The Bamboo Avenue

One of the most beautiful sights on the South Coast Main Street is Bamboo Avenue in the Holland area of St. Elizabeth Parish. Bamboo Avenue is a two-and-a-half-mile stretch of road between Lacovia and Middle Quarters lined with giant bamboo plants that tower over the road and cross in the middle to form a shady tunnel.

The avenue was created in the 17th century by the owners of the Holland Estate to provide shade for travelers and protect the road from erosion. There are other bamboo avenues in Jamaica mostly located in mountainous regions. However the bamboo avenue in Holland is the longest so far and the only one that covers a busy road.