Cornwall Beach (Montego Bay)--Although it's often too crowded, this beach is covered with soft, white, sugary sand that's deep enough to really sink your toes into. The water is clean and warm, and it's a place to take your family. The admission charge entitles you not only to swim and sunbathe but also to use the changing room. The beach is near the main tourist strip and close to the popular and larger Doctor's Cave Beach (see above). The "higglers"--as local vendors are called--will seek you out and try to sell you everything from black-coral jewelry to drugs.

Seven Mile Beach (Negril)--On the island's west coast, this beach stretches for 7 miles along the sea. It was once the haunt of the Caribbean's most notorious pirates. In the background are some of the most hedonistic resorts in the Caribbean, mixed in with a few family favorites. Many strips of these golden sands are fine for families, although there are several nudist patches where guests bare all. The nude-beach areas are sectioned off, even though some new oceanfront resorts have Peeping Tom views of these areas.

Booby Cay (Negril)--Although it's X-rated, the aptly named Booby Cay is the haunt of snorkelers as well as nude sunbathers. Many folks come here from Hedonism II, Jamaica's answer to Club Med. Once they've landed by motor launch or even by kayak, bathers in the buff--mainly male/female couples--disperse to seek out their own little white-sand patch of private heaven.

Treasure Beach (South Coast)--Tired of fighting the crowds for your place in the sun? Head for Treasure Beach on Jamaica's dry, sunny, and isolated South Coast, a real hideaway that's a secret among young Jamaicans. There are drawbacks here: The undertow can be dangerous, so swimming is a bit tricky. These secluded sands are gray, and waves crash into the shore. It's one of the most dramatic beachscapes in Jamaica.

The Black River (South Coast)--You can explore what feels like real Tarzan country, with mangrove trees and crocodiles in the wild, on an outing with South Coast Safaris (tel. 876/965-2513). At the mouths of the Broad and Black rivers, saltwater meets freshwater, and extensive red mangroves are formed with aerial roots of some 40 feet. Lots of wild things grow in these swamps. Birders: Look for ring-necked ducks, whistling ducks, herons, egrets, and even the blue-winged teal.

Dunn's River Falls (Ocho Rios)--A favorite of cruise-ship passengers, these 600 feet of clear, cold mountain waters race over a series of stone steps. Visitors (and we mean lots of visitors) splash in the waters at the bottom of the falls or drop into the cool pools higher up between cascades of water. It's the best way to cool off on a hot day in Jamaica. Visitors hold hands climbing the falls and trust that the human chain won't have a weak link!

Somerset Falls (Port Antonio)--This sun-dappled spot is not as touristy as Dunn's River. The waters from Daniels River race down a deep gorge split through a rain forest. Flowering vines, waterfalls, and foaming cascades form the lush backdrop. You can swim in the deep rock pools.

Rafting on the Río Grande (Port Antonio; tel. 876/993-5778)--Shades of Errol Flynn. This is the grandest rafting experience in Jamaica. Popularized by the late movie star, the rafts propelled by bamboo poles take you through Jungle Jim country on a soft adventure.

Tryall Golf, Tennis & Beach Club (Montego Bay; tel. 876/956-5660)--Jamaica's finest course, Tryall is the site of the annual Johnnie Walker World Championship. A par-71, 6,680-yard course, it crosses hills and dales on what was once sugarcane farmland. Some ruins, including an old waterwheel, remain. Wind direction can change suddenly, making the course more intriguing. One golfer whom we interviewed confessed he's played the course 50 times, and "each game was different."

Half Moon Golf, Tennis & Beach Club (Montego Bay; tel. 800/626-0592 in the U.S. or 876/953-2211)--This, the island's second championship course, was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. in 1961. Played by the likes of former U.S. President George Bush, the course has manicured and diversely shaped greens, but it's not as challenging as the one at Tryall.