Penlyne
Peak trailheadLodges near the peak trail.
Mountain guide
Things to do in Blue Mountains
Jamaica's highest mountains, rising right behind Kingston: cloud forest, waterfalls, coffee estates growing the famous Blue Mountain beans, and a night hike to Blue Mountain Peak for sunrise, with Cuba sometimes visible.
1
Hostels in the city
9.7
Average, from 20 reviews
2,256 m
Blue Mountain Peak
2015
UNESCO listed
Coffee and cloud forest
The Blue Mountains run across eastern Jamaica, rising from the edge of Kingston to Blue Mountain Peak, at 2,256 metres the highest point on the island. They are cool, green and often wrapped in mist, and together with the John Crow Mountains they form a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed in 2015 for its forests and its Maroon heritage.
The slopes grow Blue Mountain coffee, one of the most prized coffees in the world, on small estates you can visit and buy from. Trails lead through cloud forest full of birds, ferns and waterfalls, and the Holywell recreation area has easy walks and views over Kingston.
The classic trip is the overnight hike to Blue Mountain Peak, starting around 2am from Penlyne to reach the top for sunrise. Give the mountains two or three days.
Where to base yourself
Lodges near Penlyne for the peak, or around Irish Town and Holywell for coffee and walks.
Irish Town and Holywell
Coffee, walksCloser to Kingston.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 1 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in the Blue Mountains
Hike to Blue Mountain Peak overnight, starting from Penlyne at around 2am and climbing about 10 kilometres to reach the summit for sunrise. On a clear morning, you can see across the island and sometimes to Cuba.
Tour a coffee estate to see how Blue Mountain coffee is grown, roasted and tasted, and buy beans far cheaper than abroad.
Walk the trails at Holywell, swim in waterfalls and river pools, and look for the Jamaican tody and other endemic birds.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
The mountain roads and views are free, and some trails cost nothing to walk.
The cool air and mist are a break from the coast.
The national park, Holywell and coffee tours charge small fees, and guides cost extra.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Lodges and small restaurants serve Jamaican home cooking, and the coffee is the freshest you will taste. Plates cost €8 to €15.
Roadside stands sell fruit and patties on the way up.
A 10 to 15 per cent tip is usual in restaurants; check the bill, as service is sometimes already added.
Nightlife
Going out
There is no nightlife in the mountains, just quiet lodges and early nights before the hike.
Kingston, about an hour away, has the music.
Red Stripe costs €2 to €4.
Getting around
Getting around
The mountains are about an hour from Kingston, on narrow, winding roads. A driver or lodge transfer is the easiest way up; route taxis go as far as Papine and some villages.
The last stretch to Penlyne needs a four-wheel-drive.
Roads can be damaged after heavy rain.
Costs
What the Blue Mountains cost
Lodge beds start at around €20 to €40 a night. Plates cost €8 to €15.
A guided peak hike costs about €40 to €80, coffee tours about €15 to €30, and 4WD transfers extra.
Carry cash; there are no cash machines in the mountains.
Safety
Safety and scams
The mountains are safe and quiet. Hike the peak with a guide and a head torch, and bring warm layers: it can be close to freezing before dawn.
Roads are narrow and steep, so travel with an experienced driver.
Tap water is generally safe in towns, but drink bottled water in rural areas and anywhere supply has been disrupted. In an emergency, call 119 for the police, or 110 for an ambulance or the fire service.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Coffee and holidays.
Roughly August to March
Coffee harvest
Blue Mountains
Picking season on the estates.
December to April
Dry season
Blue Mountains
The clearest views.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Blue Mountains, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
When to go
December to April is the driest time, best for the peak. The mountains are wet much of the year, especially from September to November.
Jan
Dry, cold nights
Feb
Dry
Mar
Dry
Apr
Drier
May
Rain
Jun
Rain
Jul
Holidays
Aug
Rain
Sep
Wet
Oct
Wettest
Nov
Wet
Dec
Holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs at mid-altitude, rounded. Much cooler at the peak.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Blue Mountains prices.
Treat these as a guide. Guides and transfers cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Blue Mountains questions
The ones we get asked most.
How hard is the Blue Mountain Peak hike?
It is a long night walk of about 10 kilometres each way, steady rather than technical.
When does the peak hike start?
Around 2am, to reach the top for sunrise.
Is it cold in the Blue Mountains?
It can be close to freezing at the peak before dawn.
Can I visit a coffee estate?
Yes, several offer tours and tastings.
How do I get to the Blue Mountains?
By driver from Kingston, about an hour.
Can I see Cuba from the peak?
Sometimes, on a very clear morning.
When is the best time to visit?
December to April.
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