Blue Mountain coffee — grown above around 3,000 feet in the steep hills east of Kingston, in St. Andrew and Portland — is protected by origin and routinely sells for among the highest prices of any coffee in the world. Several working farms including Craighton, Clifton Mount and the cooperative at Old Tavern offer guided tours covering the nurseries, the cherry picking, the pulping and drying sheds, and a tasting of roasted Blue Mountain and the rare peaberry. The drive up is spectacular and often combines with lunch and a mountain viewpoint.
The Blue Mountains stretch across St. Andrew, Portland, and St. Thomas parishes — the highest mountains in the Caribbean, peaking at Blue Mountain Peak at 7,402 feet (2,256m). The slopes between 3,000 and 5,500 feet grow the world-famous Blue Mountain coffee, protected by Geographical Indication.
Things to do
Hike to Blue Mountain Peak (starts before dawn from Penlyne Castle, 6-7 hours round trip), tour a coffee plantation (Strawberry Hill, Old Tavern Coffee Estate, Craighton Estate), downhill biking from Hardwar Gap, visit Holywell National Park, or stay at Strawberry Hill boutique hotel.
Blue Mountain Coffee
Genuine Blue Mountain coffee must be grown between 3,000 and 5,500 feet in the protected region of St. Andrew, Portland, St. Thomas, and St. Mary parishes. Look for the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board's certified stamp on bags. Beware imitations — most coffee labelled 'Blue Mountain' worldwide is not certified.
About tours in Jamaica
Jamaica is packed with bucket-list experiences — climb Dunn's River Falls in Ocho Rios, raft the Martha Brae, swim at Blue Hole, visit Bob Marley's birthplace at Nine Mile, see the glowing Luminous Lagoon at Falmouth, or zip-line through the Blue Mountains. Every tour here can be booked instantly through GetYourGuide with free cancellation. Choose by parish, by adventure type, or by budget.