Runaway Bay Holidays

Right in the middle of Jamaica’s north coast, you’ll find the little bay with a colourful past. Its name stems from a history of fleeing Spanish soldiers. But, with a string of sugar-white beaches and seas ripe for paddling – you won’t want to leave this laid-back slice of the Caribbean. You’ll find it sandwiched between Ocho Rios in the east and Montego Bay to the west. Here, though, things are a little more hush-hush.

The beaches at Runaway Bay look like they’ve been lifted from the pages of a glossy travel magazine. Most of the seafront hotels boast their own private sliver, but there are also some less-trodden public beaches, like Cardiff Hall and Fisherman’s Beach. Whichever one you pick, the waters are calm, see-through and shallow – perfect for snorkelling. Wade out with your mask and you can swim among rays, snappers and sergeant major fish.

From Runaway Bay, you can get to one of the island’s most popular attractions in half an hour. Up in the hillside village of Nine Mile, you’ll find a monument dedicated to the King of Reggae, Bob Marley. He was born here, and it’s also his final resting place. Inside, there are artefacts, like guitars, awards, photos, and a ‘rock pillow’ which the singer-songwriter used to lay his head on when he needed inspiration.