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Jamaica
- Overview
- The Basics
- Attractions
- Events
- Public Holidays
- Useful Contacts
- Airports
- Climate
- Currency
- Visa & Passport
- Jamaica Map
-
Regions
- Montego Bay
- South Coast
Ports of Call
- Montego Bay
- Ocho Rios
What to see in Jamaica
Jamaica Attractions
Jamaica has a fascinating and diverse range of attractions. Kingston, the chaotic capital city, fronts the world's seventh largest natural harbour. Visitors can take in the sights of Spanish Town or visit the former home of Bob Marley. Across the bay lies Port Royal, a notorious pirate haven from the 17th century, once renowned as the 'richest and wickedest city in the world'. Boat trips to the coral reefs at Lime Cay leave from the port. Adventurous souls can also take a predawn hike up Blue Mountain for an unmissable sunrise.
Montego Bay is home to the clear turquoise waters of Doctor's Cove Beach. Visitors here can experience a true taste of local culture in the busy, noisy bustle of downtown life. Further east lies Ocho Rios, where Ian Fleming wrote his James Bond novels. This popular destination for cruise ships also lies close to Dolphin Cove, the incredible Dunn's River Falls, and the Green Grotto Caves.
Tucked away on the east of the island is Port Antonio, the secluded retreat of the rich and famous. Navy Island boasts gold sands and its very own rainforest, while fans of the movie Blue Lagoon will find the actual site near Port Antonio.
To the west lies the beautiful town of Negril, with its famous Seven Mile Beach stretching up the coast. Perched up on the cliffs is Ricks Cafe, one of the top bars in the world, serving great food, rum cocktails and a truly homegrown reggae vibe.
Appleton Rum Estate
Nestling in the sugar cane fields of St Elizabeth parish, the Appleton Rum Estate near the village of Magotty offers visitors the chance to find out all there is to know about the production of rum.…
Blue Lagoon
Blue Lagoon was renamed in honour of the movie which made it famous, and is one of the most scenic spots in Jamaica. It is fed by underground mineral springs, and is believed by many to be bottomless,…
Blue Mountains
Towering across eastern Jamaica, the 28-mile (45km) long mountain range seems constantly shrouded in a mist that gives the mountains their bluish colour. The John Crow National Park, at the base of…
Bob Marley Museum
Jamaica's most famous son, singer and songwriter Bob Marley, was responsible for making reggae music a global phenomenon. The popular Rastafarian became a cult figure even before his death in 1981,…
Devon House
Devon House in Kingston is a prime example of Jamaican Georgian architecture. The house was built by Jamaica's first black millionaire, George Stiebel, at the end of the 19th Century. It's furnished…
Dunns River Falls and Dolphin Cove
Near the centre of Ocho Rios lies the popular beach and waterfall attraction of Dunn's River. The waterfall cascades down 600ft (183m), forming cool pools among slippery rocks. A favourite tourist…
Green Grotto Caves
One of Jamaica's most prominent natural attractions, the huge, labyrinthine limestone cave is 5,000 feet (1,524m) long and characterised by stalactites, stalagmites, overhead ceiling pockets, numerous…
Montego Bay Marine Park
The Montego Bay Marine Park is proclaimed to protect some of Jamaica's best coral reefs and marine resources. The park is divided into zones where different activities (for example various watersports…
Rain Forest Adventures
The popular Rain Forest Adventures centre (or Mystic Mountain Amusement Park) offers a number of different adventures. Visitors can zip-line through the treetops; take the Sky Explorer chairlift for…
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande has been used since 1911 as a means of transporting goods by bamboo rafts from the Rio Grande Valley to St Margeret's Bay. Today, bamboo rafting trips are a major tourist attraction,…
Rose Hall
Legend has it that the stunningly beautiful Annie Palmer was murdered at the Rose Hall Great House in 1831, but not before she had rid herself of three husbands (allegedly by using voodoo magic). Annie…
Seven Mile Beach
The reason for Negril's recent boom as a tourist destination is centred on this seven-mile (11km) stretch of beautiful shoreline, dotted with palm trees and carpeted with pristine white sand. Development…
Spanish Town
The neighbourhood known as Spanish Town is on the western outskirts of Kingston, and was capital of the island under Spanish rule between 1662 and 1872. Today the architecture is an interesting mix…
YS Falls
Trips to YS Falls are usually included in organised Black River tours, but the falls are an attraction in their own right and many happy hours can be spent enjoying the pools and lovely scenery. Located…
Our Travel Expert
Shenita has
travelled extensively and has visited more than 40 percent of the Caribbean. Jamaica,
particularly Negril, is one of her favourite destinations: her home away from
home! She tries to visit at least once a year.
>Read Shenita's tips on Jamaica
>Ask Shenita a question
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