By Trisha Harinath
With its unparalleled beauty and year-round vacation opportunities, Jamaica is an ideal tourist destination – with over one million visitors flocking to the island every year.
Preparing for your trip
There are a few things that you should know before boarding the plane:
• The Jamaican currency is the Jamaican Dollar and major credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are accepted across the island.
• The island has two rainy seasons from May to June and from September to November. Between December and April the weather is perfect. Average temperatures range from 19°C to 32°C throughout the year.
• The official language of the island is English, however most Jamaicans speak a local patois influenced by a combination of several different languages.
• Jamaican cuisine is diverse. Exotic spices, fresh produce, pickled meats and fish all blend together resulting in tantalising dishes that are truly unique.
Some of the must-see places in Jamaica include Kingston, Montego Bay and Negril. With an eclectic mix of activities and tourist attractions, each of these major towns and cities gives tourists an authentic experience of the island.
Kingston
Kingston is Jamaica’s capital city. It the commercial and cultural hub of the island. Kingston is the host of many great clubs with the majority of New Kingston’s party spots staying open until the early hours of the morning. Also check out the Bob Marley Museum, Hope Botanical Gardens, the National Gallery of Jamaica and the Institute of Jamaica. When in Kingston, visiting the Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee factory, climbing Blue Mountain and visiting Hellshire beach for a taste of the authentic Jamaican beach-going experience, are highly recommended.
Montego Bay
Montego Bay, or Mo Bay as it is commonly referred to, has long since earned the title of “tourist capital of Jamaica”. Jamaica’s biggest main international airport, Sangster International, is based in Montego Bay. Mo Bay’s pristine beaches are ideal for rest and relaxation. The Montego Bay Sea Trek Adventure, Croydon Plantation, which is a coffee and pineapple plantation, as well as the Doctor’s Cave Beach are some of Mo Bay’s must-see places.
Negril
Due to its white sandy beaches, Negril is considered one of the most beautiful towns in Jamaica. The appeal of Negril’s warm, crystal blue waters is further enhanced by its calmness. You will be amazed at how far out you can walk in the water. A definite must-visit in Negril is Rick’s Cafe. Built upon a cliffside, tourists are able to take a courageous leap from the top into the sea below. Rick’s Cafe is also rated one of the top ten bars in the world by various publications.
