Jamaica

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Fast Facts About Jamaica

Capital

Kingston

Currency

JMD:Jamaican Dollar

Population

2,702,300

Language

English

Timezone

GMT – 5

Flight Duration

10 hours from Gatwick

Jamaica is one of the most popular islands in the Caribbean. With a total land area of 10,991 sq. km (4,244 sq. miles) the island stretches about 235 km (146 miles) east in Morant Point to west in Negril, and expands to 82 km (51 miles) at its widest point. With its highest point being, newly named World Heritage Site, the Blue Mountain Peak at 2,256 metres (7,402 ft). Jamaica is a kaleidoscope of beauty, that makes our island the most precious jewel in the Caribbean. There’s an allure which keeps first time visitors coming back.

It’s the home of reggae, home of jerk and home of ‘All Right’. Jamaica has more attractions and things to do (175) than the rest of the Caribbean put together. It’s a perfect resort area for families, couples, kids and groups of friends. 

Average Weather in Jamaica

Jan

26° C

Avg Rain:
23mm

Feb

25° C

Avg Rain:
29mm

Mar

26° C

Avg Rain:
23mm

Apr

26° C

Avg Rain:
59mm

May

27° C

Avg Rain:
115mm

Jun

28° C

Avg Rain:
109mm

Jul

29° C

Avg Rain:
72mm

Aug

29° C

Avg Rain:
97mm

Sep

29° C

Avg Rain:
136mm

Oct

28° C

Avg Rain:
144mm

Nov

27° C

Avg Rain:
96mm

Dec

26° C

Avg Rain:
57mm

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Birmingham

9 hours 30 minutes

Gatwick

10 hours

Gateways/Flying Times: Jamaica is easily accessible with nonstop and connecting service from most major gateways across the United Kingdom, United States and Canada.

Travellers can fly direct to Jamaica from London with British Airways, Virgin Atlantic or TUI Airways, or fly direct from Manchester to Montego Bay with TUI. TUI also departs from Birmingham.

Direct flights from the UK and Ireland usually take nine and a half hours, or you can fly via the U.S.

Jamaica is only three hours from New York and 60 Minutes from Miami. Speedy.

Things To Do In Jamaica

Nightlife

Music and Nightlife in Jamaica are as eclectic and fun as you’d expect. Dance on the sands at parties in Negril and Montego Bay’s Hip Strip. You’ll get copious servings of soca, calypso, and reggae. Serious reggae fans should head to one of Kingston’s sound systems dancehalls for the real deal.

Explore

One of the Caribbean’s most iconic destinations, a legendary and unique island with a moderate climate and a landscape that ranges from tropical rainforest and soaring mountains to rolling meadowland and dramatic coastlines. Jamaica is a land of adventure, sophistication and elegance. Along with the Caribbean’s best sun, sand and sea, this destination has an intriguing history that has created one people out of many, and a culture that is unmistakably Jamaican.

The scenery is breathtaking… the cuisine is scrumptious… the music is pulsating and the people are unforgettable.

So thinking about planning a trip by yourself, with friends, family members or maybe a honeymoon getaway, you’ll be sure to find something to meet your needs in the diversity of Jamaica’s resort areas.

Experience

Our six distinct resort regions have their own distinctive vibe. Take a look and let Jamaica capture your imagination and heart. Whether it’s…

Montego Bay… the complete resort 

Located on Jamaica’s northwest coast, this highly popular resort area is where the beaches are edged by flowering trees and palm-dotted hills, making a lush backdrop to long stretches of rolling meadowland. With the Sangster International Airport located right outside of town, Montego Bay or MoBay as it is popularly called, is easy to get to and offers a bustling, colourful “hip strip” of shops and restaurants, and many different types of resorts and hotels.

MoBay is perfect for those looking for the “complete resort” experience. Relax on the beach, go river rafting, enjoy one of five major championship golf courses, experience one of the luxurious spas or pay a visit to Doctor’s Cave Beach, which is fed by mineral springs and said to have medicinal benefits.

Negril… the capital of casual

At the western tip of the island, just sixty minutes from Montego Bay, Negril is known for its natural beauty, with a seven-mile ribbon of white-sand beach and perfect conditions for swimming and snorkelling. Grotto-lined cliffs stretch to the old Negril Lighthouse, built in 1894. Go snorkelling in the morning and spend the day sunbathing and listening to live music along famous Seven Mile Beach. Experience the exhilaration of cliff jumping among the coves. The ambience is relaxed, the mood is laid-back, the fashion is casual. On select beaches here you can take it all off.

Ocho Rios… the centrepiece of Jamaica

Located on Jamaica’s northern coastline, Ocho Rios is a major port and offers many beautiful resorts and beaches. This region is home to one of the island’s much-photographed and best known natural attractions: Dunn’s River Falls, a dramatic 600-foot cascading waterfall which can be climbed by foot and not far from where Columbus first landed more than 500 years ago. Amazed by the island’s beauty, the explorer declared: “the land seems to touch the sky.”

You are certain to make your own discoveries in this stimulating yet tranquil resort area. Other special attractions include great shopping, crafts markets, gorgeous gardens, swimming with dolphins at Dolphin Cove, a tour of Nine Miles, the birthplace of reggae legend Bob Marley and the site of his mausoleum. Adventurous travellers can also experience a rainforest canopy tour with Chukka Caribbean Adventures or enjoy the bobsled experience at Mystic Mountain.

Port Antonio… naturally
Considered one of the most naturally beautiful and authentic parts of Jamaica, Port Antonio rests on the northeast side of the island. Nestled between twin harbours where mist-shrouded mountains drop down to the sea, Port Antonio glows with the green hues of palms and ferns, laced with the brilliant reds and yellows of its tropical flora. Orchids, bananas and palm trees grow in profusion.

Put on the map by Errol Flynn, Port Antonio is rich with history and splendour. Take a hiking expedition to glistening waterfalls and hidden caves, go rafting down the Rio Grande River on a bamboo raft, or take a romantic dip in the natural springs at Reach Falls, where waterfall scene in “Cocktail,” the movie, was filmed. You can enjoy excellent accommodations here at some of the island’s most elegant villas and charming small hotels, tucked into hillsides and overlooking secluded azure coves.

Kingston… the heartbeat of Jamaica

At the foot of the Blue Mountains, overlooking the world’s seventh-largest natural harbour, Jamaica’s vibrant capital is the heartbeat of the country and the largest English-speaking city south of Miami.

The centre of the country’s government and commerce, Kingston is also Jamaica’s cultural heart, with a wide variety of historical and cultural attractions. You’ll find a sophisticated, upbeat nightlife and an inviting range of dining venues offering a cosmopolitan contrast to the rest of the island’s slow and easy pace.

The capital city has much to offer visitors: a tour of a music recording studio and the Bob Marley Museum, a visit to historic Devon House, a vibrant theatrical and performing arts scene as well as the Carnival parade.

South Coast… off the beaten path

Couples looking for a laid back Jamaican experience can wander off the beaten path to the South Coast. With a rugged coastline, rambling hills, a river cutting through jungle wetlands, and a seaport defined by elegant Georgian architecture, the area known as South Coast is intriguingly diverse.

If privacy and solitude are your preference, you’ll discover perfection in isolated beaches where the only footprints are yours. The 19th-century sugar plantations here are a must-see if you’re a history buff. Take a boat tour down Jamaica’s longest navigable river and view an intriguing wildlife in the surrounding wetlands that includes snakes, lizards, frogs, iguana and crocodiles. Enjoy freshly cooked fish at “Little Ochie,” or visit the Appleton Rum Estate, one of the finest rum distilleries in the world.

Enjoy

An island of extraordinary beauty, with a rich cultural wealth and a tremendous range of accommodations, fun and countless natural attractions, which are both entertaining and informative.

For the adventurous traveller, there’s so much to see and do while in Jamaica to get your heart pumping. Through a variety of tour operators spread across the north and south coast, you can experience this diverse destination from land or water.

For sheer excitement, check out the huge roster of tours offered by local operators island wide – all offering activities geared toward making your visit a fulfilling and rewarding experience. Wonderfully varied, they include: horseback riding on the beach; ATV tours; plantation visits; canopy tours; Jungle River tubing; a Black River safari; a reggae tour; swimming with dolphins; catamaran cruises; rafting; and much more.

Feel like a local, get to know Jamaica better by experiencing the sights, sounds, and flavours of our island through our Meet The People experience. Just let us know what hobbies and interests you have and we will match you with a like-minded Ambassador who will show you their Jamaica. Not just for adults, children can enjoy this experience as well making lasting memories and friendships that will stay long after you’ve left Jamaica.

Dining

You can’t go to Jamaica without sampling the wonderful jerk chicken, curried goat and ackee & saltfish. You’ll find all this and more in the restaurants  around the country. Roadside stalls serve chicken, pork and lobster, or you might like to try somethings a bit different. Take a look at some of our restaurants and enjoy all the flavours of Jamaica.

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Contact Us

Email Us: mail@visitjamaica.com

Website References

Visit the official tourist board website