Jamaica
From Travel Information and Popular Attractions: TravelName.com
Jamaica is among the the top Caribbean travel destinations and visited by tourists all around the world. It is located just south of Cuba, in the Caribbean Sea. Jamaica is the largest island of the Commonwealth Caribbean with an area of 10,910 sq km. An estimated one million tourists enjoy Jamaica tourism each year, so you can guess its not just the stunning beaches which the tourists get attracted to, this island is loaded with great Jamaica tourism activities, nice weather, beautiful scenery and exciting nightlife.
Jamaica History
Jamaica was under Spanish occupation in 1494 and slave trade was very prominent. In the year 1655 the island further went into the hands of British, which then saw a dramatic rise in sugar production using the imported slave labour which in turn resulted in a large increase of the black population in Jamaica. After a series of revolts, slavery was formally abolished in 1834. Jamaica attained full independence in the year 1962 when it broke away from Federation of the West Indies.
Popular Attractions and Activities
Jamaica tourism is truly the best in Caribbean and most of the major cities are located on the coast and much of the inland area is occupied by the Blue mountains. It is also considered a very
Negril and Montego Bay are Jamaica tourism's two main coastal resorts.
Montego Bay is the second largest city in Jamaica and is the starting point of tourism activity on the north coast.
Port Antonio is the famous for deep-sea fishing and a gateway to Blue Mountain ad John Crow ranges.
Mandeville is famous for bird watching, caving and exploring the mountainous regions.
Kingston has a great Jamaican culture and contains many historical sites and botanical gardens.
Negril has great beaches and also has the famous Negril Lighthouse. Ocho Rios has white sand beaches, stunning waterfalls and the many fern gardens.
Doctors cave beach is very famous tourist destination offering crystal clear waters, near white sands and is the busiest beach in the the Montego Bay area. Although it can get a bit crowded during the busy season, it is still a great place to go with your family.
Popular natural spots of Jamaica tourism include The Black River in South Coast with a lot of mangrove trees, swamps, birds and crocodiles in the wild, Green Grotto Caves in Discovery Bay for stalagmites and stalactites, Somerset Falls in Port Antonio for waterfalls and rainforest, Martha Brae's Rafters Village for river rafting, Blue Mountains exploration and hiking.
Beaches are the biggest tourism attraction in Jamaica. The most popular beaches are found along the north coast which stretch 150 miles from Negril to Port Antonio. Popular beaches include Cornwall Beach and Doctors Cave Beach in Montego Bay. Seven Mile Beach in Negril, Treasure Beach in South Coast, Boston Bay Beach in Port Antonio. The beaches of Montego Bay have white sand and offer food, drinks and water sport activities, these waters are placid and crystal clear and are ideal for families. The seven mile beach has golden sands that is fine for families but have some nude beach patches. Treasure beach has crashing waves and swimming can be tricky as the undertow could be dangerous. Boston bay beach has the highest waves in Jamaica and great for surfing. Walter Fletcher Beach is favored by locals. Rosehall Beach is gorgeous too. Ocho Rios Beaches area is the cruise port capital of Jamaica and the bay is protected by reefs. Booby Cay is also a popular spot for nude sunbathers. Some tourists like to ride a bicycle through an elfin forest of beautiful soapwood and redwood trees and hundreds of species of birds.
Scuba Diving
It is most enjoyed in Montego Marine Park, dozens of tropical fish, their environment and amazing coral reefs. Also the coral reefs and caves of Negril along the coast are a snorkeller's and scuba diver's dream come true
River Rafting
Great River or the Martha Brae River is quite popular, Bamboo rafting is popular in Jamaica, this beautiful country has over 100 rivers and white water rafting sites are discovered often.
Golf
Jamaica tourism offers many world-class golf courses and many professional championship tournaments are held each year. There are four championship golf courses in Montego Bay alone. The six popular 18-hole golf courses are Wyndham Rose Hall Club, Half-Moon Bay Golf Course, Tryall Golf Club, Sandals Ocho Rios Golf Club, Cinnamon Hills Golf Club, Superclubs Ironshore Club and the White Witch Golf Club. Negril Hills Golf Course is nestled in the beautiful hills.
Fishing, horseback riding and yachting is also popular in the Montego Bay. Tennis, shopping and sightseeing are popular too. There are some historic legendary plantation Great Houses in the countryside (like Rose Hall and Belvedere Great House Estate ).
Authentic shopping in Jamaica includes Coffee , Rum , Paintings , Woodwork , Straw goods, clothes, cigars, Sauces, seasonings and Jams.
Jamaica Nightlife
Night life is the best in Montego Bay (Margueritaville Sports Bar & Grill, Time n' Place), Ocho Rios (Little Pub, Jeff's) and Negril (Hedonism II, Treehouse Restaurant) . Like much of the Caribbean, Jamaica's bars offer refreshing tropical drinks as well as more traditional beverages. There are several disco clubs that can be enjoyed by tourists.Transportation
Additional Information
DEMOGRAPHICS AND TRANSPORTATION
Christians make up 65% of Jamaica's population and the official language is English but most Jamaicans speak Jamaican Creole. About 90 percent of the Jamaica population is from the people of West-African descent. Jamaican economy relies mainly on agriculture, tourism, mining, manufacturing and financial corporations. Traveling by road is the most popular within the islands and local buses are much cheaper than taxis. Prices are usually higher in tourist areas like Negril and Ocho Rios.
TOURIST SAFETY IN JAMAICA
Some areas of Jamaica have a high level of violent crime and murder rates, a lot because of drug trade like Marijuana. Unemployment in Jamaica is at a high. Homosexuality is considered completely unacceptable and against the law. Tourists should try to remain within the popular tourist places and check on Department of state website for more safety guidelines. Medical facilities are good but not great and dial 119 for police services if needed during Jamaica tourism. Cultural respect is important to most people and good manners should be displayed to everyone.
JAMAICA WEATHER
The average yearly temperature range is between 78°F and 85°F, temperatures at most range from a low of 65°F to a high of 95°F. Good weather is a big attraction in Jamaica Tourism.
GETTING MARRIED IN JAMAICA
Apart from regular Jamaican tourism, the weddings are becoming more and more popular. There is relevant documentation required for the marriage to happen, the registrar's office should be contacted for specific rules regarding planning your destination or beach wedding in Jamaica, alternatively there are several consultants available and you can get recommendation from your hotel too. The Ministry of National Security, Mutual Life Building, 2 Oxford Road, Kingston 5, Jamaica, Tel: 876 906 4908
Jamaica Tourism Board in the USA
5201 Blue Lagoon Drive, Suite 670, Miami, FL 33126, USA
Website: www.visitjamaica.com
Jamaica Tourism Board in the UK
1-2 Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BZ, UK
Time
GMT - 5.
Capital
Kingston.
Language
English
Religion
Mostly Christian
Electricity Converter
No particular standard,
You can find both 110 volts or 220 volts AC
Currency
Jamaican Dollar
