Jamaica's rich history stretches back beyond the 15th century, and includes the settlements of the gentle Arawak Indians (who named the island Xaymaca), Spanish mariners, English conquerors, and Asian migrants, all of whom added to the multi-ethnic heritage of this Caribbean island. Modern Jamaica is the land of reggae and rum, wearing a mantle of roughshod romance that attracts travelers the world over looking to escape the routine of daily life. The landscape is a mosaic of palmed golden beaches and a beautiful mountainous interior.Once the crown jewel of the British ... More
Jamaica's rich history stretches back beyond the 15th century, and includes the settlements of the gentle Arawak Indians (who named the island Xaymaca), Spanish mariners, English conquerors, and Asian migrants, all of whom added to the multi-ethnic heritage of this Caribbean island. Modern Jamaica is the land of reggae and rum, wearing a mantle of roughshod romance that attracts travelers the world over looking to escape the routine of daily life. The landscape is a mosaic of palmed golden beaches and a beautiful mountainous interior.
Guests enjoy a relaxing ride down the Great River aboard a 30-foot bamboo raft built for just two passengers. There is also a tour at Rhea's World mini-plantation before sampling a variety of delicious Jamaican liqueurs. This tour is approximately 3-hours and includes transfers.
Guests glide along Jamaica’s longest river and explore remote mangrove swamps, crocodiles, and other native wildlife. A traditional Jamaican lunch is then enjoyed before traveling on to the YS Falls, where a refreshing swim rounds out the day. This tour operates on Thursday and Friday only, and lasts approximately 9.5 hours. Transfers are included as well as lunch.
This 11-tour starts with a westward journey along Jamaica’s beautiful north coast, arriving in Negril for a day of exploring the seven beautiful miles of uninterrupted white sand beach. Meal times are included and visitors end the day by watching the best sunset in Jamaica at the famous Rick's Café, then return to Montego Bay. Guests should bring swimwear. Transfers are included, but not meals.
Beginning with a scenic ride from Ocho Rios to Kingston, the nation’s capital, the drive south will take visitors through the splendor of Fern Gully, where they can find more than 500 varieties of fern. The ascent of Mount Diablo provides panoramic views of the island. Other sights visited are the Bob Marley museum, the Governor’s residence and the University of the West Indies. Operates Monday and Thursday from 8:00am through 5:00pm.
Enjoy a leisurely ride along Jamaica’s scenic North Coast to Ocho Rios the shopper’s paradise and site of the world famous Dunn’s River Falls. Spend the morning browsing through the town’s many craft markets before going for lunch. It is then on to Dunn’s River Falls. Climb the 600 ft. cascading waterfall and come away feeling refreshed and relaxed.
Jamaica Inn is a small, elegantly timeless resort located in beautiful Ocho Rios, Jamaica. With just 47 suites spread over 6 acres, there are sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea from every suite. This six-acre property has a 700-foot premier private beach, world class dining and personalized service.
This hotel spoils you with subdued luxury in a hillside villa or in a seaview Pineapple House room. Laze away the day on the beach, dive, water ski, dance under the stars & more!
This elegant colonial-style resort is hidden among 400 tropical hillside acres and has a private mile-long beach. Enjoy award-winning cuisine, golf, tennis, diving, a poolside bar, and more.
Adults-only all-inclusive resort opening onto a wide, white-sand beach – This is the premier resort of the 3 properties set on the beautiful, historic Rose Hall site. All accommodations are suites that open onto private balconies or terraces, and service is highly personalized, with everything from pillow menus to personal butlers and concierge. The epitome of all-inclusive, service runs round the clock. Swim in 2 pools, including the fantastic lake pool, and indulge at the tranquil spa.
Luxury beachfront resort with spectacular spa, next to 3 championship golf courses – Set on 16 acres, this resort blends well with its natural, lush surroundings and faces a private, white-sand beach. You can spend your days doing everything from horseback riding along the surf, to snorkeling in the swimming cove, to lounging by the infinity pools. The spectacular 30,000-square-foot ESPA is staffed by European-trained treatment specialists. All accommodations have ocean views, and many have 4-post beds.
Super-Inclusive®, hacienda-style luxury suites on the beach, for adults only – This luxury Super-Inclusive® has garnered numerous honors, including several AAA 4-Diamond awards and a place on Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List. The atmosphere is quiet and upscale, yet there's plenty of fun around every corner. Popular with travelers from both North America and Europe, the property opens onto a palm-dotted beach that is arguably the best in Negril and includes an expansive clothing-optional section.
Adults-only, Super-Inclusive® Victorian-style village on the beach – Blending modern luxury with Old World charm, this quaint Super-Inclusive® hideaway ranks among the top 5 Jamaica resorts in Travel + Leisure's 2007 "World's Best" awards. Built in the style of a 19th-century Victorian village, it's surrounded by 85 acres of tropical vegetation and fronted by a generous stretch of palm-fringed beach. The secluded setting is ideal for the island's largest clothing-optional facilities. With a 9-hole executive course and green fees included at 2 nearby championship courses, the resort is a golfer's paradise.
All-suite, couples-only All-Inclusive on a white-sand beach, with a world-class spa – One of Jamaica’s most renowned resorts, this European-style property has time and again proved its staying power. The stone pathways, tropical gardens, and the hillside setting create an intimate atmosphere and, appropriately, this hideaway caters to a couples-only clientele. A grotto-enclosed mineral spring provides the water for treatments at the luxurious spa, and was featured in the very first James Bond film, 1967’s Dr. No.
The Grand Lady, fresh from a $30 Million Renovation (2009) – At Jamaica’s original All-Inclusive, couples-only resort, scenes of natural beauty intermingle with exquisitely appointed rooms and endless amenities to transport you to a world that is equal parts Jamaican paradise and 50’s Hollywood hangout. Everything is at your disposal, spacious stylish rooms and suites with unparalleled ocean views and sparkling white-sand beaches. From fine dining to unforgettable off-site excursions and adventures, you’ll encounter infinite reasons to fall in love with Ocho Rios, Jamaica and with one another.
Once the crown jewel of the British sugar empire, its coastal plains and lofty jungles are still dotted with colonnaded mansions, thriving plantations, and ruins of others that did not survive the slave rebellions. Many of the remaining mansions are now opulent inns flanked not only by the sugar fields, but also by golf courses, while the beaches that once harbored ruthless, notorious pirates now harbor vacationers seeking the perfect tan. And you'll note that music is the heartbeat of Jamaica; nearly everywhere you go you feel its rhythm pulsing through the air, the marketplaces, through the locals and, soon enough, through you. For vacationers with a free and festive spirit, Jamaica is your place to shine!
New York City 3.25 hrs
Boston 3.75 hrs
Miami 1.5 hrs
Philadelphia 3.75 hrs
Los Angeles 5.5 hrs
Chicago 3.75 hrs
Dallas-Fort Worth 3.25 hrs
San Francisco 6 hrs
Montego Bay: Located on the northwestern side, "Mo Bay" is the second largest city in Jamaica and serves as a tourist capital with its busy international air and cruise ports. It has the greatest concentration of resorts on the island, as well as many beaches and golf courses. Tourists love it for the duty-free shopping, good restaurants, discos, museums, historic buildings, and tours of nearby rum distilleries.
Negril: Situated along Seven Mile Beach, this is one of the best strands of sandy beach on the island, and is known for its carefree atmosphere. The pace is slow, with very little shopping or nightlife. Still, there has been a boom in hotel construction that converted Negril from a hippie hideaway in the 60s and early 70s into a mainstream tourist destination good for families, singles, and couples alike.
Ocho Rios: Christopher Columbus called it "the fairest land my eyes have ever seen." Located in the center of the north coast, its deep-water harbor serves as a cruise port with a dramatic mountain backdrop. Pleasant beaches, several outstanding hotels, a varied nightlife, scuba diving, good shopping, and spas offer visitors the full-range of luxury resort activities. Nearby are the Dunn's River Falls, Jamaica's most famous attraction, where you climb steps carved in stone as a cascading river pours down them!
Port Antonio: "The most exquisite port on earth" was how American poetess Ella Wheeler Wilcox described Port Antonio. Located on the northeastern side of the island, this hideaway harbors lovely beaches, the Blue Lagoon, the Caves of Nonesuch, the Rio Grande raft ride, deep-sea fishing, and an historic town. It was once the banana capital of the world, where the song Day-O was first sung by banana boat workers to pass the time. This is a charming, "tourist-lite" town that retains a sense of nostalgic glamour from the days when silver screen stars took their romantic vacations here. Its picturesquely battered Victorian/Caribbean architecture is the subject of frequent photography.
Jamaica is a tropical island with a mountainous interior and, along with the rest of the West Indian archipelago, is a part of the summit of a string of underwater mountains. The lofty interior mountains contain over 120 rivers, many waterfalls, and thermal springs. The landscape varies from the beach-ringed, semi-tropical rainforests of the north, to a flat and arid south. Limestone makes up most of the underlying terrain, with dozens of caves that store and naturally filter large water reservoirs.
Tropical weather dominates the coast, with a more temperate interior climate. Jamaica is sunny year-round, but you may have a few rain showers from spring through autumn. Hurricane season lasts from late August to early November, though strikes are rare and then only last an average of 2 days, with plenty of advance notice to prepare. The mountains can get cool enough to require a light sweater, especially in winter.
Winter Average 75°
Summer Average 80°
Graced with balmy weather year-round, any time is a good time to go to Jamaica. There are, however, distinct high and off-seasons. High-season runs from mid-December to mid-April, the peak tourist months, with Christmas and Easter being the busiest weeks. During this time the resort areas are flooded with visitors. Off-season runs from mid-April to mid-December and is a time of smaller crowds and greater availability at hotels, restaurants, and attractions, perfect for people who prefer a quieter scene.
Intoxicating Tropical Beauty: Jamaica is a Caribbean island of exquisite beaches and lush green mountains. Rolling green hills of dense jungle forests and the famed Blue Mountains descend onto sandy, palm fringed beaches. Relax on the beach and simply do nothing, or snorkel off shore where the underwater scenery is as beautiful as that on land.
Vivacious Jamaican Culture: Jamaica is alive with music, crafts markets, great nightlife, and cultural festivities. Music is, of course, Jamaica's claim to fame, and followers of Bob Marley come from around the world to celebrate reggae music. Jamaica is also the spiritual home of the West Indian Rastafarians, who practice a strict oneness with nature, eating only certain foods and growing their hair into dreadlocks.
Outdoor Adventures: The warm, clear waters and sandy beaches host a full array of water and beach sports, from volleyball to deep-sea fishing. Extreme hikers are drawn to Jamaica's famous Blue Mountains, climbing through jungles, mountain streams, and waterfalls. Rafting, skiing, sailing, golfing, diving, and horse-back riding round out the roster of island-wide activities, guaranteeing a great time for everyone.
Island Wide
Birding Tours: Rich in feathered life, this is a wonderful place for birdsong you've never heard before; there are 25 species and 21 sub-species of birds found exclusively on Jamaica, and a total of 256 different species.
Blue Mountains: This is a land of soaring peaks and deep valleys with luxuriant vegetation. Quiet, remote mountain roads wind and dip, and signs are hard to come by, but that's no worry when you're guided by a local expert who takes you through coffee plantations, rum factories, and misty forest trails. The more easily accessed, prime tourist section is the 193,000-acre John Crow Mountain National Park.
Eco-Hiking: This journey through the Rio Grande Valley is an award-winning trek offering varying choice of difficulty through the John Crow Mountains. The paths parallel rambling creeks and bamboo forests, scale the sides of mountains, meander through the fern-laden valley, and lead to hidden waterfalls and tucked away caves. Guides educate you on the use and preparation of indigenous plants and herbs, and point out paw-paw (papaya) that you can pick and snack on along the way.
Get Married!: In Jamaica, you can tie the knot within 24 hours of arrival with hardly any red tape at all, and without a blood test. You can say your "I Dos" at a marriage officer's home, office, or location of your choice. Some hotels will make all the arrangements for you and accommodate special requests. Your honeymoon begins on the spot!
Montego Bay
Accompong Town in the Maroon Village: This is the sovereign state of the Maroons, descendants of runaway slaves who escaped to the Cockpit Mountains rather than live in bondage. Here you can learn the history of those courageous people who, by their determination and resistance of capture by the British "redcoats," finally won an unprecedented treaty of independence from a frustrated colonial government.
The Luminous Lagoon: The water, when agitated, becomes luminous with phosphorescent light that lines the form of fish and swimmers. Words do no justice - go and see it!
Negril
The Negril Lighthouse: It's perhaps the most distinctive landmark in the region. Built in 1894, it was originally operated by kerosene, but due to modern Global Positioning Systems, it will soon be retired and converted into a museum.
Horseback Riding in Rhodes Hall: Tailored for experts and novices alike, guides take you through banana and coconut groves, high into the hills. A gallop (or trot) along the shore and crocodile-watching are peak moments!
Ocho Rios
Black River Safaris: Journey into the wilds above Ocho Rios through a region admired for its lush vegetation, mountainous slopes, clearstreams, and hidden waterfalls. In this remote place you will cool off in secluded swimming holes that bring only hummingbirds and bougainvillea for companions. Afterward, explore the local history at the ruins of an 18th-century plantation destroyed in the slave rebellions. Ride out the day on an inner tube, floating down a calm and swift bubbling stream, then tie up on the shores for a jerk chicken picnic.
Dunn's River Falls: Hands down the all-time favorite natural attraction in Jamaica. A hand-holding chain of people supports each other up a climb of 600 feet through the same cascading water that Spanish explorers traversed centuries ago. The clear, cold mountain water races over the stone steps and onto the crowds of visitors splashing around at the bottom of the falls or cooling off in the pools that collect along the cascade's way.
Port Antonio
Raft the Rio Grande: Rafting as aplaytime activity originated here when planters constructed bamboo rafts both to transport bananas and to amuse their families. The rafts glide serenely down river on this two-hour diversion.
The Nonesuch Caves: Hidden among the Seven Hills of Athenry, 600 feet above town and with spectacular views, these caves were discovered in the 1930s and are fascinating to explore.
From hot to haute, and everything in between, Jamaican cooking is a culinary melting pot that combines a hint of Spanish and English, a good dash of Indian and Chinese, and a wallop of African ingredients that together cook up the Caribbean's most creative cuisine. The Jamaican national dish is ackee and salt-fish - a concoction made from imported salted cod and the fruit of the ackee tree, mixed with onions, peppers, and tomatoes. Jamaican food is a living testament to the island's history and natural abundance. For example, the Arawak Indian cassava is used today as "bammie," a toasted flat cake eaten with fried fish. The Maroons - escaped slaves always on the run from the British after the 1655 invasion - devised a way of spicing and slow-cooking pork that they called "jerking," recognized world-wide as the definitive Jamaican flavor. Breadfruit arrived courtesy of Lieutenant Bligh and the Bounty. The native pimento tree, the source of allspice, is used in numerous Jamaican dishes, and there's a fair bit of intrigue regarding whether it is, or is not, a key ingredient of the famous Pickapeppa Sauce, a recipe that's very closely guarded.
Gourmet
The Houseboat Restaurant is anchored in the lovely Bogue Lagoon, where guests arrive by hand-drawn ferry. The scrumptious European fare begins with a cheese fondue and dessert is always a highlight of local tropical fruits dipped in hot chocolate sauce! Southern Cross Boulevard, Montego Freeport
Highly Recommended
Pier One Restaurant and Bar serves savory international and local dishes in an elegant dining room or on the rustic nautical deck, both overlooking the bay and enjoying gorgeous sunset views. Howard Cooke Boulevard
Local Flair
The Pork Pit is the established champ of jerk barbecue. This is a no-frills place where the quite frankly the frills aren't missed, and all that matters is the scrumptious jerk pork and jerk chicken, possibly the best in Jamaica, chased with local Red Stripe brew. 27 Gloucester Avenue
Romantic
The Calico is a 55-foot wooden boat that sails several nights each week. Dining and dancing into the sunset makes this the best and most romantic evening of your trip! 16 Church Street (The Town House)
The Orchid Terrace Restaurant specializes in local and international cuisine, complemented with a collection of fine wines from around the world. The beat of Jamaican folk music fills the air as you dine in this graceful restaurant or mingle at the weekly manager's cocktail party! Negril Gardens, Norman Manley Boulevard, Westmoreland
Country Country, on Negril's famous Seven-Mile Beach, this cluster of colonial-style, rustic cottages is the epitome of old Jamaican country living, while peppering the experience with modern luxury. The restaurant is well-known for its sumptuous Chinese and Jamaican cuisine, served directly on the beach. Norman Manley Boulevard
The Rockhouse Restaurant is one of Negril's finest dining experiences, serving Jamaican dishes with a hint of European influences. The restaurant is a charming stone and thatch-roofed structure with a balcony suspended over Pristine Cove, promising an ambiance of tropical bliss! West End Road
The Blue Horizon West Restaurant has a relaxing atmosphere and a delicious menu, with meals served in the unassuming dining room or al fresco overlooking the Caribbean. West End Road
Evita's Italian Restaurant is a popular Jamaican-Italian eatery where "rasta-pasta" is the specialty of the house. Eden Bower Road
The Almond Tree: Diners sit high above a Caribbean cove and dine on mouth-watering cuisine including the chef's special fondues. 83 Main Street (at the Hibiscus Lodge Hotel)
The Ocho Rios Village Jerk Centre is a popular place to sample lots of different seafood and spicy jerk chicken and pork, served outdoors under a canopy. Da Costa Drive
The Ruins Restaurant specializes in tasty Chinese and Jamaican dishes, which you enjoy while dining by a waterfall on the lush banks of the Turtle River! Da Costa Drive
The Trident Villas and Hotel Restaurant features excellent food and the service to match, in a polished, candlelight setting. Point Ann
The Jamaica Palace Hotel Restaurant offers top-notch fine dining with live entertainment. Williamsfield
The Bonnie View Hotel Restaurant, perched high on a sea cliff, has unbeatable Jamaican cuisine and a tantalizing view of Port Antonio far below. Richmond Hill
Mille Fleurs serves creative Jamaican cuisine with a Continental flair in the "garden of a thousand flowers" with a sensational panoramic view. North Coast Highway (at the Hotel Mocking Bird Hill)
Kick off your evening with rum, the national drink of Jamaica, with which you can mix with just about anything. Try it with coconut water for the ultimate native refreshment and head out to dance and party all night long in the home of reggae! Every town has some degree of nightlife, and it's up to you to choose what you're up for. Small bars with a jukebox, cabaret entertainment, high-tech dance clubs, beach parties and, of course, karaoke, are sprinkled throughout the island. More recently, street dances have become the rage with the younger dance hall crowd. Curiously, given Jamaica's musical heritage, there is a noticeable lack of tourist nightclubs outside of hotels, so rather than you going to the bands, the bands come to you. Hotel club hop and see what's going on, but keep in mind that performances are ever-changing, so it's a good idea to check with your concierge for a current schedule of events and scan the local paper.
Combo at Lollypop on the Beach: A rollicking beach party with seafood and jerk meats, reggae, dancing, and oh-no, limbo!
Compulsion: This discotheque is open every night, but really pumps the parties from Wednesday to Sunday.
Alfred's Ocean Palace: Right on the beach, it has live socca music and a show every Friday night, as well as reggae bands a few nights each week.
There are several jamming party places to go wild here, including the nucleus of local nightlife at the Jamaica Me Crazy club in the Renaissance Jamaica Grande Hotel, the Silks Disco in the Shaw Park Hotel, and the Acropolis nightclub.
This region is a very quiet, laid back hideaway with little in the way of nightlife, but if you're looking to spice up the evening hours, check with your concierge, he'll know what entertainment is on each night.
The Bob Marley Birthday Bash: A time for serious partying every year when popular reggae artists from around the world make a pilgrimage to Jamaica to honor their patriarch. February
Spring Break: Spotlights reggae concerts and beach volleyball competitions during an annual program of discounted rates at select hotels, attractions, restaurants, and nightclubs designed to create an affordable great time for students needing an escape! March
Carnival in Jamaica: It lasts for one week with a multi-city series of fetes, concerts, and street parades. Flamboyantly-costumed groups of all ages dance through the streets. April
The Ocho Rios Jazz Festival: Draws international performers every year from Great Britain, Europe, Japan, the United States, and the Caribbean to perform alongside Jamaican jazz musicians. It's all the jazz you could possibly imagine, with jazz concerts, jazz lunches, jazz teas, jazz river feasts, and jazz barbecues.
The Port Antonio Blue Marlin Tournament: This is one of the oldest and most prestigious sport-fishing events in the Caribbean, with competing anglers from Europe and North America. October
Casual wear is the norm during the day, but shorts and swimsuits should be confined to the beach and pool. Evening dress varies from very casual to quite formal, depending on the places you visit; a few upscale hotels and restaurants require a jacket and tie.
We strongly advise that you confirm the following information and regard this only as a basic guide.
Drinking: You must be at least 21.
Gambling: There are no casinos in Jamaica. A number of resorts, like Coral Cliff Hotel in Montego Bay and the Renaissance Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios, have game rooms with slot machines.
Sunburn & Heatstroke: The sun can be harsh, especially in summer, so sunblock and a hat are essential. Drink lots of water to avoid dehydration.
Water: It's usually safe to drink the water, which is filtered and chlorinated. Nonetheless, to be on the safe side, drink bottled water whenever possible.
Safety: Kingston has a crime problem so, if you choose to go there, take common sense precautions and remain alert to your surroundings.
English and Jamaican Patois, the lively dialect of Jamaican Creole English.
Most places have the standard electrical voltage of 110, same as in the US. Some hotels, however, operate on 220 volts/50 cycles and require a transformer for American appliances.
Entry: You will not need a passport, but must have proof of citizenship (or permanent residency) and a return or ongoing ticket. A passport whenever you travel to another country is your best option, but to enter Jamaica you can also use an original birth certificate (or a certified copy) plus a government issued photo ID. Visits are limited to a maximum of 6 months.
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative: Effective January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including US citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or US Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.
The passport requirement does NOT apply to US citizens traveling to or returning directly from a US territory. US citizens returning directly from a US territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. US territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Immigration Card: You will be given an immigration card on arrival at the airport, which you must carry during your visit and return to Jamaican Customs upon departure.
Jamaica Customs: An adult is allowed to bring into Jamaica, duty-free, no more than 50 cigars, or 200 cigarettes, or 1 pound of tobacco; 1 quart or 1 liter of spirits, cordials, and wine; 6 fluid ounces of perfumed spirits; and 12 fluid ounces of toilette water. For more information, contact the Customs House at 876-922-5140.
Departure Tax: You will be charged a US$27 departure tax at the airport, payable either in US or Jamaican dollars. The Jamaican exchange equivalent for this tax is J$1,000.
US Customs: Generally, returning US citizens can bring home, duty-free, US$600 worth of goods for each 48-hour visit. Items made in Jamaica are always duty-free.
United States Embassy: Jamaica Mutual Life Centre, 2 Oxford Road, Kingston 5, Jamaica, phone 876-929-4850
Note: Calling embassies or consulates in Jamaica requires patience. You may need to let the phone ring for a significant amount of time before it is answered.
Jamaica Tourist Board: 2 St. Lucia Avenue, PO Box 360, Kingston 5, Jamaica, phone 876-929-9200, fax 876-929-9375
Chicago: 500 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1030, Chicago, IL 60611, phone 312-527-1296, fax 312-527-1472.
Los Angeles: 3440 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 805, Los Angeles, CA 90010, phone 213-384-1123, fax 213-384-1780.
Miami: 1320 South Dixie Highway, Suite 1101, Coral Gables, FL 33146, phone 305-665-0557, fax 305-666-7239.
New York: 801 Second Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10017, phone 212-856-9727, fax 212-856-9730