Jamaica - with palm trees, swirling waterfalls, and wide sandy beaches - is the tropical island par excellence. In the home of reggae the people of the island present a cultural diversity that is the central vital element in the unique Jamaican atmosphere. Jamaica offers a wide variety of holiday activities to its vsitors. Here you can find enormous seaside Find your travel arrangement to Jamaica here
Region and City Guides
Region:
City:
Facts
Local name
Jamaica
Capital
Kingston
Size
10,990 km2
Principal Languages
The official language is English, but many Jamaicans speak Patois, which is a local dialect.
Principal Religion
The principal religion is Protestantism. Also, Jamaica is the home of several Catholics, Jews, Muslims and Hindus together with the Rastafarians who believe in the divinity of the dead emperor of Ethiopia.
Inhabitants
2,650,000 (2000)
Government
Constitutional monarchy
Geography
Mountainous Jamaica is the third biggest of the West Indian Islands, which are situated 145 km south of Cuba. The famous tropical beaches of Jamaica are located on the northern and western coasts of the island. But the geography of Jamaica is much more complex than these beaches might indicate. Wooded mountain regions (rich in exotic vegetation), underground caves, and river systems - are all part of the delicate ecosystem that exists on the island. Local animals have suffered much with the tourist invasion: most of the mammals of the island are now imported from other parts of the world, whilst the existing reptiles have managed to adapt themselves to the changes in the local environment.
Travel preparation
Best time to visit
The perennial tropical paradise of Jamaica has no low-season. Rain can fall at any time of the year, but it does so mostly around the months of May and October. Jamaica is one of the islands of the Caribbean that is rarely disturbed by destructive storms.
Literature
Lonely Planet, Jamaica
Local conditions
Weight and Measures
On Jamaica the following weight and measure units are used:
Weight: Kilograms
Temperature: Celsius
Distance: Kilometres
Cubic content: Litres
Weight: Kilograms
Temperature: Celsius
Distance: Kilometres
Cubic content: Litres
Photography
Show common decency and respect when snapping locals for your family album.
Drinking water
Normally it is safe to drink the tapwater in Jamaica, but following stormy weather water from the tap could be dirty. So just after a storm or a hurricane has passed over the island it is wise to stick with bottled water .
Electricity
Behaviour
Even though the tropical climate invites you to dress lightly, the Jamaican dress code is relatively strict. It is welcomed and in some cases even expected of you to wear tie and jacket when dining out.
Business Hours
The stores are open between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Monday to Saturday), but some are closed after 12:00 p.m. on Wednesdays.
The banks are open between 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday).
The banks are open between 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday).
Food and drink
Jamaican food is heavy and spicy. The main ingredients tend to be flesh, rice, and beans garnished with coconut milk - and lots of fish and shellfish. The beverage accompanying this spicy food is strong Jamaica rum. The local coffee from the Blue Mountains can be enjoyed along with Tia Maria; a crème de cacao produced by cocoa beans from the area where the coffee beans also flourish.
Disabled travellers
There are not many facilities for the disabled on Jamaica. For those confined to wheelchairs it is necessary to call hotels in advance in order to obtain information on rooms fitted for wheelchairs.
Holidays
New Years Day, 1st January
Labor Day, 23rd May
Independence Day, 6th August
Liberation Day, 7th August
The Day of the National Heroes, 16th October
Christmas Day, 25th December
Boxing Day, 26th December
Changing holidays
Ash Wednesday
Good Friday, March or April
Easter Monday, March or April
Labor Day, 23rd May
Independence Day, 6th August
Liberation Day, 7th August
The Day of the National Heroes, 16th October
Christmas Day, 25th December
Boxing Day, 26th December
Changing holidays
Ash Wednesday
Good Friday, March or April
Easter Monday, March or April
Accommodation / Hotel
It is essential to know where you are going to stay on your first night in Jamaica because you have to state an address of residency on your tourist visa. Apart from this the tourist bureau offers information on where to stay - including luxurious hotels, hostels, and camping sites.
Book your Hotel in Jamaica here
Book your Hotel in Jamaica here
Camping
There are several camping sites on the island and in some places it is even possible to rent a tent.
There are four different Hotel categories (ranging from A to D) based on price level. Many of the hotels on Jamaica (especially the ones popular among tourists) use the principle of Club Med, which means that everything is included in the price.
Bed og breakfast or guesthouse
It is possible to stay at B&Bs both in the city and in the countryside. B&Bs can be found in for instance Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, and Montego Bay.
Hostels
There are hostels both in Montego Bay and in Kingston.
Other Accommodation
There are more than 800 summer residences to let scattered over the island, ranging from small apartments and charming huts to spacious houses and luxurious villas. If you are a group of people visiting Jamaica, chances are you will get a fair price on a villa, complete with cook, housemaid, and swimming pool.
Local transport
Domestic Flights are available on Jamaica and bus routes connect the different cities and towns on the island. Furthermore, it is possible to rent a car, but you have to be 25 years of age to do so.
Planes
The official airline is Air Jamaica and Flights are available between Kingston, Port Antonio, Ocho Rios, and Negril.
Bus
There are bus connections between the different cities and Kingston even has buses as means of public transportation. Most of the buses are minibuses and they tend to be crowded, but then again the fares are quite cheap.
Trains
Since a disastrous train accident in 1994 all railway transportation has been stopped and currently there are no plans of reinstalling this kind of traffic.
Taxi
The taxis have a red sign saying PPV (Public Passenger Vehicle). There are no price regulations from the government, which means that it is often expensive to use this kind of transportation. Only a few cabs have a taximeter and it is a good idea to inquire about the price of the fare before you embark. The fares increase during the night.
car rental
It is possible to rent a car in most of the cities if the driver is at least 25 years of age. Generally, this mode of transportation is the most expensive, but also the safest. Nevertheless, one must be aware of the fact that a rented car might attract the attention of car thieves and other criminals. Finally, it must be said that the roads on Jamaica often are in poor condition, which means that driving during the night or in bad weather might be a risky affair.
Special conditions
Because Jamaica is a former British colony and thus currently a member of the Commonwealth, the daily press is in English. Accordingly it is easy to follow up on what's happening in the cultural field. Even though Jamaicans in general are a friendly people - crime and violence have increased drastically in some city areas. You are recommendable to avoid using public transportation or to walk the streets alone at night in riskier areas.
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