The White House said Wednesday that Obama would visit the island nation to meet leaders of the Caribbean bloc CARICOM.
It is the first time a US president has visited Jamaica since Ronald Reagan in 1982.
From Jamaica, Obama will travel to Panama for a Summit of the Americas, the first such meeting since a thaw in relations between Cuba and the United States.
The White House has said no decision has yet been made about a possible meeting with Cuban ruler Raul Castro at that summit.
Obama's visit will take place April 8 to 11.