Mangos Jamaica

Mangos Jamaica opened in 2016 and before becoming Mangos, the site hosted a family-friendly nudist resort on the gorgeous oceanfront property. The family-friendly roots explain the two-story waterslide and perhaps why the Mangos vibe feels a little bit like summer camp for adults. Think: free-flowing alcohol, cursing, and maybe some off-color jokes and comments meant just for adult ears. The resort’s grounds are lush and full of blossoming hibiscus, ixora, and bougainvillea flowers and many varieties of tropical plants and palm trees. And as one would expect from a property called Mangos, there’s also a namesake mango tree. The resort’s guest-room buildings are also named after different types of mangoes, like Lippens or Hairy Man or Red Jaw. The resort hosts activities like beach volleyball and trivia during the days. At night, there are cultural shows, fire eaters, and live music with lots of guests dancing. It’s also worth noting that the staff members are also talented musicians themselves and often make cameos during the nightly performances. In general, guests are mostly Canadian but the resort also attracts visitors from Europe, the US, and local Jamaicans. Its an adult-only property and the minimum age is 18, although most of the guests who visit the resort are between 40 and 60 years old.

Mangos is located along a sandy oceanfront that's a 10-minute drive from Falmouth. As one of Jamaica’s oldest colonial British towns, Falmouth’s Georgian-styled buildings were restored a few years back and offer a fun excursion to wander its colorful streets. They get crowded when cruise ships are in port, though. Falmouth is also where the nearest pharmacy, banks, craft markets, grocery stores, and restaurants are located (all a 10-minute drive). Glistening Waters, a bioluminescent bay with nightly boat tours and one of the few places in the world visitors can swim in the glowing water, is a five-minute drive from the resort. Dunn’s River Falls, a beautiful series of cascades that spill into the ocean, is a 55-minute drive away. For a dolphin swimming experience, Dolphin Cove is across the street from the Dunn's River. The touristy town of Ocho Rios is just up the road (an hours' drive from the resort). The Blue Hole, a stunning azure swimming hole with waterfalls is an hour-and-21-minute drive from Mangos. Montego Bay, the Jamaica’s north shore tourist heart (that also has a bustling commercial center) is a 42-minute drive away. Negril, with its famed sunsets and cliff jumping, is a two-hour drive from the resort. Sangster International Airport is a 32-minute drive from Mangos Jamaica. 

Mangos’ rooms blend rustic touches like wood walls, floors, and ceilings (upper-floor ceilings are vaulted) with modern accents. Guest rooms have king beds with huge plush tan headboards, bed runners with disjointed, Picasso-esque patterns in neutral tans, blues, and oranges, and sleek dressers with chrome handles. The stylistic combo’s a little funky, but it works. Other room furnishings include big desks, a black plush lounge chair that seems to awkwardly devour the room, and abstract paintings that look like globular lava-lamp sunsets. Coffeemakers with free coffee and tea are standard as are luggage stands, irons, ironing boards, safes, flat-screen TVs with cable channels, and mini-bars stocked with water, beer, and soda. Free Wi-Fi is available in all guest rooms, although it was pretty spotty during our visit.   Bathrooms have wood walls with tile turquoise accents and turquoise tile vanity tops. Cute carved wood turtle soap holders are a fun touch. Other toiletries include hairdryers, bar soap, and dispenser-fed body wash and shampoo. Rooms also have private balconies with either garden, pool, or ocean views.

Mangos’ all-inclusive features cater to adults on vacation. The sandy beach is long and lined with lounge chairs and cabanas. There's also a beach volleyball court. It’s gorgeous for sure, but we wish the resort did a better job cleaning up the seaweed and sea grass that washes ashore. A nice plus are the free kayaks and snorkeling equipment available to borrow. The 24-hour freshwater pool is surrounded by lots of lounge chairs and has a lifeguard on duty during the day. There are also two heated whirlpools and a two-story waterslide. For dining, the Poolside Grill is the poolside, oceanfront quick-eats eatery with a jerk pit (barbecue) and also serves sandwiches and snack food. Elements is the ocean-view buffet restaurant that serves breakfast and Jamaican, international, and theme dinners (it also has a bar). Mangos also has two dinner-only restaurants. Cafe Cantina serves Italian cuisine and Bamboo Restaurant is the oceanfront, thatch-roofed seafood spot with gorgeous views. Reservations are required at Bamboo on Friday nights. It’s worth noting the restaurants are all closed between breakfast and lunch, and no food is available. There is a gift shop that sells snacks, sundries, and souvenirs. Handbags & Gladrags Piano Bar is open nightly and has a quirky, piano-key trimmed interior. One Love Spa is the full service spa offering services like massages, manicures, pedicures, waxing, haircuts, and hair braiding. There's a gym with a treadmill, weight machines, stationary bikes, free weights, and dumbbells. Its seen better days though, and could use an update. A nice plus is the big game room with multiple pool tables, table tennis, dartboard, and a book exchange. Bird’s Nest Craft sells locally made crafts and has been run by the same family for two generations. The resort’s tour desk can arrange excursions, tour guides, car rentals, and airport transfers. There’s an ocean-view meeting room, laundry service (for a fee) and two tennis courts. The courts are in rough shape but free rackets and balls can be rented and private lessons are available for a fee. There’s also free parking and free Wi-Fi, but the internet is pretty unstable and often out of service.