The best sustainability-championing hotels in Jamaica

With Jamaica committed to further developing sustainable tourism as part of its Vision 2030 plan, this is a destination that's serious about its eco credentials. Here we highlight the destination's top eco-friendly and responsible stays.

It may be the dazzling beaches and infectious music that initially lure you to Jamaica, but this sun-soaked Caribbean island is stepping up its game for eco-conscious travellers. After recently pledging to develop its tourism in a way that protects Jamaica’s environment while also giving back to the island’s economy – as part of its Vision 2030 plan – we’ve rounded up the destination's most sustainable stays, from Green-Globe certified hotels funding local marine sanctuaries to boutique hideaways helping to preserve the island’s heritage.

Jakes, Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth

Aside from its whimsical design – and ties with the late Jamaican film director Perry Henzell – Jakes is widely acclaimed for putting community and climate first. Through its philanthropy and charitable arm, BREDS the Treasure Beach Foundation, this boutique hotel has funded equipment for the local primary school, built a 17-acre community sports park and supported local fishermen and farmers through community tourism initiatives such as farm-to-table evenings. Aside from its eco-friendly saltwater pool, the business also funds environmental causes such as the Galleon Beach Marine Sanctuary.

Jakes (Image: Courtesy of Jakes) Courtesy of Jakes

Jamaica Inn, Ocho Rios, Saint Ann

It may be famed for its star-studded clientele, but the Jamaica Inn is deeply committed to the local community thanks to its Jamaica Inn Foundation, which trains local Jamaican families in tourism and hospitality. With climate protection also a priority, the Green Globe-certified hotel has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2025 by using various green initiatives such as solar energy, eco-friendly chemicals, composting and water recycling. Its foundation also backs the marine-protected White River Fish Sanctuary and a turtle protection project in nearby Oracabessa Bay.

Rockhouse, Negril, Westmoreland

Aside from its masterful low-impact design – a series of stone cliffside huts – the aptly named Rockhouse has an array of climate-saving credentials. Aside from its extensive composting, organic farm and production of its own spa products, the hotel has automatic air-con cut-off systems, water-saving toilets and low-voltage lighting to help keep carbon emissions low. Community is a priority here too: the hotel’s Rockhouse Foundation has helped fund the building of schools in western Jamaica.

Rockhouse (Image: Courtesy of Rockhouse) Courtesy of Rockhouse

Great Huts, Port Antonio, Portland

Founded by philanthropic American doctor Dr Paul Rhodes, this eco-resort has a strong social conscience, with some profits from the business funding the Portland Rehabilitation Management Homeless Shelter – a passion project of Rhodes's. Alongside its use of green solar energy and impressive composting and recycling programmes, it has gained recognition for helping promote Jamaica’s ancestry and cultural heritage through showcasing locally produced Afrocentric artwork and cultural activities, which include African drumming and mask making. The resort's light-impact treehouses and huts were also inspired by a West African village.

Sunset at the Palms, Negril, Westmoreland

You might not normally associate all-inclusive hotels with wildlife and sustainability, but this environmentally conscious retreat in Negril joins the few exceptions. Within this ‘zero-concrete’ complex of 85 treehouse-style rooms, lush tropical gardens provide a home for an abundance of butterflies and birdlife. Thanks to its green efforts (use of safe pesticides, organic herb garden and food waste given to local pig farmers) it was the world’s first hotel to receive certification for environmentally sustainable tourism by the UK’s Green Globe organisation.

Sunset at the Palms (Image: Courtesy of Sunset at the Palms) Courtesy of Sunset at the Palms

Geejam, Port Antonio, Portland

Known for its onsite recording studios and creative retreats, Geejam's owners recently added 12 new Rumba Rooms featuring lush rainforest views. In keeping with the hotel's green ethos – which includes limited air conditioning, rainwater collection and use of solar energy – it carefully relocated plant life to reduce the environmental impact of the building work. While its original treetop cabins have, perhaps, the lowest environmental impact, this hip hangout has made solid steps towards providing a sustainable stay whichever room you choose, with bans on single-use plastic and a long-standing commitment to The Alligator Head Foundation – a cause that helps protect marine life in the East Portland Fish Sanctuary.

Hotel Mockingbird Hill, Port Antonio

This petite hotel in the foothills of the Blue Mountains is owned by a duo of businesswomen who are passionate about sustainable tourism – its carbon offsetting programme, locally produced toiletries and tree planting initiatives are testament to that. One of the world’s first hotels to be certified as environmentally friendly by Green Globe, this converted villa sits on terraced gardens designed to avoid soil erosion and prides itself on its rainwater harvesting and innovative recycling (it creates flowerbeds by using old wine bottles and makes cleaning rags from old towels). With few electrical gadgets onsite, digital detoxes are also encouraged.

Hotel Mockingbird (Image: Courtesy of Hotel Mockingbird) Courtesy of Hotel Mockingbird Hill

Kanopi House, Blue Lagoon, Portland

With an oath to "tread lightly upon our earth," this luxury hotel overlooking Jamaica’s Blue Lagoon has embraced sustainability since conception. Designed to fit in with the natural environs – a jungle of 100-foot (30m) Banyan trees – no trees were felled when it was built. Its unique treehouses and bungalows were also constructed using sustainable materials, with a greywater recycling system to boot. Food here is seasonally sourced from local farmers and you’ll find locally crafted textiles and furniture throughout. There’s no bathtub but you do get a choice of two showers – one inside, one out.

Skylark, Negril, Westmoreland

Like its sister property, Rockhouse, this 28-room resort on the famous Seven Mile Beach has local community at its heart. Not only does it have a policy to only employ Jamaican nationals, hotel staff also engage with the community on major decisions via the Rockhouse Foundation, which has helped fund public schools and a community library. The hotel encourages guests to immerse themselves in the local culture via music, authentic cuisine and local trips that provide an "insider experience".

Skylark (Image: Couresty of Skylark) Courtesy of Skylark

Hermosa Cove, Ocho Rios, Saint Ann

American art collector, Clayton Korver, was keen to let the environment speak for itself when he teamed up with local conservationists and artists to create Hermosa Cove. Carrying out habitat surveys and geological studies to ensure the natural surroundings were preserved, he created a boutique hideaway of whimsically designed treehouses whose concept was far from the "jarring commercialism" seen elsewhere. Its green ethos spans from its forest trails and cooked-to-order meals to marine projects that help boost local turtle populations.

GoldenEye, Oracabessa Bay, Saint Mary

While this luxurious resort honours the cultural heritage of Bond author Ian Fleming’s former home, it also prides itself on its sustainable spirit, thanks to a series of programmes established by the property’s founder, Chris Blackwell. As well as employment training in the Oracabessa community and outreach projects for at-risk youths, the GoldenEye Foundation directly funds local turtle and marine conservation, helping replenish fish stocks and restore coral reefs in Oracabessa Bay. Its verdant setting teems with wildlife, while organic ingredients feature heavily across its menus.

GoldenEye (Image: Courtesy of GoldenEye) Courtesy of GoldenEye

Green Castle Estate, Robin’s Bay, St Mary

Set within a private 1,600-acre eco-estate on Jamaica’s northeast coast – equidistant between Ocho Rios, Kingston and Port Antonio – this collection of traditional lodges and cottages draws in a range of travellers looking to explore nature away from the commercialised spots on the island. Set beside a former Spanish sugar mill, its peaceful grounds are ideal for birdwatching and hiking to nearby sites such as Kwame Falls and Blue Mountains National Park. The hotel has a strong network with the local fishing villages and communities and helps to promote local Jamaican businesses.

Round Hill, Montego Bay, St James

It may be known for its history of star-studded guests, but this exclusive hotel is as responsible as it is glamorous, playing a role in organic food production and slow-food initiatives such as purchasing own-grown ingredients from local schools. The hotel works with conservation group Seascape Caribbean, which has worked to restore damaged coral systems in the region, replanting some 5,000 corals around the hotel’s shores in recent years. The hotel has employed ‘reef gardeners’ to help preserve the coral and it has its own wastewater treatment plant on site.

Round Hill (image: Courtesy of Round Hill ) Courtesy of Round Hill

Bamboo Eco Resort & Wellness Spa, St Mary

Although still under construction, the developers behind this luxury resort plan to provide a wealth of opportunities to rural villages, which have experienced unemployment in recent years. The resort's various villas, suites and condos will be designed with the environment in mind (think renewable energy, ecological wastewater management and use of sustainable materials) and the grounds will become home to an organic farm, cannabis healing centre and One Love Music Village – where recording facilities and a solar-powered sound stage will connect guests to Jamaica’s musical heritage and talent.

Camp Cabarita, Glenbrook, Westmoreland

Rustic and secluded, this riverside retreat located in the Dolphin Head Mountains of Westmoreland has a strong sustainable ethos, with a mission to maintain a low carbon footprint by employing all staff from the immediate neighbourhood. Guests are encouraged to take local eco-adventures to the stunning Mayfield Falls and other natural attractions on the hotel’s doorstep. Air conditioning comes courtesy of Mother Nature too thanks to cooling mountain breezes, plus there are green initiatives including extensive recycling and composting systems, use of biodegradable organic toiletries and edible gardens onsite.

For more information, see visitjamaica.com

Lead image: Courtesy of Hermosa Cove