Castleton Botanical Gardens in Spanish Town

Beautiful surroundings. Make sure to visit the soup vendors immediately across from the police station.

Nice peaceful place where you can have nice picnic and swim in the river

Love it here only $100 JMD to enter and you can cook your own food the bar is pretty decent and the grounds and river are extremely beautiful.

Cool and quiet environment, but there could be more development. A lot of visitors especially during the summer time. Foods available are a variety of soups, fry fish, drink and snacks. Safe environment given the police station is right there as well. Lose a star because of underdeveloped.

Naturally beautiful. The gardens are well kept and have a very relaxing vibe. Its a great place for a family picnics. The river is refreshing but this can be affected by weather conditions like low rain fall.Parking, however, is not always good. Holidays and weekends things can get a little complicated with parking.

Talking about tranquility...this is the place to relax and enjoy nature 🌻🌴🌹💐

Beautiful and the sound of nature is enough to put anyone in a state of meditation.

Lovely place but needs maintenance. The lilly pond no longer has lillies

Beautiful gardens and cool, rushing river water was perfect for group outing or quick dip.

Lovely place good for picnic the garden need some attention though but good experience.

Lovely view. Cool water

History ready available... grounds well manicured and accommodating. Perfect for church/group trip for all ages

Beautiful beautiful beautiful, water was nice the atmosphere was excellent, the garden calming and magnificent

The water was so refreshing and nice. I had an amazing time. Restrooms are not up to par need to walk with your toilet paper and be prepared to flush with a bucket. But the experience was well worth the JA 100.

The place is so beautiful its unbelievable. Well worth my $100JD. I havent been to Castleton since I was a kid. Its a nice private place. It was a regular for Church and family trips back in the days, and, it still is. I saw some entering as we were leaving. Toms River is absolutely beautiful. I was in such awe at the beauty of Castleton Gardens. Best to visit before noon. Thats when the crowd gets in. The bathrooms and buildings at the front are in need of renovation though. The Government of Jamaica needs to invest heavily in the upkeep of this monumental place. Its a great place. Awesome family day for me. Love it and would recommend for a family visit for anyone.

Very lovely place, went on a hike & then went down by the gardens which is HUGE & the river. Water was lovely. 10/10 would definitely recommend

Havent been there since I was a teenager, thats more than 30 years ago and I must say ,hats off the owners and caregivers of this wonderful place ,well kept and soon welcoming . Lots of spots in the river to have a very good time and did I say the grounds are immaculately kept. Will definitely be visiting there more often when I am home.A must see and definitely a place to be ,just go check it out !!!

The air was clean; the water was refreshing; the environment was peaceful. I greatly enjoyed Castleton.

Entry fee is cheap$20 JMD to use the bathroomThere wasnt much seating areasNo indoor parkingCompound was clean and keptPhoto credits: @justsontee ( on Instgram)

One of the best botanical gardens in jamiaca. You love flora and fauna? Plus a river 😁

Was a great experience, a lot of things to see please do check it out

This place is not bad at all. Just need better parking. Planning to take my kids there soon, its extremely nice.

This was well worth the drive from Kingston. Only JMD$100 per person on entry. It was a nice short stroll to the river and there were lots of spots where you can take a dip in the water with a bit of privacy. It’s definitely better to go earlier in the day. As we pushed into the early afternoon it became busier.

The Garden though unkept is tranquil and great place to meet, the river side is fun except for the littering of patrons flowing down the river. There is a moderate hike to John crow hill. Many rare trees can be found here including a palm garden! Looks like a great site for a wedding.

Firstly, there is a $100 charge per person to go in which is okay for the beautiful scenery by the river.I know they have no control over the river water but the water is way lower than it was even 10 years ago. You can find some swimming spots though which are low for us non swimmers and kids.There is a vast amount of trash though. From baby diapers to food boxes and liquor bottles.Don’t forget to bring food and drinks, although there’s a tuck shop close by.Parking is at your own risk!

Great Place, natural plants ,good rivers running threw

Beautiful place. Love the small pools of water in the river. Safe for children where we were.

Lovely gardens & refreshing river water...bring mosquito repellent 🙃✌🏽💐🌊💚

Visited the Castleton River (acrossthe road, not the garden. The experience was okay but not the best. The river was low at this time of year I guess (like ankle deep low). There are some watering holes that you can sit in that can allow for some "stationary snorkeling" 😅. One of the highlights however, are the little cook shops on the side of the road (in front of the police station). Soup was rather hot n tasty ($300 for sml. cup); amongst other delicacys (fritters, corn n butter, etc.).

Clean, beautiful garden and river. River is a long stretch with flowing water and a lot of rocks to swim and chill , place is peaceful and scenery is just lovely if you love nature. Cost is $100 on entry. Love it !

If you love to hike or just looking for a river not too far from Kingston, this is a great spot. The food wasnt that good, I would suggest taking your own. The restroom was the worst part of the visit and I hope they fix it before my next visit because I will definitely be going back for the river.

An amazing chill spot! The garden is located on both side of the road, we visited the side with the river because it rained we werent able to visit the other side. The grounds was clean and welcoming, we paid 300jmd for our family to enter. What entices me the most about this location is that there are lil huts around the park and you can bring your own food or even cook on location. There is also locals at the main, in front of the police station who sells snack and cooked food. There is also a snack bar on location. The river was relaxing and freezing at first but your body will warm up to it. If you want to see our experience check it out on our channel at Yahman Family TV on YouTube.

Beautiful space filled with wild beautiful plants and tropical trees. The river is its best feature as the water is refreshing to take a dip. It may appear brownish if there is rainfall in the vicinity. There is an entry just for support and one may support the snack shack that is on site. There are multiple gazebos to choose from but none are close to the river. The path may be muddy if it rains as well so be careful and watch your step.Finally - DO NOT REMOVE ANY PLANTS

The location is wonderful but the bathroom was horrifying. Needed to be cleaned and it couldnt flush.

I love the ambience and upkeep. This place is a total paradise. Planning on visiting again. The river was lit!!!

Nice scenery and quiet place to relax take some nature photos and do day camp .

Castleton Gardens is one of Jamaicas treasures that provides respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. Enveloped by exotic and unusual flora... caressed by the Wag Water River... perfected with its wide expanse of green areas, its a great spot for gathering of family and friends or if you simply want to "escape" on your own... it offers so many spots for whatever you want to do... picnic, photoshoot, birthday party, sprawl out and take a nap, barbecue on the grill... its all up to you. With all its great merits, however, it needs a little more "love" from its caregivers.

Nice place to unwind and take in nature and the river. Get a cup of janga soup across from the police station and wander round the garden and take in the river

It was awesome...love it. The garden was so serene so beautiful so tranquil....the river was nice ....we had an awesome

Great place for a picnic! You have to search for the quite spot though as other persons may be loud. Take food and it free to enter.

A beautiful spot! Perfect for a family trip or a bae day. Visitors are asked to donate a measly $100 for its upkeep (give more because it takes alot). River has a few deep areas perfect for swimming or taking pics. Or you can lounge on the huge rocks. Theres garden patios and lush green lawns to use too. There a small changing room and bathroom on grounds. Beware of locals who like to bathe in the river...nude. theres also a bar that sells snacks drinks and crafts. I recommend you get sunscreen and water boots. Also, bring a waterproof bag to bring your valuables with you to the river. You wont be able to see anything on the bank once in it.

Good picnic spot. Many sights to see especially if interested in botany and the river was great. .

Really nice to chill. You can cool of in the river. Swim or jus lay on a rock. Have lunch, walk around the garden. Your choice

Beautiful, not very well maintained but lots of great trees and the river is nice

Were in the midst of drought season but the river was flowing, welcoming coolness to an otherwise hot summer day.Castleton gardens is a relaxing place with greenery everywhere. Nestled in the cool hills of St. Mary and St. Andew, its a perfect place to take the family to relax for a picnic, have a barbeque, and take a dip in the soothing waters of the river.

Nice place to chill with the family. Water is not too deep. Few rocks to dodge. Place to sit and rest rooms

Nice place for nature lovers to enjoy. River is accessible and swimmable if no rainy weather. Grounds people are welcoming and engaging.

A small piece of Jamaican paradise tucked away in the hills of St. Mary. Located near to thr border of St. Andrew, these gardens offer rolling lawns that are great for picnicking, weddings or just to lay on for a nap. The gardens are located on both sides of the Castleton main road. Escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and go take a dip in the cool waters of the Wag Water River which runs through the eastern side of the gardens. The grounds are well secure and the area is perfect for family outings, and even company events. Perfect spot for nature lovers and for those who are just seeking a place to relax. Tour the gardens at your own pace or even ask for a guided tour with one of the knowledgeable guides as they inform you of the history of the gardens and also the story behind the plants locatee there.

Castleton Gardens is a botanical gardens created by the colonial British, which is now a relaxing river retreat for locals and tourists. There is no cover charge, you have to park on the side of the road as the only parking lot available fills up quickly especially on the weekend. Its a small walk down to the river and depending on the time of year may be low. Its a beautiful spot for a weekend cookout ( they have an area for cookingor just relaxing and having a picnic. There is a on site shop to purchase items and an area outside where vendors sell a wicked crayfish soup. Only concern is the litter on the site and lack of workers ensuring the place is kept clean.

Excellent botanical garden with beautiful palms to admire. It has many benches and gazebos suitable for picnicking and the Wag Water river which runs behind the property is a good swimming spot. Best of all, its free! There are decent bathrooms and a well-stocked reasonably-priced bar too.