How many times have you fantasised about escaping to a beach with white sand, crystal clear waters and not a single email waiting for your response? Daily? Hourly? I hear you. Between never-ending to-do lists, an alarming socio-political climate and that creeping residual tension from the pressures of day-to-day life, the urge to flee, switch off and rejuvenate has never been higher.

It’s no wonder, then, that wellness travel has been booming. The Global Wellness Institute has had an eye on this trend for a while. It points to what we’ve all been holistically craving: trips that will help us maintain a healthy lifestyle and reduce stress. It explains that “every destination has its own distinct flavours in relation to wellness, linked with its local culture, natural assets and foods”. And while that might seem like a reasonably obvious notion, it’s a helpful reminder that not all wellness looks the same. 

Over the past few years, many of us have looked towards the Nordic and Scandinavian regions, whose inhabitants seem to have mastered the art of being happy even on the darkest winter days. Or those living down under – the majority of whom rate their health as “excellent”. And on a visit to Jamaica, my paternal ancestral home that I’ve longed to get to know better, I got a taste of the island’s unique take on restorative practices. 

My body may have been revived by some of the most glorious spa treatments I’ve been lucky enough to experience, but it was my spirit (and I mean this sincerely) that was soothed by every activity’s deep connection to the island’s natural produce and landscape. 

Truth be told, I’m a firm believer that spending time by the ocean will do wonders for your mental wellbeing. So arriving at Jamaica Inn, a historic luxury hotel teetering on the edge of the Caribbean Sea, I was met with an overwhelming sense of calm and awe. For a modestly sized resort, the setting delivers a big impact.

This is not a hotel to spend your time huddled beneath high thread-count sheets watching TV and ordering room service (although the chance to have breakfast on your suite’s private sea-cliff terrace is truly magical). For one, there are no TVs in any of the rooms. Secondly, the Ocean Spa is where you’ll want to spend all of your time.

The beach-front massages with nothing but the sound of crashing waves (none of that sterile instrumental ‘spa’ music, thank you) to soundtrack your treatment allow you to truly tune into your mind and body. Made with herbs and plants foraged from the Jamaica Inn garden, many of the products used by the therapists include ingredients that have grown mere metres from where you’re being treated, and that only enhances the deliciously relaxing experience. I’m talking about the smell and sensations delivered by fresh pineapple, coconut, sugar, mint, lemongrass and CBD. It’s a holistic approach that quietly grounds and rebalances you in a way that only expert knowledge of the island’s local offerings can. 

One such local expert is Miss Lorna, the owner, operator and cornerstone of Sun Valley Plantation. On the tour of this botanical farm and plantation, Miss Lorna’s encyclopedic knowledge of the hundreds of birds, plants and herbs was evident, as was her deep connection to everything she produces. Of the many things I learned as we sipped jelly from freshly cut coconuts – did you know that one guava will give you more than 300% of your daily vitamin C intake? – is that so much of what we need can be found around us – if you know where to look and how to use it. I can also confirm that coconut jelly does wonders for a hangover and an unsettled stomach.

For a more typical view of luxury wellness offerings, Round Hill Hotel and Villas in Montego Bay have plenty to offer. We stayed in one of the property’s exclusive, privately-catered villas which offered unparalleled opportunities for peace, quiet and seclusion and incredible views of the Jamaican coastline. Go for the tranquillity, but stay for the incredible food that showcases many of the best ingredients Miss Lorna introduced me to.

Back home, my far less glamorous attempts at wellness have always failed to help me with visualisation. Clearing my mind for meditation practices is hard enough, and for some reason, tuning into a specific location that brings me a sense of calm has always been harder. That was, until I recently recalled one of the highlights of my Jamaican wellbeing journey. When I’m trying to meditate now, I take myself back to Dunn’s River Falls, and its 960 feet of waterfall and springs.

I was unceremoniously baptised by the river when I lost my footing on a rock while climbing up the waterfall. Don’t worry, there weren’t any injuries – just a lot of breathless laughter and bewilderment at how beautiful my surroundings were (and how ridiculous it was for me to think my baseball cap would stay on my head for the duration). It was a big moment, though. Feeling so joyful, conscious and grateful to be soaking up such fruitful surroundings is what has completely redefined my sense of wellbeing for the better. 

Check out visitjamaica.com to plan your next sunny wellness trip. 

Rooms at Jamaica Inn start from $512 per night, excluding taxes and fees

Rooms at Round Hill start at £473 per night. 

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