The Directory · Parishes

Explore Jamaica, parish by parish

Jamaica has fourteen parishes, grouped into three historic counties: Surrey in the east, Middlesex in the centre and Cornwall in the west. Each has its own character, from the rivers of Portland to the slow beaches of St. Elizabeth. Pick a corner of the island and meet the people who call it home.

Surrey · the East

Kingston

Capital: Kingston

The capital's heartbeat: reggae's birthplace, Devon House ice cream and street food that never sleeps.

Explore Kingston

St. Andrew

Capital: Half Way Tree

Where the Blue Mountains rise: coffee country, cool misty peaks and Kingston's leafy green edge.

Explore St. Andrew

St. Thomas

Capital: Morant Bay

The quiet, unhurried east: the healing mineral springs at Bath and the deep roots of Jamaica's freedom history.

Explore St. Thomas

Portland

Capital: Port Antonio

Jamaica before the resorts: the Blue Lagoon, rafting the Rio Grande and jerk born on Boston Bay.

Explore Portland

Middlesex · the Centre

St. Mary

Capital: Port Maria

Sleepy north-coast coves, banana-boat history and Noël Coward's hilltop hideaway at Firefly.

Explore St. Mary

St. Ann

Capital: St. Ann's Bay

The garden parish: birthplace of Bob Marley and Marcus Garvey, and the falls at Dunn's River.

Explore St. Ann

St. Catherine

Capital: Spanish Town

Old Spanish Town, the Rio Cobre's Golden Table legend and the plains that help feed the island.

Explore St. Catherine

Clarendon

Capital: May Pen

Deep farm country: the warm mineral waters of Milk River Bath and true taste-of-home cooking.

Explore Clarendon

Manchester

Capital: Mandeville

Cool highland air, Mandeville's gardens and citrus, and some of the island's gentlest scenery.

Explore Manchester

Cornwall · the West

St. Elizabeth

Capital: Black River

The slow south coast: Treasure Beach, the Pelican Bar on stilts in the sea and Appleton rum.

Explore St. Elizabeth

Trelawny

Capital: Falmouth

Georgian Falmouth, waters that glow at night, and the wild green mystery of Cockpit Country.

Explore Trelawny

St. James

Capital: Montego Bay

Montego Bay's energy: the Hip Strip, Rose Hall's great-house legend and warm north-coast water.

Explore St. James

Hanover

Capital: Lucea

One of the smallest, quietest parishes: Lucea's old clock tower and untouched fishing villages.

Explore Hanover

Westmoreland

Capital: Savanna-la-Mar

Negril's seven-mile beach, cliff-top sunsets at the west end and wide green sugar-land.

Explore Westmoreland