The wait for our honeymoon is Jamaican me crazy! I simply cannot wait to leave for Jamaica soon and in planning our upcoming trip, I’ve been researching things to do in Jamaica after we’ve had our fill of relaxing on the beach, sipping cocktails, and gorging on an endless buffet of food at the resort.

Jamaica is one of our favorite travel destinations with its laid-back vibe, friendly people, and the zest for life we feel on the island. While there’s plenty of opportunity to just sit back and soak up the sun before imbibing in some rum….

There are also plenty of amazing things to do on Jamaica if you want a little more action in your getaway. Here’s our roundup of the best things to do on your Jamaican vacation!

10 best things to do in Jamaica

1. Tour the Bob Marley Museum

Get up stand up and take a tour of the Bob Marley Museum! Set up in the reggae legend’s former home, you can learn about one of Jamaica’s most famous musicians and see artifacts from his childhood and amazing music career. See the main house (with his bedroom, costumes and clothing, and personal recording studio), theater, and exhibition hall before getting something from the One Love Cafe or gift shop.

Tickets for the home tour are only $25 per adult and offered daily with the exception of Sundays.

2. Try the local cuisine

Book a culinary tour and delight in the local flavors of Jamaica on a food tour! These tours include five tastings of traditional dishes and even include some history and sightseeing along the way. They have a two-hour Falmouth tour or a five-hour Falmouth to Ocho Rios tour – depending on how much time you want to devote to this culinary excursion.

If you really want to get into the food scene of Jamaica, there are Jerk cooking classes if you want to be able recreate the island flavors when you get back home.

Best foods to eat in Jamaica

• Jerked chicken or pork
• Jamaican patty
• Sweet potato pudding
• Ackee and saltfish
• Callaloo
• Rice and peas
• Plantains

You should also be pairing your food with a Red Stripe beer or tropical drink with some Jamaican rum!

3. Tour a rum distillery

I can’t get enough rum and diets, especially when it’s Appleton Estate rum! And what better way to pay homage to my drink of choice while on Jamaica than to tour the estate that produces it?

Appleton has been making rum for more than 265 years, so I think they’ve got rum distilling down to a literal art by now. On a tour of Appleton Estate, you get a welcome cocktail, a informational video viewing about how rum is made, a guided tour of the estate and rum-making process, and finally another sample with a guided rum tasting!

Appleton rum tours are available Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with tours on the hour. Expect to spend about two hours at the estate for the full experience, which is $30 for a standard tour. Call or email appletonrumtour@campari.com to make your reservation.

Another rum distillery tour option is the 1750’s Hampden Estate! Their rum tours also lead you around the estate and let you get a behind-the-scenes look at the rum-making process, enjoy a few tastings, and even includes lunch! Their two-hour tours are offered Monday – Friday at 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. Email tours@hampdenrumcompany.com for reservations or more information.

Just don’t forget to get a bottle of rum as a souvenir before you leave either estate!

4. Visit Blue Mountains National Park

Known for its famous coffee, Blue Mountains National Park is also a fantastic day trip option away from the resorts. Most tours also include sightseeing tours of the towns as you make your way into the heart of Blue Mountains before enjoying some freshly brewed coffee as you gaze out over the emerald valleys that produced the beans for it. Tours also include stops at Asafu Yard, where you learn about the locals, how the village rose up after the era of slavery, and watch live dancing, singing, and drumming.

5. Go snorkeling or scuba diving

Leave the sandy shore behind and get out into the water to discover some of the island’s other locals: Its sea life and wildlife! Snorkeling was one of our favorite activities during our Jamaican getaway and when we finally get our diver’s certification, we’ll be back in a heartbeat to get out to deeper waters.

6. Hike a waterfall & play in the pools

One of the most popular things to do on a vacation in Jamaica includes a waterfall hike! Your best bets are at Dunn’s River Falls or YS Falls. I remember being so mad on my first visit to Jamaica as a kid as I was two years shy of the cut-off limit for the teens club at our resort, so my sister was able to climb the falls but I had to stay behind. Not anymore!

These hikes can be challenging and slippery but are a wonderful experience to add to your getaway. Cool off in the pools and feel the rush of water cascading down your shoulders as you relax right under the falls. Don’t forget a camera for this excursion!

Tips for your Jamaica waterfall hike:

• Bring water shoes for traction
• Bring a towel or some dry clothes
• Put your phone in a waterproof case with a neck strap or bring a GoPro
• Bring a water bottle

7. Book a thrill ride

Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, get on up, it’s bobsled time! Take a scenic chairlift to the starting line of the track and then fulfill your need for speed as you race down the bobsled track. You’re in total control of the brakes so you can ride the curves at your own pace. The track is located at Rainforest Adventures, which is also home to some fantastic ziplines!

The lines are on the tame side, so ideal for families or first-timers when it comes to ziplining tours. On your Jamaica zipline ride, soar over the canopy of trees located on an old plantation as you zip through the jungle. It’s definitely a fun thing to do on your Jamaica vacation.

8. Relax on the beach

With so many fantastic beaches on Jamaica, it’s hard to not spend a day or two checking them out! Two of the most popular choices for the best beaches in Jamaica include Seven Mile Beach in Negril and Doctor’s Cave Beach in Montego Bay. I really think you’ll be pleased by any beach on the island, especially if staying at an all-inclusive resort.

9. Go bamboo rafting

Experience something out of the ordinary with a bamboo rafting ride down the Martha Brae River! This popular tour is easy to get to from Montego Bay, Falmouth, and Ocho Rios and is a fun spin on a sightseeing tour as your guide shares history and legendary stories of Jamaica as you float down the river on your 30-ft. bamboo raft, surrounded by the rainforest but ultimately feeling like the only two people in the world.

10. Take a sunset catamaran cruise

Enjoy a Caribbean sunset from a catamaran ride as you sail along the picture-perfect beaches and lush vegetation. Most catamaran cruises include snorkeling, a stop at a beach, or visiting a special place like Rick’s Cafe near Negril to watch the famous cliff divers. You too can jump but it’s at your own risk and the jumps are quite high if you’ve never gone cliff jumping before.

Rick and I love local cruises when visiting a tropical travel destination as you get fantastic sightseeing in, a cool stop, and generally they include some drinks and light appetizers on the ride back.

That’s a wrap on our picks for the 10 best things to do in Jamaica. What are your favorites? Tell us in the comments below or on Twitter!