I had a wonderful time exploring Jamaica in the October off-season and researching what to do in Jamaica with young kids. The sum total of my activities on my trip included horseback riding with Chukka Caribbean Adventures; swimming with the Dolphins at Dolphin Cove; touring Rose Hall Great House; partying on Captain Hook’s Pirate Ship Adventure; zip-lining at Y.S. Falls; hunting for crocodiles on the Black River Safari.
All of these activities I felt were appropriate for kids 7 and up, generally speaking.
Yes, there are some kids that start horseback riding and swimming with the dolphins at age 3, but generally speaking, that’s still a little young for most parents. Besides, staying on a horse’s slippery back, in mane-deep water, was a real core workout. A guide would probably help pull the horse along but your average 6 year old might find it challenging to keep his/her balance.
One of my funniest moments in Jamaica was on Captain Hook’s Pirate Ship. This was a great evening activity/attraction, however, there were some elements of this party boat that I thought were more appropriate for a 16+ crowd. (I have the pictures to tell.)
Here are some activities that I thought were age-appropriate for the 6 and under crowd:
- The Kids Cove at the Grand Palladium is a big selling point and is appropriate for younger children. Drop the little munchkins off and hit the spa or just take a tropical break while the kids play with their peers.
- YS Falls had a calm swimming lagoon that would be appropriate for that age range. I didn’t have a chance to wade in it because I was too busy channeling my inner Tarzan, flying through the Jamaican jungle on gravity defining zip-lines.
- Dolphin Cove not only had the dolphin experience, but also a small animal park that would be more appropriate for the under 6 crowd. Touching a dolphin is one thing, just as long as they’re not afraid of larger mammals, however, swimming with one at a younger age may be a little risky for your taste.
Other activities that would be appropriate for a family traveling to Jamaica with young kids include: day tours, nature walks, zoo visits, boat rides, foodie experiences, or simply relaxing near the water.
My press trip was sponsored by the Jamaica Tourist Board. All opinions and thoughts expressed are my own.
I agree with you completely! While I could definitely take my daughter on a trip like that – in fact, we have decided to begin saving for our entire family to go back to Jamaica – she is FOURTEEN. I can’t imagine doing those things with her when she was 5 or under…
Oh, and for the record, I never once made in the pool at the hotel. LOL Or in the ocean…I went to pool once and it started pouring down rain before I got there!
That’s so awesome that you all are going back. She can enjoy all of those activities that we got to see. While I was there I kept thinking to myself which of the activities would work for my small boys as I’d like to return with the fam as well. Since I’ve done them, I can just allow my husband to do them on his own if he so chooses so I’m grateful that I had the experience solo.