Things to Do in Kingston in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
December Weather in Kingston
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
89°F (32°C)
High Temp
71°F (22°C)
Low Temp
2.0 inches (51 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + December lands just after hurricane season, so the sea calms enough for daily boats to Lime Cay and the offshore cays, trips that get scrubbed half the time in October and early November.
- + Hotel rates plummet after the first week of December. Rooms that felt like a splurge in early November slide back into the mid-range bracket overnight.
- + Evenings cool to 69°F (21°C) once the sun drops, letting you stroll New Kingston without the sticky film of sweat that owns the rest of the year.
- + The city's street dances, Weddy Weddy on a Tuesday and Uptown Mondays, shift back outdoors because no one's ducking rain showers, so sound systems roar at full volume until 2 AM.
Considerations
- − December is still mosquito season. The Aedes aegypti that ferries dengue peaks at dusk, so 6-7 PM waterfront dinners can turn into an unplanned blood drive.
- − Christmas wind-up doubles traffic along Constant Spring Road and Half Way Tree, what's normally a 20-minute hop between downtown and Uptown stretches to an hour after 4 PM.
- − Many Kingston restaurants shut for a full week between Christmas and New Year's, so if you're in town those exact dates half your shortlist will be dark.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
Kingston in December is electric. The air is dry, the midday sun fierce. Evenings bring a sudden coolness from the hills. Locals unwind and the city accelerates toward Christmas. Downtown streets become stages for sound-system clashes and the smell of jerk pork over pimento wood. This is not a quiet retreat. It is the capital's loudest, most creative month. The all-night Grand Market on Christmas Eve blurs the line between street fair and street party. For visitors, it is a chance to see Jamaica's cultural engine unfiltered. The clear, sunny days also make trips to the Blue Mountains or the island's famous waterfalls inviting.
Private Transport to River Tubing or Rafting and Blue Hole combo
adventureIt moves you from Kingston's urban grid into the island's lush interior. You will feel the city heat fade. Cooler, mineral-scented country air arrives as you wind past coffee farms and banana groves. Your destination is the clear, turquoise pools of a famous river. This pairs the gentle thrill of floating down a jungle waterway with the exhilaration of a deep swimming hole. You avoid navigating unfamiliar roads.
It delivers the classic river adventure with the convenience of a dedicated driver. You can fully spend time in the shift from city to rainforest.
Insider tip: Ask for an early morning pickup. This beats larger tour groups from the north coast. You will get quieter pools and better light for photographs.
Jamaica Best Water Falls Tour,Mobay Bay to Dunn's River/Blue Hole
guided_experienceIt combines the cascades of Dunn's River Falls and the cliff-jumping allure of the Blue Hole into one ambitious trip. You will hear the thunder of thousands of gallons of water over limestone. You will feel the churning flow at your legs as you climb. Later, you will taste the crisp air of a hidden grotto.
It efficiently combines two sought-after natural attractions into one professionally curated day.
Insider tip: Wear water shoes with excellent grip for the slippery ascent at Dunn's River. Bring a change of clothes for the ride back to Kingston.
Blue Mountain Path Finder
otherThis journey takes you on winding roads where the air grows cooler. It carries the smell of coffee blossoms and damp fern. You will see the famous Blue Mountain coffee estates on steep slopes. Their plants are heavy with ripe, red cherries in December.
It has a guided, easy entry into the misty world of the Blue Mountains. The focus is on the cultural and agricultural heart of the region, not just a hard hike.
Insider tip: Higher elevation means cooler temperatures. Pack a light layer even when leaving warm Kingston below.
Private Guided Group Full-Day Water Tour fr Kingston to Portland
day_tripYou will travel the scenic road past Annotto Bay. Watch the landscape become a mix of rushing rivers and dense jungle. You will arrive at crystalline coves and white-sand beaches. Here the Caribbean Sea meets freshwater springs. The journey itself is a visual feast. It shows the island's dramatic north coast away from main tourist areas.
It provides a personalized exploration of remote eastern shores. Your guide can tailor stops for swimming, snorkeling, or just seeing the impressive coastal views.
Insider tip: This is a long day. Prioritize comfort. Confirm vehicle amenities like air conditioning before booking.
Private Transfer from Ian Fleming Airport to Ocho Rios
transportIt swaps shared shuttle confusion for a pre-arranged, air-conditioned vehicle. It will be waiting as you step into the Jamaican humidity. You will watch the scenery shift from the arid Boscobel shoreline to the lush garden parishes of St. Ann. Listen to music or ask your driver for recommendations.
It guarantees a smooth, comfortable start or end to your trip. You will maximize time for relaxation or exploration.
Insider tip: For late afternoon flights, this service ensures you reach your destination before dark on the winding roads.
Blue Hole Tour From Ocho Rios
guided_experienceYou will feel the adrenaline of leaping from a Tarzan rope into shockingly cold, deep blue water. You will hear the constant rush of a hidden waterfall. See dappled sunlight filter through the dense jungle canopy. It is a more intimate and adventurous alternative to structured water climbs.
It dedicates plenty of time to fully enjoy the jumps and swims at one of Jamaica's most photogenic sites.
Insider tip: Bring a waterproof camera. The guides are experts at capturing the perfect mid-air jump shot.
Where to Stay in Kingston in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
24 December
Grand Market on Christmas Eve
Downtown Kingston erupts into a night market that runs 6 PM to 6 AM; King Street and Orange Street become pedestrian lanes of jerk smoke, sound-system clashes, and vendors selling everything from phone cases to sorrel in recycled rum bottles. Energy spikes at 1 AM when three competing sound systems lock in sync.
Late January, close enough that hotels in Kingston still run shoulder-season rates until 5 January, so book before Christmas if you're staying into the new year.
Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival
Three days of jazz, blues, and reggae fusion at the Aqueduct in Rose Hall, about 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Kingston. Most Kingstonians treat it as a road-trip weekend, leaving city restaurants and bars surprisingly quiet for those who stay behind.
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Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
The best jerk pork isn't at the famous tourist spots, it's at Boston Jerk Centre in Port Antonio. But you can catch the same pit master's cousin at the Wednesday evening pop-up outside Sovereign Centre in Liguanea.
Kingston's public buses (the white ones with red stripes) keep rolling until 11 PM and cost a fraction of route taxis, locals hop them from Half Way Tree to Downtown once the evening rush dies down
Free Wi-Fi blankets the city, Popeyes on Constant Spring Road, Devon House ice-cream courtyard, and the National Gallery all deliver steady connections when you're ready to upload photos
December brings sorrel season, hunt for the deep-red drink sold in recycled rum bottles at roadside stands. The sharp hibiscus tang slices through 32°C (89°F) afternoons
Avoid These Mistakes
Arrive at Devon House for ice cream at 6 PM and you'll queue around the courtyard in December evenings. Slide in at 2 PM while locals are still at work and you'll wait five minutes instead of forty
Catch a taxi from the airport to New Kingston without fixing the fare first and you'll pay for it, December is slow season so drivers pitch tourist prices that are triple the route-taxi equivalent
Plan beach days on Sunday and you'll share Lime Cay and Hellshire with Kingston families from noon onward. Grab the 8 AM boat out or visit midweek for a quieter stretch of sand
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