Dinki Mini brings together singing and dancing in an African-influenced circle game native to Saint Mary. Originally performed at funeral ceremonies, it can now also be performed at other festive occasions. Its shift from a funeral context to other festive occasions gives the tradition a distinctive range between remembrance and celebration. Dinki Mini can therefore be understood both through its form and through the occasions it is part of.

Rio Nuevo: two historical perspectives

The Rio Nuevo Taíno site in Saint Mary is considered the largest Taíno site in the area and covers 21,000 square metres. A different historical perspective is offered by the Rio Nuevo Battle Site: it was the setting for the last open battle between British and Spanish forces over possession of Jamaica. The two Rio Nuevo references highlight different aspects: one focuses on the Taíno site and its area, the other on the conflict over possession of Jamaica.

Fort Haldane and Brimmer Hall Great House

Fort Haldane was built in Port Maria in 1759. Brimmer Hall Great House, in turn, was built in the 18th century by the plantation elite during plantation slavery. The two historical landmarks differ in scale: the fort is tied to a specific year of construction, while Brimmer Hall is associated with a century and the social context of plantation slavery.

A plantation tour at Prospect Plantation

At Prospect Plantation, the plantation tour ends at an ecumenical chapel made of cut stone and wood. The tours are led by uniformed members of the Prospect Cadet Training Centre. If you are considering this tour, check its current availability in advance.

Jamaica in the broader travel picture

Jamaica provides a broader setting for other cultural and natural themes. Reggae is a central part of Jamaican culture. The Blue and John Crow Mountains provided refuge for the Maroons, formerly enslaved people. The area preserves tangible cultural heritage associated with Maroon history, including the Nanny Town Heritage Route. It is also one of the world's most irreplaceable conservation areas for amphibians, birds and mammals.

Authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is grown exclusively at elevations between 3,000 and 5,500 feet in the cloud forest of the Blue and John Crow Mountain range. The annual Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival celebrates coffee and offers visitors coffee-infused products to sample. The cuisine has its own distinctive touches, too: Ackee and Saltfish is Jamaica's national dish and a popular local breakfast. Depending on the season, it is served with fried dumplings, callaloo, green bananas, avocado and plantains, among other things.

Jamaica's natural and adventure experiences also include YS Falls, a waterfall with seven tiers of cascades. There, visitors can zipline 40 feet above the falls, tube down the river, swing on rope swings into clear pools and swim in a large pool fed by a natural spring. Check in advance whether the activities are currently offered.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Oracabessa, Salt Gut, Port Maria, Richmond, Saint Catherine Parish, Saint Elizabeth Parish, Trelawny Parish, Portland Parish.

For the main travel overview: Jamaica.