The horse races at Caymanas Park in Portmore, one of the best race tracks in the Caribbean (and immortalized in several classic ska songs), make for a lively outing and a real slice of traditional Jamaican life; get a local to explain the complicated betting system. Take buses 17A, 18A, 20A from Half Way Tree (J$100).
Caymanas Park
Kingston
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
28.65 MILES
High on the White River, Jamaica's heavenly Blue Hole is a vision and is an undisputed highlight in Ocho Rios. To reach this popular spot, make your way…
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28.04 MILES
Set amid wide lawns high atop a hill 5km east of Oracabessa and 5km west of Port Maria, Firefly was the home of Sir Noël Coward, the English playwright,…
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6.11 MILES
An innovative art and permaculture scheme, Life Yard is regenerating an area of downtown Kingston once beset with gang problems. The program is centered…
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5.53 MILES
At the end of a tree-lined courtyard, decorated with cheerful mosaics and a mural depicting Marcus Garvey, stands Liberty Hall, the headquarters of Garvey…
Nearby Kingston attractions
1. Tuff Gong Recording Studios
3.1 MILES
Tuff Gong is one of the Caribbean’s largest and most influential studios. It was Bob Marley's favorite place to record and is now run by his son Ziggy…
4.11 MILES
The only fully restored historical structure in town is the sturdy Old Gaol House, made of cut stone, on Gaol Alley. It predates the 1692 earthquake, when…
4.2 MILES
Built in 1725 of red brick, this church is handsome within, despite its faux brick facade of cement. Note the floor paved with original black-and-white…
4.23 MILES
Behind the old garrison wall off New St stands the dilapidated two-story Old Naval Hospital, built by Bowling Ironworks in Bradford, UK, shipped to Port…
4.29 MILES
Jamaica’s latitude and longitude are measured from the flagstaff of Fort Charles, a weathered redoubt originally laid in 1655, and the only one of the…
4.45 MILES
Trench Town, which began life as a much-prized housing project erected by the British in the 1930s, is widely credited as the birthplace of ska,…
4.47 MILES
Less than 1km east of the dockyard and enclosed by a brick wall is the intriguing naval cemetery, where sailors lie buried beneath shady palms. The…
4.79 MILES
This narrow cast-iron bridge is the first of its kind in the Americas, and is another reminder of the deep connections between the Industrial Revolution…