Rio Bueno Holidays

Rio Bueno is a tiny attractive village located on the northern coast of Jamaica. It is situated between Trelawny and St. Ann parishes, and it has one very lively harbor. This historical village was the first place that the famous explorer Christopher Columbus visited when he came to Jamaica. The Rio Bueno village is a very picturesque place, with beautiful churches, houses and an old fort sitting against the sea waters, with beautiful green hills protecting the village from behind.

Rio Bueno has a nice tropical weather during the year. Average year-round temperatures are near 30 C, and the wet period is between June and November.

Beach lovers will find many nice beaches here, and one very nice beach is the Rio Bueno Beach located just outside the village. Even if you do not spend your holiday in Rio Bueno, you should definitely visit this nice beach. It is relatively calm beach, not so crowded, but it still offers nice and friendly atmosphere. Behind the beach there are many verdant trees for bigger privacy and for afternoon relaxation. The waters here have dark blue colors and the sands are very nice and soft. The beach is well equipped with toilets and showers, and you can also rent umbrellas and sun chairs. The waters are also ideal for snorkeling, so bring some snorkeling gear if you want to explore what is beneath the water surface.

When you want to take a break from the beaches and water activities, you can go visit the popular Art Gallery of Joe James located nearby. It is a very popular place for the tourists that come into this area. Some people think that museums and beaches are a strange combination, but you will definitely enjoy your time if you visit the Outameni Experience museum, located several kilometers west from Rio Bueno. There you can tour the modeled Spanish, Indian, English, Chinese, Taino and Jamaican houses. In this interactive experience you will see many traditionally dressed local actors telling amazing stories from the past. Artworks, musical and dance performances also play big part in this interactive tour.

Besides many nice beaches and great scenery, Rio Bueno has a few attractive churches well worth visiting. Two churches in Rio Bueno have a rich historical and cultural significance for Jamaica. The Rio Bueno Baptist Church from the early 19th century is a very nice church to see. In the past it used to serve as a main place for education and worship of the local people that converted into Christianity. Another Baptist Church from the same period is nearby, evidencing from the period when missionaries were coming to Jamaica. Both churches are equally beautiful and remind of the colorful Jamaican history. Sundays are especially lively when both locals and tourists frequent these two churches.

Another very nice landmark of Rio Bueno are the ruins of the 18th century Fort Dundas. It was built to defend Jamaica from the pirates and other enemies coming from the sea. It got its name after the British commander Henry Dundas, who was a Secretary of War during those times.