Coyaba River Garden is a small botanical garden and museum at Shaw Park, set around the Coyaba River and its waterfalls. The grounds are beautifully maintained, with palms, ferns, bromeliads, and flowering trees framing the river pools. The museum section covers Jamaican history from the Taino people through the Spanish and British colonial periods to independence, with exhibits that are modest but informative.
The garden is quieter than Shaw Park and less well publicised, which keeps the crowds smaller. The combination of running water, tropical planting, and the historical material makes it one of the more rewarding stops in the area. It's easily combined with a visit to Shaw Park Botanical Gardens, which is a short distance away. Allow an hour. The entry fee is modest.