Kingston - Things to Do in Kingston in December

Things to Do in Kingston in December

December weather, activities, events & insider tips

Good time to visit Shoulder Season · Good Value

December Weather in Kingston

Long-run averages for December

84°F (29°C) High Temp
70°F (21°C) Low Temp
2.7 inches (69 mm) Rainfall
81% Humidity
7 Sunny-Day UV

Making the most of December in Kingston? Browse tours and activities in Kingston on GetYourGuide.

Is December Right for You?

Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking

Advantages
  • + The city's driest month of the year. That 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rainfall feels more like brief, cooling afternoon showers that leave the Blue Mountain air smelling of wet earth and petrichor, rather than the tropical downpours of October.
  • + Perfect warmth without the oppressive summer humidity. 84°F (29°C) is warm enough for the pool at the Pegasus but cool enough for a serious hike up to the 2,256 m (7,402 ft) Blue Mountain Peak without feeling like a sauna session.
  • + It is the unofficial start of the festival season in Kingston, with the city's creative energy shifting from the summer lull into rehearsals for Boxing Day concerts and the National Pantomime, meaning you get the buzz without the peak-season ticket chaos.
  • + The Hope River and nearby waterfalls like Blue Hole in Ocho Rios are at a sweet spot. Still flowing strong from the autumn rains but not the raging, coffee-brown torrents you get in the wetter months, making river adventures spectacular.
Considerations
  • − This is the beginning of high season, so hotel rates have already started their climb from the shoulder season, and you will be competing with the early wave of diaspora families returning for the holidays.
  • − While Kingston itself is less crowded than the north coast resorts, popular day-trip destinations like Blue Hole and Dunn's River Falls start to get busier, on cruise ship days. You will want to time your visits for early mornings.
  • − The Harmattan winds from the Sahara can occasionally drift across the Atlantic in December, bringing a faint haze to the sky that softens the usual razor-sharp views of the mountains, which photographers might find disappointing.

Settled on December? Compare hotel prices in Kingston for your dates on Trip.com.

Best Activities in December

Top things to do during your visit

Kingston in December feels different. The air dries out, traffic still hums, diesel drifts, jerk drums smolder. Light turns razor-sharp, good for mountain runs where the mercury dives. Locals string up lights, slip reggae carols into shop playlists, and the whole city leans forward. Rain backs off; warm, sure days open the island. Head east for Portland's waterfalls or climb north into the cool Blue Mountains. The city keeps its usual punch, yet December's window makes side trips sane. Feel the swing from scorching downtown asphalt to misty ridges only sixty minutes away. No mega-festivals this month. The draw is raw interior nature, rivers that roar, hidden pools, trails that scrape the sky.

Private Transport to River Tubing or Rafting and Blue Hole combo

Private Transport to River Tubing or Rafting and Blue Hole combo

adventure
★ 5.0 58 reviews from $45

This private ride flips you from Kingston concrete into green interior in one morning. Banana rows replace blocks, then you're floating down turquoise rivers and plunging into Blue Hole pools fed by falls. Your wheels, your clock, less transit, more gasps when the mountain water hits.

Full day. Moderate. Morning departure.
two splash-hit experiences in a flexible day from the capital.
Insider tip: strap on water shoes you don't mind trashing; Blue Hole rocks are slick and lumpy.
Jamaica Best Water Falls Tour,Mobay Bay to Dunn's River/Blue Hole

Jamaica Best Water Falls Tour,Mobay Bay to Dunn's River/Blue Hole

guided_experience
★ 5.0 43 reviews from $192

This tour starts north-coast but works for Kingston base-campers with extra days. You'll barrel across the island, past yam vendors and jerk pits puffing sweet smoke. Climb Dunn's River Falls, water pounding your palms, then chill in Blue Hole's deep cobalt pools.

Full day. Expensive. Early morning tour start.
well-known climb plus a quieter swim grotto.
Insider tip: rent water shoes at Dunn's gate for grip.
Blue Mountain Path Finder

Blue Mountain Path Finder

other
★ 5.0 27 reviews from $90

hauls you into cloud-capped peaks above Kingston. City humidity drops; earth, coffee blossom, and cold air fill your lungs. Walk under fern cathedrals, hear streamertail hummingbirds, and on crisp December mornings spy the distant coast.

Half day. Moderate. Early morning.
structured trail access and big vistas a world above the heat.
Insider tip: bring a light sweater. Dawn temps up here dive.
This month: Crisp December mornings offer distant coast views.
Private Guided Group Full-Day Water Tour fr Kingston to Portland

Private Guided Group Full-Day Water Tour fr Kingston to Portland

day_trip
★ 5.0 24 reviews from $300

This private full-day run heads east from Kingston to Portland, the island's wettest, greenest parish. Roll windows down, taste moist air, watch rainforest drip beside the road. Stop at glass-clear rivers and falls where you can drink the water and hear only cascades and birds.

Full day. Expensive. Morning departure.
deep, custom dip into Portland's legendary waterways far from tour-bus stops.
Insider tip: December rains ease, so rivers run clear and calm, prime for swimming.
This month: December rains ease, rivers run clear and calm.
Private Transfer from Ian Fleming Airport to Ocho Rios

Private Transfer from Ian Fleming Airport to Ocho Rios

transport
★ 5.0 22 reviews from $20

This private transfer links Ian Fleming International Airport to Ocho Rios without touching Kingston. Hug the coast, catch cobalt sea flashes, taste salt breeze through the glass.

1.5-2 hours. Budget. Anytime based on flight arrival.
painless hop from a small airport to a major resort strip.
Insider tip: ask if the driver takes the fast highway or the slower scenic shore road. Choose based on time and mood.
Blue Hole Tour From Ocho Rios

Blue Hole Tour From Ocho Rios

guided_experience
★ 5.0 37 reviews from $65

North-coast focused, this outing zeroes in on the Blue Hole near Ocho Rios. Leap off limestone cliffs into mineral-blue pools, hear shouts echo under jungle canopy, see white rock against impossible water.

2-3 hours. Moderate. Late morning.
pure fun, no timetable, just swim and jump.
Insider tip: midweek means fewer bodies and open rope swings.

Where to Stay in Kingston in December

Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.

Public Holidays in December

Dates that affect opening hours, transport and crowds

Christmas Day

Observed nationwide as a public holiday.

Boxing Day

Known in English as St. Stephen's Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.

Christmas Day

Observed nationwide as a public holiday.

Boxing Day

Known in English as St. Stephen's Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.

Christmas Day

Observed nationwide as a public holiday.

Boxing Day

Known in English as St. Stephen's Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.

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Essential Tips

Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid

Insider Knowledge
The best jerk in Kingston hides in plain sight. No sign. Just a metal drum on the roadside in Grants Pen or Barbican after 6 PM. The smoke hangs thick. Look for the longest line of cars. Skip the crowded craft markets. For authentic souvenirs, head to Mutual Gallery or the Edna Manley College finals show. Buy directly from emerging Jamaican artists. These pieces carry stories. Mass-produced trinkets don't. Want the city's pulse? Walk the Harbour View Roundabout Friday evening. Locals gather there. It's not a tourist attraction. Street food sizzles. Sound systems appear. Everyone wears their weekend best. Driving to the north coast? Leave Kingston by 6:30 AM at the latest. You'll miss rush hour. You'll reach Blue Hole before the Ocho Rios cruise excursions arrive.
Avoid These Mistakes
Don't assume Kingston shares Montego Bay's weather. Kingston sits on the south coast in a rain shadow. It's drier. Often hotter. Pack and plan accordingly. Don't pair a Blue Mountain sunrise hike with a river tour. The hike ends mid-morning. You'll be spent. Respect the mountain. Give it its own day. Don't stay only in New Kingston. The city's soul lives downtown, in Cross Roads, in Half Way Tree. Use trusted taxis. You'll miss Kingston's essence if you never leave the hotel district.

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