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Jamaica Information

Overview

The third-largest island in the Caribbean is also one of the most colourful. Idyllic white sand beaches and vibrant tropical blooms sit on a backdrop of blue mountain peaks. As the adopted home of the Rasta, Jamaica is also a riot of red, gold, and green. Renowned as the birthplace of Bob Marley, reggae remains at the island’s musical heart. Rice-and-peas, rum, coffee and cricket are its soul. Local pastimes centre on oral traditions, such as discussing an idea to exhaustion, often over a fiercely fought game of dominoes on a veranda or front porch.

Excellent tourist facilities and attractions range from leafy parks to handsome colonial towns and neon-lit nightlife.Negril and Montego Bay are Jamaica’s two main coastal resorts, attracting a mix of tourists with exquisite sands, lively clubs, fine restaurants and world-class golf. Laid-back Negril boasts an 11km (7-mile) beach lined with funky beach bars painted in bubblegum hues. Known to one and all as Mo’ Bay, sizzling Montego Bay has a reputation as a party town, but is also a paradise for shoppers.

Journey a short distance along the coast to discover ‘the real Jamaica’, amidst street markets of ackee, yam and breadfruit and vendors hawking kulu kulu rum. Explore the quaint fishing villages of Treasure Beach, Port Antonio and Oracabessa, sleepy retreats that offer a glimpse of Jamaica’s quieter side. 

Music is inherent to Jamaica, be it roots, rock, reggae or reggaeton. In historic Kingston, the island’s spirited capital, grand Georgian plazas and elegant mansions are serenaded by soca rhythms and the pulsating buzz of the city. The Tuff Gong and the Bob Marley Museum celebrate Jamaica’s musical heritage and African roots.

Author

Mike Gerrard

Top Things To See

 Don’t miss a chance to visit the Port Royal in Kingston, a fine museum on top of the peninsula bordering Kingston Harbour . Honouring Jamaica’s ancient capital city, submerged under the sea after an earthquake in 1692.

 Be sure to have a camera at the ready when dolphin-spotting in Dolphin Cove in Ocho Rios. Surrounded by tropical rainforest, the cove is home to numerous bottle nose dolphins.

 For stunning ocean views head to Montego Bay (or Mo’ Bay, as it is called by the locals), where from Gloucester and Kent Avenues the clear Caribbean waters are particularly dazzling. Look out over the protected bay out to bobbing yachts and sea birds.

 For truly vibrant blooms check out the exhibits at Shaw Park Botanical Gardens, a 10-hectare (25-acre) collection of exotic Caribbean flora in Ocho Rios. Situated high on a hilltop overlooking the Caribbean Sea, the gardens has a waterfall as a centrepiece.

 Pop into the 24-hour open-air museum and see relics of Jamaican history at Columbus Park, a commemorative park to mark the 1494 landing of Christopher Columbus in Discovery Bay.

 Head out to Lover’s Leap, a sheer 518m (1,700ft) cliff overhanging the sea east of Treasure Beach. It was here that two slave lovers leaped to their deaths rather than to be separated. Those with vertigo should stand well away from the edge - the view is terrifying.

 Be sure to take to the streets to witness Jamaica’s riotous fun-filled carnival. Parading musicians, skimpily dressed dancers and floats typify this world famous street party. Expect outlandish behaviour to the sound of soca, steel bands and beating drums.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Top Things To Do

 Stroll around the ancient streets of  Spanish Town, Jamaica’s former capital, on a historical walking tour. It was once a magnificent and impressive metropolis and some fine stately red-brick homes and grand monuments remain, including a resplendent plaza.

 Follow one of many hiking and climbing trails up the Blue Mountains to heights above 2,100m (7,000ft). Shrouded by mists that give the peaks their bluish tinge, the Blue Mountains are home to more than 200 bird species and 800 species of plants.

 Explore the hundreds of paths connecting villages and settlements around the mountains, including several non-tourist utilitarian paths around Newcastle on the Kingston to Buff Bay Road where trails lead to Catherine’s Peak and Mount Horeb. 

 Take a rejuvenating dip in the curative waters of the aged Milk River Spa, a naturally radioactive mineral bath. Discovered in 1794, these spring-fed therapeutic waters reach temperatures of 33°C (86°F).

 Ride a bicycle downhill through an elfin forest of stunted soapwood and redwood trees, home to hundreds of species of bird and blossoming plants. Speed through the world-famous Blue Mountain coffee plantations or meander at a leisurely pace along hedgerow-flanked lanes.

 Chill out Jamaican-style on Montego Bay’s laid-back Doctor’s Cave Beach. Beautiful white sands and sparkling spring-fed waters earned its name from Dr Alexander James McCatty, a medical man who used to enter the beach through a cave, since destroyed in 1932 by a hurricane. 

 Dive in underwater gardens, with many sunken wrecks as well as a rainbow of sponges, corals and varicoloured fish. Spot nurse sharks, furry sea cucumber, eagle rays, upside-down jellyfish, tobacco fish and snapper in shallow spurs and grove reefs amidst an assortment of caverns.  

 Check out a huge labyrinth of limestone caves on Jamaica’s north coast, a stunning natural phenomena. Characterised by stalactites, stalagmites, overhead crags, tunnels light holes, and in its depths a subterranean lake, the Green Grotto was once used as shelter by the Arawak Indians (Tainos).

 Hop aboard a bamboo raft to explore the Rio Grande for a thrilling trip through banana and sugar cane plantations. Set sail from the peaks of the Blue Mountains at Berrydale before winding down to Margaret’s Bay along one of Jamaica’s largest rivers. 

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Going Out

Food and Drink

Although some Jamaican food is hot and fiery, a surprising number of dishes use subtle spicing and are free of chilli peppers. Local dishes include meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables and range from spicy and pickled to plain and deep fried. Restaurants are generally good quality, especially around Montego Bay.

Things to know: Bars can open and close when they choose. They are no licensing hours, alcohol can be bought all day and most have table and/or counter service.

National specialities:
• Salt fish (dried cod) and ackee (the cooked fruit of the ackee tree).
• ‘Rice and peas’ actually consists of kidney beans mixed with white rice, coconut milk, scallions (spring onions) and coconut oil.
• Pepperpot soup contains chunks of salt pork and salt beef with okra and Indian kale (known as callaloo).
• ‘Rundown’ is a delicious reduced creamy coconut milk stew with chicken, meat, fish or vegetables.
• Jerk chicken is marinated overnight in rich spices (cayenne pepper, garlic, chilli, limejuice and all spice) for a full flavour before being wood-smoked in strips.

National drinks:
• Jamaican rum is delicious and potent, especially Appleton at 40%.
• Coffee from Jamaica’s Blue Mountains is among the finest on the planet.
• Ting is a zesty carbonated soft drink made from Jamaican grapefruit.
• Red Stripe beer is sweet, nutty and smooth.
• Rum cocktails blend lime juice and sugar with dark rum.

Legal drinking age: 18.

Tipping: Hotels and restaurants tend to add 10% as standard; otherwise 10 to 15% is expected. Tipping is banned in many all-inclusive resorts.

Nightlife

After-dark Jamaican entertainment ranges from the sophisticated to hedonistic. As the home of Bob Marley, live reggae music can be found throughout the island. There are also regular street dances and steel bands in most towns and villages. Torch-lit limbo dancers and fire-eaters often form a part of frequent folkloric parades. Calypso, jazz, rock, soca, reggae and many other styles of music can be found in a host of neon-lit nightclubs. The Jamaica Tourist Board’s ‘Meet the People’ evenings offer a chance to interact with the locals throughout the island. Contact the tourist office in Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios or Port Antonio.

Shopping

Local produce, handicrafts and duty-free bargains are just some of the reasons to hit the shops. Jamaica is renowned for its fine hand-loomed fabrics, embroidery, silk screening, woodcarvings, oil paintings, sandal-making and woven raffia. There is also a popular Quaker-run workshop specialising in wicker furniture, floor mats and other tropical furnishings at Highgate Village in the mountains. At the In-Craft centre, it is also possible to buy custom-made rugs and reproductions of pewter and china from the 17th-century ruins of the ancient submerged city of Port Royal.

Jamaican specialities include rum and rum-related products, such as Ian Sangsters Rum Cream. The island’s most famous produce market is Coronation Market, Kingston. Other markets: Linstead Market, St Catherine; Brownstown Market, St Anne; the Savanna-la-mar Market, Westmoreland; and the Albert George Market, Falmouth. Also locally made and sold are Pepper Jellies, jams, Blue Mountain coffee, hot sauces and spices. 

So-called ‘in-bond’ shopping allows tourists to purchase international goods free of tax or duty. Goods are sealed (hence the ‘bond’) until away from Jamaican waters and must be paid for in Jamaican Dollars.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1600; Sat 0800-1300. Some shops close half day Wednesday in Kingston, and Thursday on the rest of the island.

Climate

Consistently warm tropical weather ensures Jamaica is a popular destination year-round. On the coast, temperatures range from 22°C (72°F) and 31°C (88°F) with chilly mornings and evenings denoting winter. Peak season runs roughly from mid December to mid April when crowds swell and prices rise. The wettest months are May and October, but showers may occur at any time. Between June and November, Jamaica is prone to hurricanes. It also lies within the earthquake zone.

Required Clothing

Pack lightweight cottons and casual linens. Light woollens are advised for evenings when mosquitoes can make long sleeves more appealing than skimpy beachwear. Sunhats and waterproofs are handy all year round.

Public Holidays

Below are listed the Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
6 Feb Ash Wednesday. 
21 Mar Good Friday.
24 Mar Easter Monday.
23 May Labour Day.
1 Aug Emancipation Day. 
4 Aug Independence Day. 
20 Oct National Heroes’ Day.
25-26 Dec Christmas.

2009
1 Jan New Year’s Day. 
25 Feb Ash Wednesday. 
10 Apr Good Friday. 
13 Apr Easter Monday.
23 May Labour Day.
1 Aug Emancipation Day. 
6 Aug Independence Day. 
20 Oct National Heroes’ Day.
25-26 Dec Christmas.

Health

Diphtheria

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Hepatitis A

Special Precaution: Yes

Malaria

Special Precaution: No

Rabies

Special Precaution: No

Tetanus

Special Precaution: Yes

Typhoid

Special Precaution: No

Yellow Fever

Special Precaution: No*

Health Care

Medical care standards vary dramatically across the country’s 16 public and six private hospitals. Away from major cities, medical centres are often poorly funded and under-resourced. Health insurance is strongly recommended, since medical treatment can be expensive. Major hotels often keep a doctor and dentist on 24-hour call. Cash payment is often required, sometimes in advance.

Note

* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age coming from infected areas.

Further Health Information

We advise you to check health requirements for the country you are traveling to with your GP, practice nurse or travel health clinic as health requirements and vaccinations can change at short notice.

Money

Currency

Jamaican Dollar (JMD; symbol J$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of J$1,000, 500, 100 and 50. Coins are in denominations of J$20, 10, 5 and 1, and 25, 10 and 1 cents.

Jamaican law requires that local currency be used when paying for all goods and services, though that law is followed very loosely and the US Dollar is accepted almost universally. To avoid confusion determine which dollar unit is being quoted in the price prior to any transaction being made.

Currency Exchange

Exchange bureaux are located in airports, hotels, cruise ports and commercial banks. Hold onto receipts when changing money as black market exchange is illegal.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

Plastic is invaluable when travelling in Jamaica. American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are all widely accepted as are other cards bearing the Cirrus or Plus logo. Most Jamaican ATMs accept international bank cards and many banks give credit card cash advances.

Traveller's Cheques

Traveller’s cheques in US Dollars are widely accepted throughout Jamaica.

Currency Restrictions

Restrictions apply.

Banking Hours

Mon-Thurs 0900-1400; Fri 0900-1200 and 1430-1700, with 24-hour ATMs in major cities and resort areas.

Passport/Visa

British

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Australian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Canadian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: Yes

USA

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Other EU

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No/1
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Passport Note

Jamaica does not recognise passports issued by the Palestinian government.

Passports

Passport valid for at least six months required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except:
(a) 1. nationals of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic and Slovenia who can obtain their visas on arrival.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Visa Note

(a) All nationals referred to in the chart above must have evidence of sufficient funds and a return or onward-bound ticket for their next destination. (b) Work visas are issued solely on the basis of evidence of a confirmed job offer. The consulate (or consular section at embassy or high commission) can advise.

Types of Visa and Cost

Visa issued at port of entry: US$20 or equivalent. Visa in advance: £25.

Applications to:

Consulate (or consular section at embassy or high commission); see Contact Addresses.

Working Days Required

Minimum 24 hours, but up to three weeks in cases where applications are referred to Immigration Authorities in Kingston.

Contact Addresses

Jamaica High Commission in the UK

1-2 Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BZ, UK
Tel: (020) 7823 9911.
Website: www.jhcuk.org
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 0900-1700; Fri 0900-1600 (high commission); Mon-Fri 1000-1430 (consulate).

Jamaica Tourist Board in the UK

Address as high commission - see above.
Tel: (020) 7225 9090.
Website: www.visitjamaica.com

Caribbean Tourism Organisation in the UK

22 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP, UK
Tel: (020) 8948 0057.
Website: www.doitcaribbean.com 

Jamaican Embassy in the USA

1520 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Tel: (202) 452 0660.
Website: www.jamaicaembassy.org

Jamaica Tourist Board in the USA

5201 Blue Lagoon Drive, Suite 670, Miami, FL 33126, USA
Tel: (305) 665 0557 or 1 800 233 4582.
Website: www.visitjamaica.com

Travel Advice

Warning

The threat from terrorism is low. Most visits to Jamaica are trouble-free but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners. 

Travellers should be aware that there are high levels of crime and violence, particularly in the Kingston area and tourists should avoid certain routes.

Before travelling, seek medical advice about the malaria risk in Jamaica and take precautions to avoid being bitten whilst there. 

In 2007 there has been a marked increase in the number of reported cases of Dengue Fever across the region, including a small number of reported cases in Kingston in September 2007.

The hurricane season in Jamaica normally runs from June to November.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organisations for the latest travel advice.

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel

• Jamaica Overview
• Jamaica Things to See
• Jamaica Things to Do
• Jamaica Events
• Jamaica Climate
• Jamaica Public Holidays
• Jamaica Health
• Jamaica Currency
• Jamaica Passport & Visas
• Jamaica Contact Addresses
• Jamaica Travel Advice