At 2,000 feet above sea level, with a village green bordered by a 19th-century church and courthouse, Mandeville s cool climate, gardens and genteel British heritage have long made it a favorite weekend destination for Jamaicans as well as discerning visitors. About thirty miles southeast of Mandeville, the tranquil South Coast beckons with the Milk River Bath, a spa that dates back to 1794 and boasts curative waters fifty times more potent than those of Vichy or Baden-Baden. At Black River, further west, accommodations are available at historic Invercauld Great House and Hotel. Detours along the way lead to the famous Appleton Estate s sugar factory and rum distillery, as well as to YS Falls, where a series of pools provide ideal swimming. A few miles from Treasure Beach, where the Santa Cruz Mountains meet the sea, a lookout point 1,500 feet above the water is known as Lover s Leap.
Legend says that two young slaves secretly met nearby and pledged their undying love.
From the verdant mountains to the craggy coastline, you ll find the South Coast of Jamaica is not just another shore. Here is where you ll discover another world. Built over a century ago, Manchester is the oldest golf course in the Caribbean. Hiking Mandeville's rolling terrain and cool, bracing weather are made to order for backpackers of every age. By appointment only.