"Bamboo Avenue" Top 5 Page for this destination Negril Off The Beaten Path Tip by toonsarah

Bamboo grows wild all over Jamaica, though not with the proliferation it once did. Near the Black River, between Middle Quarters and Lacovia, is a 2.5 mile stretch of the main A2 road known as Bamboo Avenue. This was planted by the owners of Holland Estate in the early 20th century to shade its sugarcane workers as they travelled between the plantation and home. Here the bamboo grows uninterrupted for several miles on both sides of the road, and for most of its length forms a pretty arch above your head as you drive through.

Previously the arch was unbroken, but the devastation caused by Hurricane Gilbert uprooted some of the bamboo and it is yet to grow back fully – although at the speed this plant grows, that shouldn’t take too long! There are a number of places along the road where you can pull over to buy a cold drink and take photos. I had to stand in the middle of the road to get this shot, so make sure you have someone with you who can watch out for traffic if you want to do the same!