vista of the coastline, including the broad Pedro Plains and the sparkling sea. On a clear day, you can see miles of coastline and sometimes even spot fishing boats far below. The breeze there is steady and refreshing, especially in the summer heat. If you visit towards the late afternoon, you can see a stunning sunset painting the sky, since this southwestern view lights up brilliantly as the sun goes down.
The Martha Brae River is one of Jamaica's most famous natural attractions, especially for its bamboo rafting. This calm river flows through Trelawny Parish, coming down from the green Cockpit Country highlands and winding down to the north coast. Local guides pole long 30-foot bamboo rafts along a beautiful three-mile stretch of the Martha Brae. As you float downstream for about an hour, you pass under bamboo arches, see wild ferns and flowers on the banks, and sometimes see birds flitting through the trees. It's a safari on water. People love the rafting trip because it's peaceful and romantic.
The Martha Brae River is even more peaceful in the low season. There might only be a few rafts on the water. You can often enjoy a longer, more relaxed float because the guides don't have to rush through long lines of tourists. During the rainy season, the river level can be a little higher. This makes it easier for your raft to glide over shallow areas in the dry season. Rafting is safe unless there is a storm.
Cane River Falls is a beautiful waterfall in the hills near Bull Bay, east of Kingston. Visitors can swim in a cool, shallow pool at Cane River Falls, where the water flows over a series of rock ledges. To get to the falls, you must go down concrete steps and through a small cave-like tunnel. This is because the falls are partially hidden in a cove. Many plants and vines are around the area, and tropical plants frame the falls.
Cane River Falls is a great place to go in the off-season. This place is never too crowded with tourists. In the summer or early fall, you can go on a weekday and find only a few local families. You can easily get there by rental car. The drive from Kingston is only about an hour. The entrance fee is low, and you can get to the falls by walking through a small gate and down a path. The water might be cooler and very clear as it flows down from the mountains. You can either stand under the falling water for a natural back massage or sit on the rocks. If you want a snack or drink afterward, there are changing rooms and a rustic little bar at the top.
Travelling during the low season in Jamaica is a unique experience. You’ll enjoy fewer crowds, lower prices, and more relaxed interactions with locals. The waterfalls are fuller, the forests greener, and the island is peaceful. Exploring caves, rivers, and lighthouses during these months makes every stop feel personal and authentic.
To make your trip smooth, rent a car in Jamaica with Final Rentals. Choose your pick-up and drop-off location in Montego Bay Airport or Kingston Norman Manley Airport. Final Rentals has cars for city driving, as well as SUVs for mountain or country roads. Enjoy transparent pricing with no hidden fees, free cancellation, and 24/7 airport assistance. For extra convenience, you can also download the Final Rentals app on Google Play and the App Store.
