FALMOUTH · TRELAWNY
Description.
Falmouth is the best-preserved Georgian town in the Caribbean, and it sits at the center of Trelawny parish — a stretch of coast that's seen a wave of new resort development without losing its historic character. The town's grid of 18th-century buildings predates many structures in New York, and a walking tour through its streets reveals wrought-iron balconies, cut-stone churches, and the old courthouse where enslaved people were once auctioned. Today, cruise ships dock at Falmouth's modern port, but the real draws lie beyond town: the Luminous Lagoon at nearby Rock glows electric blue after dark — one of only four bioluminescent bays in the world — and Martha Brae River offers Jamaica's most popular bamboo rafting experience. The resort scene here is growing fast. Excellence Oyster Bay brought adults-only luxury to the coast, Royalton Blue Waters and Royalton White Sands sit on Mountain Spring Bay, and the brand-new Riu Palace Aquarelle opened on White Bay. Good Hope Estate turns plantation history into adventure with zip lines, river tubing, and an aviary, while Hampden Estate pours some of Jamaica's finest rum from copper pot stills dating to 1753. Silver Sands in Duncans offers gated villa living for the Airbnb crowd. Falmouth sits one hour east of Sangster International Airport — $150 for a private transfer with Aurum. From Kingston (KIN), it's $570 (2h 50m); from Ian Fleming Airport (OCJ), $320 (1h 45m). Your driver takes the coast road through Rose Hall and past the fishing village at Rio Bueno. A private transfer from MBJ to Falmouth costs $150 and takes 1 hour with Aurum Transfers.