Sustainable Hotels in Jamaica

Jamaica is the third largest of the Caribbean islands. Jamaica is approximately 146 miles long and 51 miles wide. Kingston is the capital and largest city, located in the south eastern part of the island. Although the official language is English, most Jamaicans speak an English-based dialect which is known as patois.

The best time to visit Jamaica is November to mid-December when the weather ranges from mid-70’s to the high 80’s. The two rainy seasons are May & October through November while the hurricane season lasts from June 1 through November 30. Hight season in Jamaica runs from mid-November through mid-April.

Jamaica consists of mountain ranges, beautiful reef lined beaches, and rainforest. There are four main tourist areas:

Montego Bay: White sandy beaches with nightlife, pubs, clubs, all inclusive resorts and boutique hotels.

Negril: Includes a 7 mile stretch white sandy beach with many resort options along with cliffs lined with unique, romantic stays.

Ocho Rios: Spanish for “8 rivers”, Ocho Rios is known for its beautiful beaches, stunning scenery, and a wide selection of shopping.

Kingston: The capital of Jamaica consists of jungle and a thriving business district with a Jamaican nightlife.

Jamaica is full of beautiful, all inclusive resorts. If you are looking for a more authentic, smaller scale stay with sustainable practices in places, the following hotels are for you!

Jakes Hotel, Treasure Beach

Found on the south shore of Jamaica, away from the crowds and resorts, you’ll see cacti and acacia on black sand bays. Jakes as been a long standing center of the Treasure Beach community, a place where locals and travelers connect. Jakes Hotel’s two yoga decks on the ocean offer daily yoga sessions as well as yoga retreats. Embracing Jamaica’s long tradition of nurturing and healing, the Driftwood Spa draws fresh ingredients from Jakes gardens. Located at the corner of the Jakes property, the Driftwood Spa bumps right up against the sea, with open-air treatment rooms that let in the ocean breeze.

Jakes Hotel supports low environmental activities and supports local tour operators who can share their knowledge of the area. Jakes donates a US dollar a night and a dollar from every transfer to Breds the Treasure Beach Foundation that funds many community projects including sport for social change as well as education and conservation projects such as the Galleon Beach Marine Sanctuary. Jakes treats most of the sewage on-site, turning it into gray water used for irrigation purposes. Water is heated with solar panels, the pool “recycles” its salt water to and from the sea, and enforces a towel re-use program.

Jakes Hotel encourages sustainable farming by sources a majority of food from local sources. Jakes also proudly supports the growing group of organic farmers in the area otherwise known as the Treasure Beach Ital Farmers Association who supply items such as arugula, lemon basil and mustard greens to our restaurants. Jakes encourages sustainable fishing practices by buying items such as conch and lobster only when they are in season and contributing to local initiatives to better fishing practices—such as the Treasure Beach annual Hook N’ Line Fishing Tournament.

Jakes’ accommodations:

• Hotel rooms: ocean view or garden view; Starting at $115/night
• Oceanfront bungalows: with private deck or with private deck with rooftop terrace; Starting at $315/night
• Cottages: 2-3 bedroom, full kitchen, outdoor shower, and on the ocean; Starting at $395/night
• Villas: luxury homes with staff to assist you; Varies around $600/night

“Green might be a buzzword for some, but it’s the rootstock of Jakes, the 49-room Bohemian hideaway on Jamaica’s Treasure Beach. Now you can spend the night in quirky cottages where seashell-and-rock walls assure privacy in outdoor showers, recycled bottles simulate stained glass, and twig awnings provide shade.”

AFAR, 10 Dreamy Bohemian Beach Hotels

Jamaica Inn, Ocho Rios

Nestled in Ocho Rios on one of the premier private beaches in Jamaica, intimate suites and cottages showcase enchanting views of the Caribbean Sea. With just 52 suites on 8 acres, the Jamaica Inn offers multiple vacation plan options ranging from European Plan, Breakfast Plan, Modified American Plan and an All Inclusive add-on package. This property participates in Green Globe, a program that measures the property’s impact on one or more of the following: environment, community, cultural-heritage, the local economy.

The Jamaica Inn Foundation is a non-profit organization providing education and well-being support to our island youth and aiding with the ongoing preservation of our marine environment. The Jamaica Inn Foundation helps support Debate Mate, the Oracabessa Bay Turtle Project and the White River Fish Sanctuary Project.

Jamaica Inn, along with local fishermen and community partners, has made it a priority to establish a fish sanctuary along the coast. The resort was awarded the J.H.T.A.’s Environmental Sustainability award in 2018 for their efforts. Working with the White River Fish Sanctuary, the Jamaica Inn Foundation trains wardens to monitor the coast to prevent overfishing and are part of a coral restoration project which transplants staghorn coral in hopes to attract fish.

Jamaica Inn also works closely with the Oracabessa Turtle Bay Project and Sanctuary which works to protect the endangered Hawksbill Sea Turtles. Females start arriving in May & June to nest along the beaches of Ocho Rios. Guests are invited to assist hatchlings to the ocean during turtle season, August to October.

Jamaica Inn Accommodations:

• Suites: Ranging from $366- $2,559
• 1 Bedroom Cottage, 2 guests: Ranging from $1,701- $2,709
• 2 Bedroom Cottages, 4 guests: Ranging from $956-$1,856

Hotel Mockingbird Hill, Port Antonio

Set on a hilltop on Jamaica’s northeast coast between the majestic Blue Mountains and the Caribbean Sea, Hotel Mockingbird Hill is Jamaica’s foremost ‘green’ hotel minutes from the most romantic Frenchman’s Cove Beach. You will find a Garden of Wellness completely surrounded by nature, a low chlorine pool, 7 acre garden and an upcycle gallery.

Hotel Mockingbird Hill has received 21 International awards recognizing its environmental commitment. The hotel possesses solar water heating, no plastic bottles, locally produced toiletries and paper, have a carbon offsetting program and use reusable energy.

To provide high quality responsible tourism that enhances guest comfort and experience while minimising environmental impact and maximising benefits to the community.

Hotel Mockingbird Hill’s Mission Statement

Hotel Mockingbird Hill Accommodations:

• Garden View Rooms: Starting at $195 including breakfast
• Superior Room: Starting at $220 including breakfast
• Deluxe Rooms: Tropical style indoor/outdoor living; Starting at $245 including breakfast
• The Pad: One bedroom off the pool with a private patio; Starting at $165.00 including breakfast
• The Den: Smallest room off the pool; Starting at $130 including breakfast

Children: Max. 1 child under 12 years may stay free in their parents’ room. Maximum one extra bed can be provided per room. A baby cot can also be provided. For persons 12 years and older, a third person surcharge of US$ 60.00 per night applies.

Kanopi House, Blue Lagoon Portland

A collection of eco-chic tree houses high among the Banyans along a secluded hillside overlooking the Blue Lagoon. Kanopi House ties the adventurous traveler with green focused luxury. The property is far enough off the beaten path to feel like a private island paradise but also just a short ride away from amazing excursions. On property, spend the day lagoon lounging, then snorkeling the reef, kayaking through turquoise waters, or swimming out to Monkey Island.

Kanopi is eco-friendly, organic, low impact, green and NEPA approved. Kanopi’s grey water system is processed along a reed bed and all the materials are regionally sourced hardwood. Items found throughout the property are handmade locally.

No tree was felled in the making of Kanopi House. To accommodate the natural landscape, building plans were adjusted and some trees simply continue through the rooftops. We even repurposed a Guango tree chopped down by a neighbour into a selection of dining and occasional tables.

Kanopi House Oath: We tread lightly upon our Earth

Accommodations: Four treehouses: three one-bedroom treehouses, one two-bedroom treehouse. Prices range from $85 through $675/night. Prices include use of kayaks and access to the Blue Lagoon.

Not Fully Sustainable but Also Awesome:

Skylark Negril Beach Resort, Seven Mile Beach

I have to share with you this sentence from the Skylark Resort as a description: Imagining the Jamaican version of a hip, Havana heyday-era bohemian beach resort swim club, the Skylark Negril Beach Resort draws on inspirations from tropical mid-century, modern design, and the vibrant visual vocabulary of Jamaica and it’s vast musical culture.

Weekly classes at Skylark Resort include cooking, painting, meditative tours, tour of the organic garden at Rockhouse and a Rockhouse Foundation Community Tour. A shuttle runs back and forth between the sister property, The Rockhouse, for daily yoga and Caribbean dancing.

Skylark helps fund the Rockhouse Foundation which transforms schools and libraries for local children. For it’s latest project the Rockhouse Foundation conceived of and built from the ground up Jamaica’s first public mixed ability, full-inclusion model early childhood school, where typical learners and children with a wide range of special needs are taught side-by-side in the same classroom. When school is in session we offer weekly visits and volunteer opportunities at the school. You can learn more about the foundation and contribute to our work by visiting the Rockhouse Foundation website.

Skylark Accomodations:

• Ocean View Studio: 1 king size bed, room for another twin (sleeps up to 3), 2 balconies; $175/night
• Balcony Studio: located on the second floor with a private balcony, 1 king with room for twin; $135/night
• Patio Studio: Ground floor with private balcony, one king with room for twin; $125/night
• Studio: second floor, no balcony; $95/night

If you want to take your eco-friendly vacation in Jamaica one step further and happen to know you’ll be in Jamaica on the third Saturday in September you can go to the Jamaica Environment Trust’s (JET) website to join one of the many teams taking part in the largest one-day volunteer event in the world, International Coastal Clean Up Day, where Jamaicans of all ages take to the beaches to do their part to help keep our island beautiful.

Bring Your Ocean Safe Sunscreen!