Castleton Botanical Gardens

Castleton was laid out in 1862 on the banks of the Wag Water river and became the point of entry for a great many of the tropical species now taken for granted in Jamaica, brought in from Kew and elsewhere and distributed from here. Around fifteen acres of it are planted, with palms, bamboo, cycads and flowering trees on both sides of the road and paths down to the river, where people swim. Hurricanes have knocked it about repeatedly.

What you actually see

• The palm collection - the garden's oldest and best-known planting.
• The Wag Water - the river running through with pools used for swimming.
• The introduced species - trees brought in from the 1860s and distributed nationally.
• The riverside paths - walks down through the planting to the water.

When to go

December to April is the drier season and the most comfortable. The gardens are open daily through the day. Hurricane season from June to November brings damage and closures.

Honest expectations

Maintenance is patchy and hurricane damage has never been fully made good. Unofficial guides approach visitors at the gate and payment expectations are unclear. The main road runs straight through the garden.

Nearby

Kingston is south, and Annotto Bay is north on the coast.