One of the benefits of a Caribbean family vacation is giving your family members the chance to see the rain forest. Jamaica has colorful flora and fauna and a number of rare bird species, so some many family activities in Jamaica center on exploring nature.
A canopy zip line tour works well for families traveling with older children. The minimum age for most tour groups is 10 years old, but families that fit the requirements will enjoy riding a zip line through the jungle canopy. Some tours combine a zip line experience with a jungle trek, including adventures such as crossing a swinging bridge and sampling the fresh fruit of Jamaica.
For those families who are too young for a zip line tour or find soaring through the trees to be a little too adventurous, a jeep tour might work better. You can travel off the regular road to see the natural beauty of the island away from the touristy areas.
Keep your family entertained and educated by connecting them to the Jamaican culture.
The Jamaica Tourist Board offers a unique opportunity to actually meet the Jamaican people face to face, away from the beaches and resorts. The Meet-the-People program allows visitors to team up with Jamaican hosts who have common interests. The Jamaican acts as a host and tour guide, showing the guest the island and culture from an insider's perspective. Meet-the-People costs nothing, and interested families can sign up for the program via the tourism board website.
Consider shopping a local market to sample the food and artwork of the people. While you are on the island, catch a reggae concert or see a street performance.
Visit the beach, where your family can play in the sand, collect shells, swim in the ocean and snorkel while visiting Jamaica. When your family tires of these activities, enjoy some other beach-based adventures.
Get close to some of the aquatic wildlife of the island. Swimming with the dolphins or feeding a shark is an experience your children probably will never forget. Dolphin Cove at Treasure Reef in Ocho Rios offers both of these activities, as of October 2009.
Your family can also experience the sand and surf on horseback. Several horseback riding companies operate throughout the resort areas of Jamaica's beaches, and most offer some beach rides that actually take you into the water. Consider choosing a ride that will take your family through the jungle and along the beach as well.
