Above Rocks Travel Guide

City City in Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica

Limestone ridges and cool hill air give Above Rocks its character; visitors hike to nearby waterfalls, visit small coffee and citrus farms, and eat plate lunches at roadside stands.

Costs

Budget to mid: US$40-70 per day

Moderate - local guesthouses, occasional tourist services.

Safety

Relatively safe with common-sense precautions

Rural Jamaica - safer than cities but be cautious after dark.

Best Time

Best visited November-April

Drier winter season offers the most comfortable travel weather.

In This Guide

Why Visit Above Rocks?
Top Things to Do
Plan Your Visit
Where to Stay
Where to Eat

Time

—

Weather

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Population

5,261

Infrastructure & Convenience

Limited public transport; road taxis and minibuses connect to towns.

Popularity

Rarely visited by international tourists; mainly local visitors.

Known For

hilltop village scenery, local markets, smallholder farming, rural churches, Jamaican community life, nearby coffee and fruit farms, local festivals, viewpoints

Above Rocks sits inland in Saint Catherine Parish, set among rolling hills rather than Jamaica's better-known coastal resorts.

Why Visit Above Rocks? #

Perched in Saint Catherine Parish, Above Rocks attracts travelers interested in Jamaica’s inland hill country, coffee and farming communities. The surrounding slopes offer views across plantation fields and small farms where Blue Mountain coffee and jerk flavors are part of daily life; lively community events showcase reggae and gospel music. It’s an appealing stop for those who prefer rural rhythms, local cuisine and the island’s musical traditions to seaside resorts.

Top Things to Do in Above Rocks

All Attractions ›

Dunn's River Falls

Terraced waterfall and popular natural swimming attraction

Waterfall

Blue Mountains (Jamaica)

Mountain range famous for coffee and biodiversity

Mountains

Bob Marley Museum

Museum in Bob Marley's former Kingston home

Museum

Blue Mountain Peak

Jamaica's highest peak within Blue Mountains

Mountain

Blue and John Crow Mountains

UNESCO World Heritage mountain range in Jamaica

Historical Site

Best Time to Visit Above Rocks #

Above Rocks is nicest December-April when cooler, drier conditions make hiking and visiting waterfalls comfortable. Summers are hot, humid with heavy rains and occasional tropical storm risk.

Cool Season

December - February · 18°C - 25°C (64°F - 77°F)

Pleasant, breezy mornings and cooler evenings perfect for walking country roads and exploring cafes; bugs are fewer and outdoor activities feel effortless.

Hot Season

March - May · 22°C - 30°C (72°F - 86°F)

Temperatures climb and humidity builds-great for early-morning hikes and waterfall swims, but afternoons get sultry and require shade and water breaks.

Rainy Season

June - November · 23°C - 30°C (73°F - 86°F)

Frequent heavy showers, lush landscapes and higher rivers make some trails slippery; plan around storms and check hurricane forecasts during peak months.

Best Time to Visit Above Rocks #

Climate

Above Rocks's climate is classified as Tropical Monsoon - Tropical Monsoon climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 18°C to 29°C. Abundant rainfall (1469 mm/year), wettest in October.

Best Time to Visit

FebruaryMarchJanuary

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

33°

Warmest Month

19°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

January

January is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 18°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

81 Excellent

Comfort

22°

Feels Like Mild

22°C

Temperature

18° – 26°

75%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

83 mm

Rainfall

2.8 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.5

UV Index

High

11.0h daylight

February

February is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 18°C. Moderate rainfall (55 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

86 Excellent

Comfort

23°

Feels Like Mild

23°C

Temperature

19° – 27°

73%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

55 mm

Rainfall

3.0 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.8

UV Index

Very High

11.4h daylight

March

March is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 19°C. Moderate rainfall (61 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

84 Excellent

Comfort

23°

Feels Like Mild

23°C

Temperature

19° – 27°

70%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

61 mm

Rainfall

3.0 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

2.2

UV Index

Extreme

11.9h daylight

April

April is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 20°C. Regular rainfall (80 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

81 Excellent

Comfort

24°

Feels Like Mild

24°C

Temperature

20° – 28°

71%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

80 mm

Rainfall

2.9 m/s

Wind

Calm

2.4

UV Index

Extreme

12.4h daylight

May

May is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 22°C). Significant rainfall (155 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

72 Very Good

Comfort

24°

Feels Like Warm

24°C

Temperature

21° – 28°

75%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

155 mm

Rainfall

3.1 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

2.3

UV Index

Extreme

12.9h daylight

June

June is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 24°C). Significant rainfall (131 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

74 Very Good

Comfort

25°

Feels Like Warm

25°C

Temperature

21° – 28°

79%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

131 mm

Rainfall

3.4 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

2.3

UV Index

Extreme

13.1h daylight

July

July is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 24°C). Regular rainfall (88 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

78 Very Good

Comfort

25°

Feels Like Warm

25°C

Temperature

21° – 29°

78%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

88 mm

Rainfall

3.3 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

2.4

UV Index

Extreme

13.0h daylight

August

August is the warmest month with muggy conditions (dew point 24°C). Significant rainfall (131 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

73 Very Good

Comfort

25°

Feels Like Warm

25°C

Temperature

21° – 29°

78%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

131 mm

Rainfall

2.8 m/s

Wind

Calm

2.3

UV Index

Extreme

12.6h daylight

September

September is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 24°C). Significant rainfall (167 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

71 Very Good

Comfort

25°

Feels Like Warm

25°C

Temperature

21° – 29°

78%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

167 mm

Rainfall

2.5 m/s

Wind

Calm

2.1

UV Index

Extreme

12.1h daylight

October

October is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 24°C). The wettest month with heavy rain (225 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

69 Good

Comfort

25°

Feels Like Warm

25°C

Temperature

21° – 28°

80%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

225 mm

Rainfall

2.4 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.8

UV Index

Very High

11.6h daylight

November

November is mild with muggy conditions (dew point 22°C). Significant rainfall (178 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

71 Very Good

Comfort

24°

Feels Like Mild

24°C

Temperature

20° – 28°

78%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

178 mm

Rainfall

2.4 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.5

UV Index

High

11.2h daylight

December

December is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 19°C. Significant rainfall (115 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

79 Very Good

Comfort

23°

Feels Like Mild

23°C

Temperature

19° – 27°

77%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

115 mm

Rainfall

2.6 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.3

UV Index

High

10.9h daylight

How to Get to Above Rocks

By Air

Above Rocks:

By Train & Bus

Train:

Bus:

How to Get Around Above Rocks #

Above Rocks is a small, hilly Jamaican town where short trips are walkable in the centre. Route taxis (minibuses) and shared taxis connect Above Rocks with nearby settlements and Kingston, though services can be infrequent. Roads are steep in places; if you’re planning excursions, hire a private taxi or a driver for more reliable access to surrounding sights.

Where to Stay in Above Rocks #

Budget

Above Rocks / Spanish Town area - $25-60/night (guesthouses)

Above Rocks is rural with very limited in-town lodging. Budget travellers usually stay in Spanish Town or Kingston and drive.

Jamaica Pegasus Hotel (Kingston) - Reliable budget-to-mid option in Kingston.
Guesthouses in Spanish Town (listings) - Local guesthouses and small inns available.

Mid-Range

Kingston / Mandeville - $60-150/night

Mid-range options are in nearby Kingston or Mandeville; Above Rocks itself has small guesthouses only.

Jamaica Pegasus Hotel - Well-located with reliable services.
Spanish Court Hotel (Kingston) - Boutique-style hotel near central Kingston.

Luxury

Kingston / north coast resorts - $150+/night

No luxury hotels in Above Rocks. Expect to drive to Kingston or coastal resort towns for high-end stays and villas.

Luxury villas / boutique rentals (Kingston) - Private villas and high-end rentals available.
Resort options on the coast (Ocho Rios/Clearwater) - Luxury resorts require a drive from Above Rocks.

Where to Eat in Above Rocks #

Breakdown of cuisine types found across Above Rocks's restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.

Chicken

Fries

Grill

Burger

Fried Chicken

Nightlife in Above Rocks #

Nightlife is minimal and local: small bars or community events rather than dedicated clubs. Evenings are usually low‑key and family oriented.

Shopping in Above Rocks #

Shopping in Above Rocks is limited to small general stores and market stalls selling food and household items. For supermarkets or larger retail options travel to Spanish Town or Kingston.