Jamaica Travel Guide

Jamaica is so popular that its music and culture are probably familiar to you, and it’s among the best choices in the Caribbean for a free- spirited and festive escape.

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 palm-lined, golden beaches and a beautiful mountainous interior.

Once the crown jewel of the British sugar empire, Jamaica’s 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 sugar fields, but also by golf courses, while beaches that once harbored notorious pirates now harbor vacationers seeking the perfect tan. And you’ll note that music is the heartbeat of Jamaica, its reggae rhythms pulsing through the air nearly everywhere you go.

Resort life centers on three of the world’s most famous beaches. Montego Bay has busy international air and cruise ports and the greatest concentration of resorts on the island, as well as many beaches and golf courses. Set along Seven Mile Beach, Negril is one of Jamaica’s best strands of sandy beach, and is known for its carefree atmosphere. And Ocho Rios’ beaches, nightlife, diving, shopping, and spas offer visitors the full range of luxury resort activities.

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, with its jungles, mountain streams, and waterfalls. Rafting, sailing, golfing, diving, and horseback riding round out the roster of island-wide activities.

For vacationers with a free and festive spirit, Jamaica is your place to shine!