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Jamaica Travel Advisory

Travel advisory january 23, 2024, jamaica - level 3: reconsider travel.

Last Update: Reissued with updates to crime and health information

Reconsider travel to Jamaica due to  crime and medical services . U.S. government personnel under Chief of Mission (COM) security responsibility are prohibited from traveling to many areas due to increased risk. Please read the entire Travel Advisory. 

Country Summary:  Violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are common. Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts.

Local police often do not respond effectively to serious criminal incidents. When arrests are made, cases are infrequently prosecuted to a conclusive sentence. Families of U.S. citizens killed in accidents or homicides frequently wait a year or more for final death certificates to be issued by Jamaican authorities. The homicide rate reported by the Government of Jamaica has for several years been among the highest in the Western Hemisphere. U.S. government personnel under COM security responsibility are prohibited from traveling to the areas listed below, from using public buses, and from driving outside of prescribed areas of Kingston at night.

Emergency services and hospital care vary throughout the island, and response times and quality of care may vary from U.S. standards. Public hospitals are under-resourced and cannot always provide high level or specialized care. Private hospitals require payment up front before admitting patients and may not have the ability to provide specialized care. Ambulance services are not always readily available, especially in rural areas, and are not always staffed by trained personnel.

We strongly encourage you to obtain traveler’s insurance, including medical evacuation insurance, before traveling to Jamaica. The Department of State does not pay medical bills.

Be aware that U.S. Medicare/Medicaid does not apply overseas. Most hospitals and doctors overseas do not accept U.S. health insurance. U.S. citizens with medical emergencies can face bills in the tens of thousands of dollars, with air ambulance service to the United States in the range of $30,000-50,000.  Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to Jamaica.

If you decide to travel to Jamaica:

• Do not attempt to bring firearms or ammunition.  This includes stray rounds, shells or empty casings . The penalties for carrying firearms and/or ammunition, even inadvertently, are severe, and can include lengthy prison sentences.
• Avoid walking or driving at night.
• Avoid public buses.
• Avoid secluded places or situations.
• Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
• Be aware of your surroundings and keep a low profile.
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report  for Jamaica.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .
• Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel.

Violence and shootings occur regularly in many neighborhoods, communities, and parishes in Jamaica. 

U.S. government personnel under COM security responsibility are prohibited from traveling to the following areas of Jamaica due to crime:

St. Ann’s Parish—Do Not Travel - Steer Town and the Buckfield neighborhood near Ocho Rios

St. Catherine’s Parish—Do Not Travel

• Spanish Town
• Central Village
• Areas within Portmore, including: Naggo Head, New Land, Old Braeton, Portmore Lane, Gregory Park, and Waterford

All of Clarendon Parish—Do Not Travel

All of Clarendon Parish, except passing through Clarendon Parish using the T1 and A2 highways.

St. Elizabeth’s Parish—Do Not Travel

Vineyard District Community, between the communities of Salt Spring and Burnt Savanna, St. Elizabeth

Hanover Parish—Do Not Travel

Logwood and Orange Bay

St. James Parish/Montego Bay—Do Not Travel

All of Montego Bay on the inland side of the A1 highway and The Queen’s Drive from San San to Harmony Beach Park

Kingston and St. Andrew Parish—Do Not Travel

• Cassava Piece
• Downtown Kingston, defined as between Mountain View Avenue and Hagley Park Road, and south of Half Way Tree and Old Hope Roads. Downtown Kingston includes Arnett Gardens, Cockburn Gardens, Denham Town, Olympic Gardens, Seaview Gardens, Trench Town, and Tivoli Gardens.
• Duhaney Park
• Swallowfield
• Elleston Flats
• August Town

Manchester Parish—Do Not Travel

Green Vale, Gray Ground, Red Ground, and Vineyard neighborhoods of Mandeville

St. Thomas Parish—Do Not Travel

• Black Lane neighborhood in Seaforth
• Grands Penn
• Church Corner neighborhood near Yallahs
• Town of Yallahs, except when driving through on the main highway

Trelawny Parish—Do Not Travel

• Clarks Town

Westmoreland Parish—Do Not Travel

• Russia community in Savanna-la-Mar (The Southeastern quadrant of Savannah la Mar east of Darling Street and south of the A2 highway/Barracks Road)
• Kings Valley
• The Whitehall, Bethel Town, and Red Ground neighborhoods of Negril

If you do decide to travel to the above-listed Do Not Travel areas, please visit our website for  Travel to High-Risk Areas .

Travel Advisory Levels

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• Travel Tips

11 Important Things Every Traveler Should Know Before Visiting Jamaica

See recent posts by Lara Grant

Offering stunning beaches, jaw-dropping waterfalls, and warm locals, Jamaica is unsurprisingly a favorite Caribbean destination for many travelers. Tourists can feast on jerk chicken and fresh mango, cliff jump into snorkel-worthy water, take a coffee or rum tour, or head to the Bob Marley Museum and Good Hope Plantation to learn a bit of Jamaican history. Whatever visitors choose, here are the 11 important things every traveler should know before going to Jamaica.

Hotels in this story

1. The tap water in Jamaica is safe to drink.

Shanti Restaurant at the Jamaica Inn/Oyster

Unlike Mexico, tap water in Jamaica is safe to drink. Travelers need not spring for bottled water when eating out, worry about brushing teeth with water from the faucet, or avoid raw veggies for fear of getting sick . Unless visiting a very remote area with questionable water filtration, go ahead and drink the tap water.

2. Getting around Jamaica is expensive.

Unless staying at a resort where airport transportation is included, getting around Jamaica is expensive. Taxis cost a hefty amount, particularly for travelers needing to take the 90-minute or two-hour drive from the international airport in Montego Bay to Ocho Rios or Negril, respectively. If you’re planning on spending most of your time at the resort, stick to a taxi, or hire a driver for the odd excursion, as driving on rural, interior roads can be difficult due to windy, narrow, and pothole-filled roads. Tourists looking to explore much of the island will likely be better off renting a car . For those who choose to drive, be aware of potholes and aggressive drivers, plus note that cars drive on the left side of the road. Buses present a cheap alternative, though stick to reputable companies (we saw some close calls of bus drivers passing cars on two-lane highways that had us rethinking this as an option).

3. You can use U.S. dollars in Jamaica.

Fruit stand, South Coast, Jamaica/Oyster

Typically when traveling to other countries, we recommend using a local ATM to withdraw local currency, or exchanging money at a bank beforehand. However, in Jamaica, Americans will likely not need to do either of these things, as U.S. dollars are accepted nearly everywhere. On a recent trip to Negril , Montego Bay, and Ocho Rios, we were always quoted prices in USD. Particularly at hotels and tourist-friendly restaurants, you’ll find menus and excursions with prices listed in USD. If you’re traveling to less touristy areas, or planning on spending cash at supermarkets or street vendors, it’s best to have some local currency. Additionally, it’s wise to have both currencies on hand in case of a poor exchange rate.

4. Homophobia in Jamaica is rampant.

LGBTQ travelers to Jamaica should be extremely cautious, as sexual acts between men is illegal and highly frowned upon by most Jamaicans. Oddly, it is not illegal for women to engage in homosexual acts. Violence towards openly gay individuals is common, with numerous documented assaults, harassments, and even murders. Additionally, LGBTQ Jamaicans are often kicked out of their family homes. LGBTQ travelers can and do vacation in Jamaica, but it is advisable to refrain from public displays of affection and expressing sexual orientation to strangers.

5. Marijuana in Jamaica is illegal.

Beach at the Hermosa Cove – Jamaica’s Villa Hotel/Oyster

Despite its well-earned reputation for being a weed haven, marijuana is considered illegal in Jamaica. However, possession of small amounts (up to two ounces or 56.6 grams) was reduced to a petty offense in 2015. Known locally as ganja, marijuana has been tied to the Jamaican culture, primarily due to Rastafarianism and reggae music. Also thanks to the 2015 law, medical marijuana, the cultivation of up to five plants, and the use of cannabis in religious ceremonies by Rastafarians are all legal. Tourists will have no trouble procuring marijuana, from roadside “brownie” stands to a constant stream of (occasionally pushy) hawkers on the beach. If you’re not interested, a simple “no, thank you” should do the trick.

6. Local food in Jamaica is delicious.

While most hotels — especially the large resorts — will cater to tourists with cheeseburgers and pizza, visitors should absolutely try the local fare. Jamaican food is delicious, if not the healthiest. Jerk chicken, curried goat, and oxtail stew are common dishes, and ramshackle jerk shacks on the side of the road often produce the most mouthwatering grub. Rice and peas (kidney beans), fried plantains, sauteed callaloo (spinach-like greens), and bammy (cassava flatbread) are typical sides found at most buffet stations and low-key eateries. Be sure to try the national dish of saltfish and ackee (a fruit) for breakfast. Wash it all down with a strong cup of Jamaican coffee. A cheap meal of Jamaican patties (pastries filled with meats or veggies) and the locally brewed Red Stripe beer is also a must.

7. The beaches in Jamaica are beautiful.

No matter where travelers choose to stay along the coast, there will be a beautiful beach nearby. Arguably the most famous stretch of sand is Seven Mile Beach in the west coast town of Negril, which spans two bays lined with small family-run properties, big all-inclusive resorts, and dozens of bars and restaurants. Montego Bay also has some attractive beaches, though they’re prettier in Ocho Rios . For something different and more rustic, head to the South Coast for Treasure Beach, a unique stretch of black sand. Locals tend to rave about Port Antonio ‘s lush landscape and stunning beaches — Frenchmen’s Cove is a small, intimate favorite.

You’ll Also Like: The Best Beach Hotels in Jamaica

8. Tourist areas in Jamaica feel safe.

The U.S. Department of State currently has Jamaica at a Level 2 travel advisory, which means to exercise increased caution. Other countries with this designation include France, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Belgium. The primary areas to be cautious in are downtown Kingston and Montego Bay, and Spanish Town, which is a 30-minute drive west of Kingston. Jamaica has one of the highest murder rates per capita, coming in at number five. The majority of violent crime is Jamaican-on-Jamaican, though 2017 saw six U.S. citizens murdered, 20 robbed, 12 raped/sexually assaulted, and six victims of aggravated assaults. Visitors should stick to heavily populated locations and avoid some areas at night, but those within major tourist destinations will likely feel perfectly safe.

9. Hotels in Jamaica run the gamut.

Travelers wanting an all-inclusive vacation often think of Jamaica (or Mexico) for its abundance of both adult-only and family-friendly resorts. However, hotels here run the gamut, from luxurious boutiques to budget beach spots and everything in between. The seven-room Geejam is a luxe boutique in Port Antonio, Secrets St. James is an adults-only, all-inclusive in Montego Bay, and Catcha Falling Star is an affordable, rustic property in Negril. So no matter your needs and travel style, there’s a hotel to suit your tastes and budget in Jamaica .

10. Hurricanes in Jamaica do occur.

Royalton Negril/Oyster

As with other Caribbean destinations, Jamaica is susceptible to hurricanes between the months of June and November. The peak hurricane period for the Caribbean is from early August through the end of October, and Jamaica typically receives its heaviest amount of rainfall in October. However, recent hurricanes such as Irma, Maria, and Dorian, have largely avoided Jamaica, and the island has primarily been subject to storms with heavy rain and wind. Nevertheless, travelers should keep an eye on weather reports and avoid peak hurricane months if they’re worried. On the other hand, these months often see fewer tourists and thus are more affordable for flights and hotels.

11. The vibe in Jamaica is laid-back.

The Pool at the Rockhouse Hotel/Oyster

Regardless of where you choose to lay your head, you can expect a laid-back atmosphere. Whether it’s a luxury resort or budget property, Jamaicans have a naturally relaxed personality. And given that the country operates on island time, travelers will quickly have to loosen their expectations on wait times and punctuality. That’s not to say that service doesn’t often rival the best of the best, but the “ya mon” spirit, ubiquitous drum circles and dancing, and sweet rum punches create an overall easygoing vibe.

Some of Our Favorite Jamaica Hotels:

Our pick for a hotel in montego bay: round hill hotel and villas.

Set in a secluded area not far from the airport in Montego Bay, Round Hill Hotel and Villas is a stunning luxury property with its own small beach. It manages to be both romantic and kid-friendly, and all-inclusive rates help keep things affordable. There are 36 elegant hotel-style rooms here, though we particularly love the 27 individually decorated villas, most of which have private pools. A public infinity pool, stellar restaurant, full-service spa, and excellent service are provided here.

Pricing for Round Hill Hotel and Villas

Our Pick for a Hotel in Negril: Couples Negril

All-inclusive, adults-only, and couples-only, Couples Negril has a gorgeous location along the beach and plenty to keep relax-minded and activity-focused guests. The 234 rooms are modern and well-outfitted, all with outdoor spaces. An extensive all-inclusive package covers 24-hour dining, top-shelf liquor, water sports (even scuba diving!), daily activities, evening entertainment, and offshore excursions such as catamaran cruises.

Pricing for Couples Negril

Our Pick for a Hotel in Ocho Rios: Moon Palace Jamaica

Set on a private beach, the 705-room Moon Palace Jamaica is a sprawling all-inclusive resort offering all types of travelers a luxury getaway. In addition to the beach, there are four outdoor pools and a water park, as well as a spa, fitness center, water sports, surf machine, and area for guests to swim with dolphins (fee). Several restaurants and bars, a 24-hour cafe, and 24-hour room service are all included, as are in-room liquor dispensers.

Pricing for Moon Palace Jamaica

You’ll Also Like:

• The Best Bang-for-Your-Buck All-Inclusives in Jamaica
• Jamaica vs. Mexico: Destination Face-Off
• The Best Time to Visit Jamaica

All products are independently selected by our writers and editors. If you buy something through our links, Oyster may earn an affiliate commission.

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21 things to know before traveling to Jamaica

Dec 4, 2023 • 10 min read

Here are the top things you should know before heading off on your vacation to Jamaica © New Wave Ja / Getty Images

Pulsating reggae and dancehall beats aside, Jamaica ’s natural beauty – gorgeous beaches, jungle-covered mountains and tropical waterfalls – as well as its  world-renowned culinary scene , are what set it apart from other islands in the Caribbean. 

Learning the nation's unspoken rules and etiquette goes a long way toward helping you understand what makes Jamaica such a remarkable place and manage any travel concerns you might have. Here's everything I think you should know before you go.

1. Choose where to stay wisely

Jamaica is one of the largest islands in the Caribbean, so where you decide to stay depends on what you’re into. For beaches and water sports, Negril and the north coast are your best bets. 

Montego Bay and Ocho Rios combine excellent dining scenes with proximity to natural attractions and buzzy nightlife, though when it comes to the Jamaican music scene, Kingston – the capital – reigns supreme. 

Treasure Beach (south coast) and Port Antonio (north coast) offer a taste of low-key, laid-back Jamaica, while those interested in traditional Maroon culture can visit Charles Town on the northeastern coast. 

Hiking up Blue Mountain peak and trekking in remote Cockpit Country are best organized from Kingston or Falmouth, respectively.

2. Bring a mosquito net (just in case)  

Jamaican mosquitoes do not carry malaria but there are occasional outbreaks of dengue fever. Some of the guesthouses and hotels don’t provide mosquito nets, so bring your own. 

The best repellent for no-see-ums (midges) – tiny biting insects that live near water, whose bites are extremely itchy – is Avon Skin So Soft.

3. It's possible to visit without hiring a car

The main towns in Jamaica are served by a combination of comfortable, air-conditioned buses, crowded minibuses and route taxis.

It’s entirely possible to get around Jamaica using public transportation, though for exploring more remote destinations, you’ll need either ample time and patience or your own set of wheels. If you plan on  taking a road trip , car hire is available at airports in Kingston and Montego Bay.

4. Carry a few Jamaican dollars 

In upmarket hotels, shops and restaurants credit cards are almost universally accepted. Elsewhere in Jamaica, cash (Jamaican dollars) is king, though in touristy destinations you can largely get by with US dollars.

ATMs and currency exchanges are plentiful in Montego Bay, Kingston and Ocho Rios, though currency exchanges ( cambios ) give you the best rates. Airport rates are not great, and you’ll get hit with ATM charges if you withdraw cash. Small change is best for buying from street vendors and using public transport. 

5. You can travel during hurricane season

Jamaica is vulnerable to hurricanes during the Atlantic hurricane season (early June to late November); most storms occur between August and October. Timing your visit to Jamaica during hurricane season is possible if you follow a few basic rules:

• Take out travel insurance that covers hurricanes.
• Download a hurricane tracker app.
• Decide (as soon as possible) whether you’ll try to catch an early flight home (which may be expensive/difficult) or hunker down in case of a hurricane.
• Find out whether your hotel/guesthouse has a hurricane shelter, and whether it’s likely to be affected by flooding or landslides, bearing in mind that only hotels with private generators are unlikely to get hit by power outages.
• Charge your electronics and make sure you have a flashlight, first aid kit, and a supply of food and water.
• Comply with evacuation orders.
• Consider relocating closer to the airport in Kingston or Montego Bay to make it easier to get help/get out after a hurricane.
• If Jamaica is hit by a hurricane, have plenty of patience and be prepared to extend your trip.

6. Feel free to let loose on a night out

Casual summer wear is perfectly acceptable for most occasions, though some upscale resorts and pricier restaurants expect smart casual attire. 

At nightclubs in Kingston and Montego Bay, “batty riders” (skin-tight shorts) and similarly figure-hugging tops are a popular choice for women, while men tend to wear jeans and shirts. Remember, the vibe is laid-back and nonjudgemental so staring or judging is unacceptable. 

If something casual and low-key is more your fashion speed, come as you are. It’s a party after all. 

If you’re a newcomer to the dancehall scene, it can be a real eye-opener. The dancing can be pretty suggestive and locals try to outdo each other when it comes to “whining” – gyrating hips and waists to the music.

You’ll likely get pushed into the melee, and then it’s sink or swim time! You’ll get a lot of good-natured remarks from regulars if you give the dancing your best shot, and they might even offer to teach you to dance.

7. Stay up for the nightlife

Jamaica never sleeps. At least, that’s true for Kingston, Negril, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. Negril is best for beach parties while Kingston has the slickest nightclubs, the best music events and street dances.

Things rarely get going before midnight and revelers party until sunrise. Overnight reggae and dancehall concerts involve at least a dozen performers, with the audience expressing their enthusiasm with shouts of “bullet bullet,” and two-finger gun salutes. It’s raucous, but typically all in good fun.

8. Do talk to strangers

Unlike many other big cities where striking up conversations with strangers is a massive faux pas, in Jamaica, the opposite is true.

Some Jamaicans will strike up conversations with you in the hopes of doing business (see “How to handle hustling and harassment”). Still, many are genuinely interested in learning more about you, and find standoffishness offensive. You’ll find yourself saying “good morning” “good afternoon” and “good night” (in greeting as well as farewell) a whole lot.

Elders are treated with extra respect. An exchange of friendly banter with vendors trying to sell you fruit or souvenirs is infinitely preferable to coldly ignoring people just trying to make a living.   

9. Respect Rastafarianism

Around 1% of Jamaicans practice Rastafarianism – a religious and political movement that combines Biblical teachings with seeing Ethiopia as the Promised Land, using ganja in order to commune with Jah (God), and living a “natural” lifestyle involving I-tal food (free from artificial additives), and the growing of locs and beards for men. 

Some Rastafarians live in small, secluded and self-sustaining communities – outsiders may only visit if they contact the elders in advance to request permission. The Rastafari Indigenous Village outside Montego Bay is a more accessible (and much more touristy) experience.

10. Is bargaining acceptable?

Gentle haggling is common and expected when you’re buying souvenirs from individual sellers or shopping in local markets. Elsewhere, you’re expected to pay the stated price. As always, be respectful of the fact this is someone's livelihood and if you're not happy with the price, walk away with a smile.

11. Is Jamaica an LGBTIQ+ friendly country?

Jamaican society is largely homophobic and the gay scene in Kingston is firmly underground, with public displays of affection between gay couples strongly inadvisable – sexual acts between men are illegal and punishable by up to 10 years in prison. 

That said, in popular tourist destinations, there are hotels (including some all-inclusive) that welcome LGBTIQ+ travelers.

12. What you should know about public bathrooms

Shopping malls, cafes and restaurants charge for the use of their facilities, which don’t always meet basic hygiene standards, and woe betide you if you need the bathroom away from the hospitality sector.

13. Is Jamaican tap water drinkable?

Jamaica’s tap water is generally safe to drink in most parts of the island. Avoid faucet water in far-flung rural areas, and steer clear of ice, sold at street stands as "bellywash," "snocones" or "skyjuice" (shaved-ice cones sweetened with fruit juice).

While bottled water is readily available, recycling plastic is an issue, so it’s best to bring reusable flasks with you.

14. Is Jamaica a vegetarian-/vegan-friendly destination?

Plant-based I-tal ("vital") food, an essential tenet of Rastafarianism, is widely available and delicious.

Expect freshly squeezed fruit juices, plantain fritters, steamed callaloo (Jamaica’s answer to spinach), tropical fruit and much more. In non-Rasta eateries, rice ‘n’ peas (rice with kidney beans) is the most common accompaniment to most dishes.

15. How to handle hustling and harassment

Travelers are extremely likely to encounter constant sales pitches from hustlers, particularly around the major tourist centers or Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios.

Some may be aggressively persistent in the hopes that you’ll buy whatever it is they’re selling just to be left alone; be firm yet polite in your refusals.

16. Common scams and how to avoid them

Common scams involve young men offering transportation to a popular tourist attraction (waterfall, swimming hole) and then claiming that you only paid a one-way fee.

Self-appointed “guides” may come up with various add-ons at the end of tours, so in both cases, be absolutely clear as to what the agreed-upon fee covers before accepting their services.

17. What's Jamaica like for solo women travelers?

If you’re a single woman, you may well find yourself on the receiving end of anything from flirting to blunt propositioning – constant come-ons can be wearying. Be polite yet firm if you are not interested.

There have been a number of assaults on female tourists by staff at some of Jamaica’s top beach resorts over the years, with the allegations mishandled, covered up or with trips refunded in exchange for signing non-disclosure agreements. 

18. Does crime affect tourists?

Organized crime in Jamaica revolves around gang violence. In the 1970s, Jamaica’s two rival political parties armed their supporters in Kingston’s neighborhoods and set in motion deadly feuds lasting generations. Today, neighborhoods are controlled by local dons who are no longer reliant on politicians for guns or money.

Gang violence does not target visitors unless you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Opportunistic muggings and pickpocketing do occur, however, so it’s best to take common sense precautions (taking a taxi back at night, carrying as little cash as possible). 

19. Is ganja (weed) legal?

Smoking “di holy herb” is an integral part of life not just for the Rastafari but also for a substantial number of Jamaicans. Weed is ubiquitous and cheap, and you are very likely to be approached by vendors selling joints.

Since 2015, ganja has been decriminalized, and while smoking weed in public is still illegal and punishable with a fine of J$500, you may have up to two ounces for personal use without it going on your criminal record.

Exceptions are made for religious and medical purposes. Several medical dispensaries have opened up around the country (in Kingston, St Ann’s Bay, Falmouth and Montego Bay) where visitors may legally purchase marijuana with a doctor’s prescription, and make use of on-site smoking rooms.

But if you try to take some ganja home at the end of your vacation, you’ll find your Jamaica stay extended by two years in Fort Augusta prison (for women) or Spanish Town prison (for men).  

20. Other drugs and law enforcement

Besides ganja, cocaine is also widely available (Jamaica is a major trans-shipment point for the Colombia–US route), along with hallucinogenic “tea” made from wild mushrooms. The global drugs trade helps to fuel gang violence (particularly in Kingston and Montego Bay) and penalties for possession of hard drugs are severe. 

You may encounter roadblocks and random car searches, performed by police in combat gear; occasional extortion to supplement wages is not unheard of.

Don’t accept drinks from strangers in nightclubs since date rape drugs are a concern.

21. Driving in Jamaica is not for the faint-hearted

In contrast to their typical laid-back attitude, many Jamaicans drive hard and fast, especially around cities and along winding mountain roads.

Watch out for drivers overtaking around blind corners and swerving onto the opposite side of the road to avoid ubiquitous potholes. Drive on the left, and perhaps avoid Kingston and Montego Bay if you’re a first-timer.

This article was first published October 2022 and updated December 2023

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2 perfect days in Montego Bay

Montego Bay, Jamaica—or MoBay as many locals call it—is known for its stunning beaches and luxe all-inclusive resorts. It’s easy to get caught relaying between the water and your pool chair with your Bob Marley cocktail in hand, but there’s more to this Caribbean hot spot than that.

Stay at one of the resorts located within a 15-minute drive of Sangster International Airport, and you'll be well-located for exploring. Think two days isn't enough? Think again. You can pack a lot into 48 hours, especially if you follow our guide. We've plotted out the ultimate MoBay vacation, including cultural outings, food tours, and thrilling adventures. And we've tapped into the experts—the Tripadvisor community—to get all the tips and advice for maximizing the fun in Jamaica’s most popular beach town.

MORNING: Calm bliss

Start the day with Jamaica's breakfast of champions, which you'll find no matter where you're staying: ackee and saltfish. It's made from salted cod and ackee, a savory local fruit that looks like eggs when it's cooked. It's usually served with fried ripe plantains, steamed callaloo, and johnnycakes. Trust us on this one—this dish is not to be missed.

Now continue the day in the most serene way possible—floating along the Martha Brae River on a bamboo raft. A private tour with Jamaica Mesmerizing Tours or Island Life Tours will allow you to decompress while taking in the sounds of nature. You'll also learn about the lush, tropical jungle surroundings—the perfect photo backdrop.

Travelers say: " Try to pick a day when there are no cruise ships docked. On our visit we more or less had the location to ourselves. The drop off point is upstream. Here there are a few stalls selling souvenirs and a bar. Getting on board the raft is easy. You don't particularly need wet shoes. There then follows a glide down the river of about 3 miles, taking an hour or so. Bring cash for any purchases and [tips]"—@ Nick P

AFTERNOON: Where the sand meets the sea

In MoBay, there is no shortage of powdery white sand to sink your toes into or cerulean water to wade in. Early afternoon is the perfect time to check out Doctor’s Cave Beach , which is popular wth visitors and locals (especially on Sundays). Although there is a nominal entrance fee, it's worth it. This stretch of sand is clean and pristine, and there are little restaurants offering bites and beverages scattered along the shore. Don't want to just sit and soak in the sun? Check out the water activities offered along the pier, from jet skiing to parasailing.

ADVENTURE TOUR OPTIONS

• Combine several activities in one—ATVs, horseback riding, ziplining, and a catamaran ride—on this half-day tour from Montego Bay. You'll also get to experience the gorgeous backcountry of Jamaica.
• This tour is fun for the whole family: a river tubing adventure Jamaican style. You'll ride the rapids (safely) with a guide in the water to help you along. After tubing, you'll head to Bengal Bay to swim or chill on the beach.

EVENING: Light up the night

Just 30 minutes from Montego Bay, you can see a natural wonder at the Luminous Lagoon in nearby Falmouth. During this enchanting experience, a boat whisks you through waters that are illuminated with a neon blue hue at the touch (it happens thanks to harmless bacteria in the water). As this phenomenon is only available in a few parts of the world, it's something not to be missed.

Worthy detours along the way

MORNING: Get out on the waves

Is it even an island vacation if you haven’t hopped on a boat? Luckily there are many sailing options on Jamaica’s northeastern shore. A Tripadvisor favorite is the Reggae Catamaran Cruise , which picks guests up from various Montego Bay hotels before 9:45 a.m., then sets sail while you sip cocktails from an open bar, listen to local music, and stop for snorkeling at a nearby coral reef.

If you’re traveling with your own group and looking for a more exclusive excursion, step away from the crowds and opt for a private boat trip with Aristo Kat Tours . This company has fabulous Jamaican food, a warm and friendly staff, and a DJ to take your sailing trip to the next level.

Travelers say: "Best boat tour I’ve ever taken in my life. The food, dj, staff and quality of the boat was spectacular. I’d recommend to all of my family friends."— Essence N

AFTERNOON: Jamaica's Rastafarian roots

Just when you’ve found your sea legs, it’s time to see what makes Jamaica the cultural capital of the Caribbean on the ultimate land adventure. The Rastafari Experience’s ATV safari tour is a three- to four-hour guided experience that starts with a hotel pick up in Montego Bay and takes you through Jamaica’s countryside to visit a Rastafarian village. You'll learn about the local culture and devour a chef-prepared meal made with local ingredients. Feeling adventurous? You'll even have the option to swim in a natural mineral pool.

CULTURAL TOUR OPTIONS

• Visit the birthplace and resting place of the late reggae legend Bob Marley on this all-day tour to Nine Miles , a tiny village with expansive views of the surrounding mountain peaks.
• Experience the culture of Jamaican through your tastebuds. On this food tour , a chef will help you sample iconic dishes like jerk chicken, callaloo, and coconut shrimp.

EVENING: Shake it off

A trip to Montego Bay is not complete without a night out on the Hip Strip—a string of bars and restaurants on Gloucester Avenue. You’ll find a variety of vibes with spots playing reggae, jazz, rock, and more. Some of our top picks include Usain Bolt’s Tracks and Records , Margaritaville and Pier One . It's the perfect way to show off what you've got on the dance floor and wrap up your Montego Bay vacation in style.

Know Before You Go

Want to save money? Consider visiting between November to mid-December before the winter holiday season. For ideal weather conditions, visit during dry season: mid-December through April. There are also annual events that draw in visitors such as Reggae Sumfest (a youthful music celebration with jerk stalls, dancing, and more that takes place over four days in mid-July) and Jazz and Blues Festival (a two-day music event in January that attracts an older crowd).

S Hotel : Located less than 10 minutes from the airport, this all-inclusive resort curates a seamless harmony between island luxury and an authentic Jamaican cultural experience with its four restaurants, full-service spa experience with hot and cold plunge pools for kinetic energy therapy, and daily access to Doctor’s Cave Beach.

Secrets St. James Montego Bay : For a romantic, intimate ambience, be sure to check out Secrets St. James, an adults-only, all-inclusive resort set on a private beach. It has stunning suites, multiple pools, live entertainment, a spa, and various dining options with limitless gourmet eats.

Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall : If you're traveling with children, Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall is a good option. It's set on a beach with great views, optional butler service and has food that appeals to all.

Many excursions include pick up from Montego Bay hotels within their pricing, which is quite helpful since public transportation is limited. For getting to other local spots, it is best to book a driver through your hotel.

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COVID-19: travel health notice for all travellers

Jamaica travel advice

Latest updates: Health - editorial update

Last updated: March 25, 2024 14:15 ET

On this page

Safety and security, entry and exit requirements, laws and culture, natural disasters and climate, jamaica - exercise a high degree of caution.

Exercise a high degree of caution in Jamaica due to the high level of violent crime.

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Violent crime

Violent crime, including armed robbery and murder, is a problem in large cities and tourist areas, including parts of Kingston and Montego Bay, despite the presence of police to counter criminal activity. The availability of firearms is widespread, and most violent drug- and gang-related crimes, especially murder, involve firearms. There is a risk of becoming the victim of crossfire in these areas. Tourists are also at risk of crimes of opportunity, especially theft and robberies.

Crimes tend to be concentrated within what the police refer to as “traditional hot spots” or “high-risk communities”, but can take place anywhere and at any time.

The following areas have a significant gang population and high incidences of violent crime:

Greater Kingston

• Arnett Gardens
• August Town
• Cassava Piece
• Delacree Park
• Denham Town
• Felstead Pen
• Grant’s Pen
• Greenwich Town
• Hannah Town
• Harbour View
• Lower Cockburn Gardens
• Mountain View
• Olympic Gardens
• Rennock Lodge
• Riverton City
• Seaview Gardens
• Tavares Gardens
• Tivoli Gardens
• Trench Town
• Waltham Gardens
• West Kingston
• Whitfield Town

St. Catherine

• Central Village
• Ravensworth
• Spanish Town

Montego Bay

• Hart Street
• Mount Salem
• Norwood Gardens
• Rose Heights
• St. Clavers Avenue

South Coast

If you decide to travel to these areas:

• maintain a high level of personal security awareness at all times
• avoid visiting or travelling at night
• follow the advice of local authorities
• avoid walking alone, even during the day
• go out in groups with people that you know
• avoid visiting isolated areas and beaches

If you’re threatened by robbers, don’t resist, and hand over your cash and valuables. Resistance may provoke the use of violence.

Petty crime

Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and bag snatching, are common in major tourist areas and crowded places.

• Ensure that your belongings and travel documents are secure at all times
• Don’t carry large amounts of cash
• Don’t show signs of affluence
• Use ATMs located in public areas or inside a bank or business
• Protect your cell phone, which is a popular item for theft
• Use the hotel safe to secure your valuables
• Don’t leave valuables in plain view, even while you are in your hotel room
• Enquire with reception upon check-in on security precautions related to theft from hotel rooms 

State of emergency

Local authorities periodically  declare a state of emergency in various parishes  to fight against gang-related crime.

When a state of emergency is in effect, security forces have increased rights to conduct searches, seizures, and detain persons of interest.

If you are travelling in an area where a state of emergency is in effect:

• be aware that you may be subject to searches by security forces
• always cooperate with military and police officers
• carry valid ID at all times and be prepared for various checkpoints
• allow extra time to reach your destination
• follow the instructions of local authorities
• monitor local news to stay informed on the current situation

2SLGBTQI+ travellers

2SLGBTQI+ travellers have experienced harassment and verbal or physical abuse.

Avoid public displays of affection.

Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics

Women's safety and sexual assault

There have been reports of sexual assaults at tourist resorts carried out by resort staff and, in some cases, by other tourists. Women travelling alone are often harassed.

Be particularly vigilant if you are staying at a smaller or isolated establishment with less security. Compounds that are gated and guarded are considered the safest accommodation option in Jamaica.

• Be wary of strangers who seem friendly
• Refrain from excessive drinking, especially at all-inclusive resorts
• Ensure that your hotel room doors and windows are locked

Advice for women travellers

Spiked food and drinks

Never leave food or drinks unattended or in the care of strangers. Be wary of accepting snacks, beverages, gum, or cigarettes from new acquaintances, as they may contain drugs that could put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery.

Credit card and ATM fraud occurs. When using debit or credit cards:

• pay careful attention when others are handling your cards
• use ATMs located in public areas or inside a bank or business
• avoid using card readers with an irregular or unusual feature
• cover the keypad with one hand when entering your PIN
• check for any unauthorized transactions on your account statements

Romance scams

Internet romance scams via dating apps, websites or social media have occurred. Criminals especially target apps and websites popular among 2SLGBTQI+ travellers.

Assaults and incidents of robbery have occurred as a result of encounters set up through dating apps.

• Be wary of people who profess friendship or romantic interest over the internet
• Keep in mind that you may be the victim of a scam if you are travelling to Jamaica to meet an online contact
• Plan to meet in a known, secure location
• Be wary of inviting new acquaintances into your accommodation

Lottery scams

Tourists have been targets of lottery scams. Scammers convince targets that they have won a prize or lottery, but must pay a fee to claim their winnings.

• Never send money to someone in Jamaica who says you’ve won a lottery or prize
• Never travel to Jamaica to claim a “prize” or money

Overseas fraud

Demonstrations

Demonstrations may occur. Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation. Criminals often use these events to pickpocket demonstrators.

• Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place
• Follow the instructions of local authorities
• Monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations

Mass gatherings (large-scale events)

Water activities

Coastal waters can be dangerous. Riptides are common.

Not all beaches have lifeguards or warning flags.

• Exercise caution when swimming
• Don’t swim alone, after hours or outside marked areas
• Consult residents and tour operators for information on possible hazards and safe swimming areas

Water sports

Tour operators may not adhere to international standards.

If you participate in water sports:

• choose a well-established and reputable company that has insurance
• ensure that safety equipment, such as helmets and life jackets, are available and in good condition
• ensure that your travel insurance covers the recreational activities you choose

If in doubt concerning the safety of the facilities or equipment, don’t use them.

Water safety abroad

Road safety

Road conditions and road safety can vary greatly throughout the country. Coastal roads are in fair condition but driving in inland can be dangerous due to:

• narrow, winding roads
• insufficient road maintenance
• poor lighting
• inadequate signage
• poor lane markings
• damage to roads during the hurricane season

Speeding, as well as driving under the influence of marijuana or alcohol, are common.

When driving between Norman Manley International Airport and Kingston, take the South Camp Road – also known as the Hummingbird Route – rather than Mountain View Avenue, where several robbery incidents have been reported.

Roadside assistance is available island-wide.

• Stay on main roads as much as possible
• Drive defensively
• Keep vehicle windows closed and doors locked
• Keep valuables out of sight

Public transportation

Public transportation is generally not safe due to high levels of crime and overcrowding.

Knutsford Express offers safe, reliable and comfortable bus transportation between major towns.

Avoid travelling on local city buses.

Taxis and ridesharing services

Avoid taking unmarked taxis due to the risk of robbery and sexual assault.

Use only taxis ordered from hotels and authorized by the Jamaica Union of Travellers Association (JUTA). These are identified by red-and-white “PP” licence plates and a lime-green JUTA sticker on the window.

• Agree on the fare with the driver before departure, since taxis aren’t metered
• Don’t share a taxi with strangers

Ridesharing services are also available and generally safe. If you use a trusted ridesharing app, confirm the driver’s identity and the licence plate before getting in the car.

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the Jamaican authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the  Foreign Representatives in Canada .

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for the expected duration of your stay in Jamaica.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Tourist visa: not required Work visa: not required Business visa: not required  Student visa: not required

Immigration officers will generally grant visitors to Jamaica visitor landed status for 90 days. You must seek an extension if you are planning to stay up to an additional 90 days. You may request an extension at any immigration office. For stays beyond 90 days, you will require a visa.

Overstaying a visa or entry stamp is a criminal offence and can lead to prison time, heavy fines and deportation.

Persons found working illegally may be held in a local prison until arrangements for their return to Canada are made at their own cost.

Passport, Immigration & Citizenship Agency – Government of Jamaica

Other entry requirements

Customs officials may ask you to show them a return or onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay. 

You must provide certain information to immigration officials. You can do this online before arriving in Jamaica, or complete and sign a Jamaican immigration landing card, usually given to travellers upon arrival at the airport or during the flight. If you complete the immigration landing card:

• present it to an immigration official at the airport
• retain the card and present it to immigration officials upon departure from Jamaica

Immigration/Customs C5 card – Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency

Children and travel

Learn more about travelling with children .

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Relevant Travel Health Notices

• Global Measles Notice - 13 March, 2024
• Zika virus: Advice for travellers - 31 August, 2023
• COVID-19 and International Travel - 13 March, 2024
• Dengue: Advice for travellers - 25 March, 2024

This section contains information on possible health risks and restrictions regularly found or ongoing in the destination. Follow this advice to lower your risk of becoming ill while travelling. Not all risks are listed below.

Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably 6 weeks before you travel to get personalized health advice and recommendations.

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your  routine vaccinations , as per your province or territory , are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

Yellow fever   is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito.

Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.

• There is no risk of yellow fever in this country.

Country Entry Requirement*

• Proof of vaccination is required if you are coming from or have transited through an airport of a country   where yellow fever occurs.

Recommendation

• Vaccination is not recommended.
• Discuss travel plans, activities, and destinations with a health care professional.
• Contact a designated  Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre  well in advance of your trip to arrange for vaccination.

About Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada * It is important to note that  country entry requirements  may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest  diplomatic or consular office  of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.

There is a risk of hepatitis A in this destination. It is a disease of the liver. People can get hepatitis A if they ingest contaminated food or water, eat foods prepared by an infectious person, or if they have close physical contact (such as oral-anal sex) with an infectious person, although casual contact among people does not spread the virus.

Practise  safe food and water precautions and wash your hands often. Vaccination is recommended for all travellers to areas where hepatitis A is present.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally.

Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles.

  Hepatitis B is a risk in every destination. It is a viral liver disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another through exposure to blood and body fluids containing the hepatitis B virus.  Travellers who may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Prevent hepatitis B infection by practicing safe sex, only using new and sterile drug equipment, and only getting tattoos and piercings in settings that follow public health regulations and standards.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease. It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

It is recommended that all eligible travellers complete a COVID-19 vaccine series along with any additional recommended doses in Canada before travelling. Evidence shows that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. While vaccination provides better protection against serious illness, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally.

Before travelling, verify your destination’s COVID-19 vaccination entry/exit requirements. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID-19.

 The best way to protect yourself from seasonal influenza (flu) is to get vaccinated every year. Get the flu shot at least 2 weeks before travelling.  

 The flu occurs worldwide. 

•  In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs from November to   April.
•  In the Southern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs between April and   October.
•  In the tropics, there is flu activity year round. 

The flu vaccine available in one hemisphere may only offer partial protection against the flu in the other hemisphere.

The flu virus spreads from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Clean your hands often and wear a mask if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

In this destination, rabies  may be present in some wildlife species, including bats. Rabies is a deadly disease that spreads to humans primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal. 

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal while travelling, immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a health care professional. 

Before travel, discuss rabies vaccination with a health care professional. It may be recommended for travellers who will be working directly with wildlife. 

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Travellers' diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travellers. It is spread from eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Risk of developing travellers' diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation. Practise safe food and water precautions.

The most important treatment for travellers' diarrhea is rehydration (drinking lots of fluids). Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.

Typhoid   is a bacterial infection spread by contaminated food or water. Risk is higher among children, travellers going to rural areas, travellers visiting friends and relatives or those travelling for a long period of time.

Travellers visiting regions with a risk of typhoid, especially those exposed to places with poor sanitation, should speak to a health care professional about vaccination.  

Salmonellosis is a common illness among travellers to this country. It can be spread through contaminated food or beverages, such as raw or undercooked poultry and eggs, as well as fruits or vegetables.

Practice safe food and water precautions . This includes only eating food that is properly cooked and still hot when served.

Pregnant women, children under 5 years of age, those over 60 years of age, and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill.

Most people recover on their own without medical treatment and from proper rehydration (drinking lots of fluids).

• Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.

Travellers with severe symptoms should consult a health care professional as soon as possible.

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

There is a risk of chikungunya in this country.  The risk may vary between regions of a country.  Chikungunya is a virus spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Chikungunya can cause a viral disease that typically causes fever and pain in the joints. In some cases, the joint pain can be severe and last for months or years.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times. There is no vaccine available for chikungunya.

• In this country,   dengue  is a risk to travellers. It is a viral disease spread to humans by mosquito bites.
• Dengue can cause flu-like symptoms. In some cases, it can lead to severe dengue, which can be fatal.
• The level of risk of dengue changes seasonally, and varies from year to year. The level of risk also varies between regions in a country and can depend on the elevation in the region.
• Mosquitoes carrying dengue typically bite during the daytime, particularly around sunrise and sunset.
• Protect yourself from mosquito bites . There is no vaccine or medication that protects against dengue.

Zika virus is a risk in this country. 

Zika virus is primarily spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. It can also be sexually transmitted. Zika virus can cause serious birth defects.

During your trip:

• Prevent mosquito bites at all times.
• Use condoms correctly or avoid sexual contact, particularly if you are pregnant.

If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you should discuss the potential risks of travelling to this destination with your health care provider. You may choose to avoid or postpone travel. 

For more information, see Zika virus: Pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette , which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•   washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) , HIV , and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)   is a virus that attacks and impairs the immune system, resulting in a chronic, progressive illness known as AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). 

High risk activities include anything which puts you in contact with blood or body fluids, such as unprotected sex and exposure to unsterilized needles for medications or other substances (for example, steroids and drugs), tattooing, body-piercing or acupuncture.

Medical services and facilities

Good to excellent medical facilities exist in all tourist areas and in Kingston.

Medical care and hospital facilities in remote areas are limited. Ambulance services are limited in both urban and rural areas.

Medical expenses can be very high. Clinics may require payment upfront or credit card information as a guarantee of payment before providing medical care.

Medical evacuation can be very expensive and you may need it in case of serious illness or injury.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Travel health and safety

Keep in Mind...

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.

Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a   travel health kit , especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad .

Jamaican law prohibits sexual acts between individuals of the same sex. Other related offences include being in a same-sex marriage and the "promotion of homosexuality." Those convicted can face sentences of up to 10 years in prison, though authorities rarely enforce the law.

2SLGBTQI+ travellers could be discriminated against based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics.

Though violence against 2SLGBTQI+ persons and their allies has declined significantly over the past decade, 2SLGBTQI+ travellers should:

• carefully consider the risks of travelling to Jamaica
• be cautious and avoid public displays of affection with someone of the same sex

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect lengthy prison sentences.

Departing visitors are thoroughly screened for drug possession. Many Canadians are serving prison sentences for drug crimes, in some cases committed unwittingly. When leaving Ocho Rios and Montego Bay by cruise ship, you may be searched for drugs by local authorities. You should have a witness accompany you if you undergo such procedures.

• Pack all luggage yourself
• Don’t carry anything through customs for anyone else

Jamaica decriminalized the possession of up to two ounces of cannabis, which will be punishable by a fine and will not result in a criminal record. Smoking cannabis in public places, however, remains prohibited. Jamaican authorities continue to enforce strict laws against the possession and trafficking of narcotics, in accordance with international agreements to combat drug trafficking.

Don’t attempt to depart Jamaica and cross international borders with any amount of cannabis.

Drugs, alcohol and travel

Illegal activities

It’s illegal to:

• wear, buy or sell army or police camouflage clothing
• nudist bathing in non-designated areas 
• use of indecent language

Imports and exports

There are strict import and export regulations on:

• fruits and vegetables
• animals, including pets
• animal products

Entering the country with a firearm or even a single round of ammunition is considered a serious crime.

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is legally recognized in Jamaica.

If you are a Canadian citizen, but also a citizen of Jamaica, our ability to offer you consular services may be limited while you're there. You may also be subject to different entry/exit requirements .

Travellers with dual citizenship

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. It does not apply between Canada and Jamaica.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in Jamaica by an abducting parent:

• act as quickly as you can
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in Jamaica to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children’s Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre.

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country’s judicial affairs.

• International Child Abduction: A Guidebook for Left-Behind Parents
• Travelling with children
• Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
• Emergency Watch and Response Centre

Traffic drives on the left.

You can drive in Jamaica with a valid Canadian driver’s licence for up to six months. After 6 months, you must obtain a Jamaican driver’s licence.

It is mandatory to wear a helmet on mopeds, motor scooters and motorcycles, and to wear a seatbelt in cars and taxis. There are heavy fines for non-compliance.

You should carry an international driving permit.

International Driving Permit

Investments

If you plan on buying property or making other investments in Jamaica, seek legal advice in Canada and in Jamaica. Do so before making commitments. Related disputes could take time and be costly to resolve.

The currency of Jamaica is the Jamaican dollar (JMD).

Hotels and businesses catering to tourists accept major credit cards.

There is limited ATM availability outside Kingston and Montego Bay. Make sure you have enough cash to cover your expenses if travelling outside these areas.

Hurricane season

Hurricanes usually occur from mid-May to the end of November. During this period, even small tropical storms can quickly develop into major hurricanes.

These severe storms can put you at risk and hamper the provision of essential services.

If you decide to travel to a coastal area during the hurricane season:

• know that you expose yourself to serious safety risks
• be prepared to change your travel plans on short notice, including cutting short or cancelling your trip
• stay informed of the latest regional weather forecasts
• carry emergency contact information for your airline or tour operator
• follow the advice and instructions of local authorities
• Tornadoes, cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons and monsoons
• Large-scale emergencies abroad
• Active storm tracking and hurricane watches and warnings  - United States’ National Hurricane Center

Earthquakes and tsunamis

Jamaica is located in an active seismic zone. It is subject to earthquakes and is at risk of tsunamis.

A tsunami can occur within minutes of a nearby earthquake. However, the risk of tsunami can remain for several hours following the first tremor. If you’re staying on the coast, familiarize yourself with the region’s evacuation plans in the event of a tsunami warning.

In the event of an earthquake:

• monitor local media to stay informed of the evolving situation
• follow the instructions of local authorities, including evacuation orders
• Earthquakes – What to Do?
• Latest earthquakes  - U.S. Geological Survey
• Tsunami warning system  - U.S. National Weather Service

Local services

• police: 119
• medical assistance: 911
• firefighters: 911

Tourist information

Jamaica Tourist Board offices are located throughout the island. They have direct radio links with local police and information on safe public beaches.

Jamaica Tourist Board

Consular assistance

Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands

For emergency consular assistance, call the High Commission of Canada in Jamaica, in Kingston, and follow the instructions. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad.

The content on this page is provided for information only. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. The Government of Canada does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.

If you need consular assistance while abroad, we will make every effort to help you. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.

Learn more about consular services .

Risk Levels

  take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

  Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

  Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

  Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

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C5 Immigration Form

All travellers to Jamaica are required to complete and submit the Immigration/Customs Passenger Declaration (C-5) Form. The form is available online and is required for entry to the island. Visitors can access the form at www.enterjamaica.com

How to complete the form

There is no cost associated with the C-5 form.

You can complete and submit the form two (2) days before your entry. You will be required to enter a valid email address to complete the form. A verification code will be sent to your email. Enter the verification code to continue.

The C-5 form is straightforward and won’t require more than a few minutes to fill out. The form will ask for your name, dates of travel, flight number, and the address at which you will be staying in Jamaica. Once you complete the form online, you will receive an email confirmation that the application was successful.

Both visitors and residents of Jamaica are required to complete the C-5 form. The Jamaican immigration form does not replace a visa.

Airlift To Jamaica 

The following airlines operate flights to Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston:

The following airlines operate flights to Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay:

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• Passports, travel and living abroad
• Travel abroad
• Foreign travel advice

Entry requirements

This advice reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Jamaica set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Jamaican High Commission in the UK.

COVID-19 rules

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering Jamaica.

Passport validity requirements

To enter Jamaica, your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. You must have 2 blank pages for entry and exit stamps.

Visa requirements

You do not need a visa to visit Jamaica. You will usually be granted entry for up to 90 days. The date you must leave Jamaica is stamped on your passport.

If you want to extend your stay, apply to the  Jamaican Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency . If you overstay without authority, you could be fined or arrested.

Airport tax

Arrival and departure taxes are usually included in the cost of your ticket. If unsure check with your carrier who will be able to advise you.

Vaccination requirements

You must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk .

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Jamaica guide .

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Jamaica . You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

You must make a customs declaration before entering Jamaica. You should complete the Immigration and Custom Form C5 online where possible before you arrive.

Taking food into Jamaica

It is illegal to bring meat and dairy products into Jamaica. Customs officials may search your baggage and will destroy banned foodstuffs.

Taking money into Jamaica

Declare cash or travellers cheques if the value is 10,000 US dollars or more. You must declare this on your C5 form. You will also have to complete the Financial Investigation Division Cross Border Form which will be provided by a customs officer. You will need to provide:

• proof of the source of money
• the intended use of the funds

If you do not declare money as required, it is a breach of the Jamaican Customs Act. Your money could be seized and you could get a fine.

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Caribbean , Jamaica , Travel Advice

Montego bay travel blog – how to plan a trip to jamaica.

It’s been a long time since we took a Jamaica vacation – almost 18 years in fact. We took our honeymoon to Jamaica, way back in 2001. We stayed at an all-inclusive resort in Ochos Rios, and we barely left the resort. I swore this time it would be different. We planned a trip to Jamaica, in part to eat Jamaican food , and to find the best things to do in Montego Bay, outside of the resort. Because when planning a trip to Jamaica, it’s important to know that there is more to Jamaica than rum and all-inclusive resorts.

It’s true that a lot of Jamaica holidays start and stop on the resort. And, that is perfectly fine. But, when planning a trip to Jamaica, think outside the box! And, think outside the resort! Let us help you plan a trip to Jamaica that helps you learn more about the island and the Jamaican people. This Montego Bay travel blog will focus on that area of Jamaica, as well as some things to do nearby. We also provide some general Jamaican travel tips. 

Planning a Trip to Jamaica

Jamaica is a large island. It’s virtually impossible to see the whole thing in one trip. So, during this trip to Jamaica, we stayed in Montego Bay. There are some really nice Montego bay resorts, some of them only minutes from the Montego Bay airport. But we wanted to explore, and explore we did! Let this Jamaica travel blog help you do the same, to explore a Caribbean island in a somewhat different way.

Best Things to Do In Jamaica

Many of the attractions in Jamaica are found all over the Caribbean , including zip-lining and other adventure activities. But, when looking at what to do in Jamaica, we focused on what to do in Montego Bay that was a little bit different. And, we were able to find some unique Montego Bay attractions, all of which are about an hour or less drive from the best Montego Bay beaches. Some of these activities are not ones that we generally would’ve booked ourselves. So, when they were booked for us, we found ourselves a little surprised by many of them. Let this Montego Bay trip planner help you. 

Things to Do In Montego Bay

Montego Bay Travel Guide

Croydon plantation tour.

Tours are about three hours long, not including transportation from your hotel. The tour includes transportation from Montego Bay, plenty of pineapple and fruit tastings, and a lunch of jerk chicken and other local specialties, while surrounded by mountain views. They offer tours Tuesday through Friday.

Read traveler reviews of Croydon Plantation on TripAdvisor

Book this tour for $70 a person, rose hall great house.

This was the most surprising of our Montego Bay activities by far! Rose Hall Great House is an old, restored plantation house, with a twist. Yes, the tour includes a walkthrough of the house, and it’s history. But, the real treat is the telling of the story of the former house mistress, Annee Palmer, the famed White Witch of Rose Hall. Our tour guide, Ana, was great and offered real imagery when telling the story.

The reason why we liked this visit so much, is that even though the visit was short, the story was compelling. It’s one we talked about throughout the days following our visit to Rose Hall. Tours can be booked on the Rose Hall Great House tour website . Tickets start at $18 and the tour lasts around 45 minutes. There is a bar on site where it’s possible to enjoy a witches brew. Rose Hall is also centrally located in, of course, the Rose Hall area of Montego Bay.

Montego Bay Pro Travel Tip : Book the Rose Hall haunted night tour! 

Learn more about Rose Hall Great House tours here . Or, book a tour of Rose Hall along with the other Great Houses of Jamaica .

Martha brae rafting tour.

The tour includes roundtrip transfers from Montego Bay hotels. The rafting experience covers over 3 miles of river and takes about an hour. It’s also possible to swim in the river. Rafts are $65 and are made to hold two people.

Check out traveler reviews of the Martha Brae rafting tour . Or, book a combo tour that includes Martha Brae rafting and the Glistening Waters .

Montego bay’s hip strip – doctor’s cave beach.

But, Doctor’s Cave Beach is often considered one of the best beaches in Montego Bay. Founded as a bathing club in 1906, it was so named because the doctors who founded it entered the beach through a cave. Unfortunately, the cave collapsed during a hurricane. The beach, however, remains. And, the famous beach really started the business of tourism in Montego Bay.

Doctor’s Cave Beach is open 7 days a week from 8:30-5:30, and it costs $6 to enter. It’s only a few minutes drive from downtown Montego Bay. Learn more here . 

Falmouth Food Tour

Food tours are $49 per adult and last around 3 hours. The tour departs from the cruise port so it’s important to bring identification for security. It’s also a good idea to prepare for the hot Jamaican weather – maybe even bring an umbrella for the sun.

Learn more about What to Eat in Jamaica – Traditional Jamaican Food

Luminous lagoon – glistening waters.

Tours of the Luminous Lagoon cost $25 and include a little rum punch before the cruise. The entire experience takes about an hour. And, yes, it’s possible to bring a bathing suit to swim in the lagoon. Don’t worry, it’s only between 4 and 8 feet deep. For groups of 4 or more, they will also offer transport from Montego Bay hotels. 

Montego Bay Travel Tip: If you want to book a Glistening Waters tour, try to avoid a full moon or nearly full moon evening. Even better, try it on a cloudy night. That’s when the waters sparkle the most. If looking for a bit of adventure, this is definitely one of the more fun things to do in Jamaica.

Book a combo tour – Rose Hall Great House & Luminous Waters – From $250

Montego bay shopping.

When it came to shopping in Montego Bay Jamaica, we did things a little differently. There are loads of duty-free options at the Falmouth Port, where the cruise ships come in. If you want to see the port shops and dining options, it’s necessary to show identification. And, there are a handful of duty-free shops as well near some of the resorts.

But, because we are foodies, we stopped at the Hi-Lo Supermarket! We love visiting local supermarkets when traveling. At the Hi-Lo, we purchased some jerk sauce, jerk seasoning, and even some scotch bonnet pepper hot sauce, all at great prices. Don’t forget when traveling to go local!

We bought Walkerswood jerk seasoning, which is available at Amazon too!

Take in the View Over Montego Bay

• Book a tour of Appleton Estate and learn all about Jamaican rum – From $220.
• Explore the famous Jamaican Blue Mountains on a bike – From $195
• Go crazy, explore the entire island, and let an expert take you around. Book a 7-day bus tour of Jamaica island .

Montego Bay Map – Montego Bay Things To Do

*This post contains compensated links. Find more info in my  DISCLAIMER .

Hotels in Jamaica

We stayed at two Jamaica hotels during our trip. They were as different from each other as beer and champagne! There is such a variety of Jamaica accommodation options. 

Jamaica All Inclusive Resorts

First, we stayed at the Riu Palace, one of the all-inclusive resorts in Montego Bay Jamaica. The Riu offers an easy, and good value, option for a Montego Bay vacation. It’s only about 5 minutes from the Montego Bay airport, and they offered some pretty decent local Jamaican food at their buffet. They also make some tasty frozen drinks!

All inclusive hotel rates at the Riu Palace start at only $180 per person. Check out reviews of the Riu on TripAdvisor .

Check out the best all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica on Hotels.com .

Luxury jamaica resorts, check out our review of half moon jamaica, get the best prices for rooms and suites at half moon on booking.com ..

Get more ideas on TripAdvisor – Jamaica Things To Do  – Includes Things to Visit in Montego Bay Jamaica

Number 1 montego bay travel tip: priority pass membership .

Sign up with Priority Pass and receive 10% off your first year .

We were supported by the Jamaica Tourism Board and Blogilicious  during our trip to Jamaica. For more Jamaica information contact the Jamaica tourist board at Visit Jamaica . They can provide even more advice on how to book a trip to Jamaica, including what to do in Montego Bay and other areas of the island.

Find more Jamaica hotel deals on Booking.com  to help you plan your Montego Bay travel.

Pin It! Montego Bay Travel

When traveling to Jamaica, use the Montego Bay airport lounge to make travel a breeze! Check out our review of the Priority Pass Lounge program, and consider using it during your travels to Jamaica.

Faqs on jamaica travel – jamaica travel tips.

Here are a few more tips on how to book a trip to Jamaica, particularly when traveling to Jamaica for the first time. There are some more Montego Bay travel tips and general Jamaica travel tips.

Jamaica covers about 11,000 square kilometers and is one of the largest islands in the Caribbean. It lies south of Cuba in the Caribbean Sea. Because the island is so big, there are a lot of cool Jamaica destinations to explore.

Important first question when booking a trip to Jamaica. Jamaica island is big. To see the entire island, it’s probably necessary to book multiple holidays to Jamaica. Montego Bay is only one small portion of the island. It’s on the north side of the island, towards the west. Other popular Jamaica travel regions include Negril, to the west of Montego Bay, Ochos Rios to the east of Montego Bay, and the south. The south of Jamaica includes the capital Kingston, and some other pretty cool areas and things to do in Jamaica. 

Caribbean travels need to be planned around the hurricane season, which runs from June into early November. The best time to go to Jamaica is in November and December, after the hurricane season, when the weather is just lovely. 

If coming from the US, it’s possible to do Jamaica in a long weekend, particularly if you stay at one of the Montego Bay hotels close to the airport. I would recommend  at least  5 nights if possible. Traveling from Europe is harder, and normally requires an overnight flight from Montego Bay to Europe. If traveling to Jamaica from Europe, shoot for a trip to Jamaica between 7 and 10 nights.

There are plenty of great hotels in Montego Bay, at every budget. Each of them can arrange Montego Bay tours and day trips. And, they can book airport transfers as well. It might not be necessary to book a Montego Bay all-inclusive vacation or package.

Amber Hoffman, food and travel writer behind With Husband In Tow , is a recovering attorney and professional eater, with a passion for finding new Food and Drink Destinations . She lives with her husband, Eric, in Girona , Catalonia, Spain. Together over the last 20 years, they have traveled to over 70 countries. Amber is the author of the Food Traveler’s Guide to Emilia Romagna .

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Travel Guide To Jamaica

For such a small island, Jamaica has had a massive influence on the world. This legendary nation, which gained its independence in 1962, evokes passion and affection even in those who have never visited, and brings a dreamy look to the faces of those who have. It has produced the most celebrated reggae star in history, Bob Marley, and some of the greatest sportsmen in the world, including Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake. It has inspired writers, artists and filmmakers. The very name conjures up images of an idyllic life, a laid-back place of Caribbean beaches and rum shacks; and indeed, Jamaica has all that and more.

How to get to Jamaica

AIRPORT The main airport for tourist arrivals is Sangster Airport in Montego Bay. Norman Manley Airport is situated just outside Kingston. AIRLINES FROM THE UK Air Jamaica (020 8570 7999) flies from London Heathrow to Kingston five times a week and to Montego Bay four times a week. British Airways (0845 779 9977; www.british-airways.com ) flies from London Gatwick via Miami or New York four times a week to the same destinations.

Tour operator details for Jamaica

Abercrombie and Kent (020 7730 9600; fax: 7730 9376); Caribbean Connection (01244 355 300; fax: 355 309); Caribbean Escapes (020 7581 3517; fax: 7589 1468); Caribbean Expressions (020 7431 2131; fax: 7431 4221); Carrier (0161 491 7620; www.carrier.co.uk ); Elegant Resorts (01244 897 999; fax: 897 750); International Chapters (020 7722 9560; fax: 7722 9140); Kuoni (01306 742 222; fax: 742 888); or Villa Connections (01625 858158; fax: 858258).

Where to stay in Jamaica

STRAWBERRY HILL Irish Town (00 1 876 944 8400; fax: 944 8408). The hotel is an hour's drive up the Blue Mountains from Kingston's Norman Manley Airport. Either the hotel's shuttle bus can collect you or they can arrange a 10-minute helicopter ride there. Although you are some distance from the sea - Hellshire, Kingston's favourite beach, is a 75-minute drive away - 'Strawberry' now has a mountain stream-cool swimming pool and a new Aveda Concept Spa. Thanks to James Palmer, once a chef on Adnan Khashoggi's yacht, the 'New Jamaican' cuisine has also become one of the island's attractions: try the plantain-encrusted snapper. Rooms and villas available. £££ TRIDENT VILLAS AND HOTEL Anchovy, Port Antonio (00 1 876 993 2602; fax: 993 2590; [email protected] ). The quiet repose of this hotel is disturbed only by the shriek of peacocks, the soft thwack of croquet mallets on balls and very occasionally, a splash from the circular pool, an alternative to the small but pleasant beach. There are 28 rooms, including an Imperial Suite and the eight roomed Trident Villa. Meals (very slightly limited menu) are taken on the terrace, or in the very formal, wood-panelled dining room which, at night, can seem like a stiflingly hot Scottish lodge. ££ GOLDENEYE Orcabessa (00 1 876 975 3354; [email protected]). Goldeneye began life as a spartan bungalow on a clifftop, where Ian Fleming created James Bond. A few years ago this was transformed into the luxurious five-bedroom Fleming Villa, which has been rented by Dennis Hopper and Francis Ford Coppola, among others; you can stay in the room where his original writing desk remains. In addition there are 11 wooden cottages, lovely and light and airy, and overlooking a lagoon; as well as a main restaurant, a lounge-library, and a beachside pool and lively beach bar where Island Records play night and day. £££££ JAMAICA INN Ocho Rios (00 1 876 974 2514). Cottage accommodation. There's a sea-island air of leisure about this place that can slide into a pleasant sopor following one of the restaurant's famously sumptuous dinners. Almost everyone staying at Jamaica Inn is of, or over, a certain age. £££ ROUND HILL HOTEL AND VILLAS Montego Bay (00 1 876 956 7050; email [email protected] ). The original Jamaican resort for the rich and famous. ££ THE CAVES Lighthouse Road, West End, Negril (00 1 876 957 0270; email: [email protected] ). Located at the far end of the Negril cliffs. A stay here can be breathtaking - especially if you leap into the sea from one of the 'jumps' scattered around the property (it takes longer to hit the water than expected). Views of the legendary Negril sunset from the upstairs bedroom in the two-storey cottage are worth making a booking for. Rent the entire 12-bedroom property or a one-bedroom cottage. The resort's renowned white sand Seven Mile Beach is some distance away. Also has an Aveda spa. £££ JAKE'S Calabash Bay, Treasure Beach (00 1 876 965 0635; fax: 965 0552; email: [email protected] ). Situated on the south coast, Jake's is owned by Sally and Jason Henzell, wife and son of Perry, director of the film The Harder They Come . At this quintessentially funky property, dolphins can sometimes be spotted in the relatively rough sea - and, thanks to the rustling grassland all around, this hottest part of the island is reminiscent of the African Savannah. £ HALF MOON Rose Hall, Montego Bay (00 1 876 953 2615; fax: 935 2731; email: [email protected] ). Half Moon was clearly designed as a flatlands version of Round Hill. The golf carts that whiz guests around the substantial grounds give the hotel something of the flavour of Portmeirion. Many of the villas have private pools and the hotel has its own golf course. £££

Where to eat out in Jamaica

DEVON HOUSE In Kingston, stop at Devon House (00 1 876 929 7046), the former governor's residence on Hope Road. Has a pleasingly elegant restaurant where you can eat well for about US$35 a head without wine. £ REDBONES THE BLUES CAFE Politicians and industry shakers also dine at the high-end Redbones The Blues Café (00 1 876 978 6091) on Braemar Avenue, Kingston, which is recognisable by the late-model Mercedes parked outside. £ BLUE MOUNTAIN INN The Blue Mountain Inn (00 1 876 927 2606), which is about three miles out of Kingston on Gordon Town Main Road, the road up to Strawberry Hill, has beautiful gardens. ££ CABIN ON THE SEA In Port Royal, the Cabin On The Sea seafood restaurant (00 1 876 967 8051), with tables set on a jetty over the sea, is exciting in an extremely leisurely sort of way. £££ ROCK HOUSE RESTAURANT In Negril, eat local food in style here on West End Road (00 1 876 957 4373). £ TOSCANINI At the Harmony Hall arts and crafts centre, on the road from Oracabessa to Ocho Rios (00 1 9876975 4785) (see What To See).

Things to do in Jamaica

GO RAFTING Rafting on the Rio Grande is a fantastic way to spend a day: you are driven high up the Blue Mountains to join the river and spend the next five or six hours travelling downstream on a banana raft, stopping to eat and swim in the clear river water. Trips (each lasts three-and-a-half hours) can be organised from the Port Antonio tourist office on Harbour Street (00 1 876 993 3051). There are cheaper freelance operators - but you may have to set off and depart the river at unorthodox points. GO EXPLORING Cycling in the hills is increasingly popular, or you can take the 90-minute drive from Ocho Rios into the interior to Nine Miles, the birth and burial place of Bob Marley. From Montego Bay, take a drive of similar length to Accompong, the eyrie-like capital of the Maroons (the escaped slaves turned fearsome guerrilla fighters who gained some measure of autonomy with the peace treaty of 1739). If you tire of the charms of Negril's Seven Mile Beach, there is horse riding, yoga and mushroom tea. While at Jake's (See Where to Stay), take the 50-minute drive back to Black River, with its crocodile-infested river. Or check out the breathtaking, unspoilt terrain of Bluefields, 90 minutes from both Treasure Beach and Negril, in whose bay pirate fleets would assemble. SEE THE WATERFALLS Waterfalls are popular attractions on the north coast: the tourist-thronged Dunn's River Falls at Ocho Rios, the more agreeable Reach Falls past Manchioneal to the east of Port Antonio, and Somerset Falls to its west, near Hope Bay. GO TO THE BEACH Round Hill, Jamaica Inn and Goldeneye all have superb beaches. Frenchman's Cove, four miles past the Trident, is one of the finest beaches in the world, on a cove into which the freshwater streams also run, overhung with tropical foliage. Winnifred Beach, a couple of miles on at Boston Bay, is also exceptional. When clean, the Norwich Beach, to the west of Port Antonio, is one of the unsung gems of the Caribbean. The legendary Seven Mile Beach at Negril is best sampled past the town's strip of hotels, which encourages excessive hustling, something you may also come across at Hellshire, near Kingston - although this is compensated for by the sheer gusto with which the Jamaican capital city enjoys itself at the seashore, particularly on Sundays.

The Essential Montego Bay Vacation Guide

Montego Bay is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Jamaica, and it has all the makings of the perfect tropical vacation: the island of Jamaica nestled in clear blue waters, white-sand beaches, a lively music scene, and some of the most glorious sunsets you’re going to see in your life.  

Montego Bay truly is a paradise, but with so much to do and see, planning out your trip can be a daunting task, especially for first-time visitors. This guide is meant to help you plan out your trip, so that you spend more time actually enjoying your vacation than stressing over what to do next. Here are some important things to consider:

When to Visit

Temperatures in Jamaica range from 75.2F in January to 89.6F in July. Temperatures remain comfortable for the rest of the year, which makes it ideal for visitors to relax on the beaches. Its tropical climate means that heavy fall and hurricanes should be expected during Fall. 

Another factor to consider is price. MoBay vacations usually cost around $530 USD to about $1800 USD on average, but these prices tend to spike during high-traffic periods during December and March. 

Getting There

The most efficient point of entry into Montego Bay is through the Sangster International Airport which is located along MoBay’s shores. Visitors have the option to enjoy the Club MoBay VIP Arrival services which gives guests access to a private lounge complete with complimentary drinks and food as well as a spa. Charter airlines fly to MonBay all year.

Areas of Interest

There’s a good number of things to do in Montego Bay ranging from relaxing on the many beaches on the island, to experiencing the rich culture and its friendly people, to learning the history of the island. There are also plenty of resorts, hotels, and villas, such as Coconut Cottage , that can serve as your temporary home as you explore the area. Some key areas to visit are:

• Scotchies – Scotchies is the famous restaurant that serves the best jerk chicken on the island coupled with a cold Red Stripe, a traditional Jamaican side dish. This restaurant is located just 15 minutes away from the airport, which makes it an ideal place to grab a snack at any time of the day.
• Doctor’s Cave Beach – Doctor’s Cave Beach is a bathing club that’s found along the shores of MonBay. This beach is ideal for those staying in MonBay for a short visit and for those coming from the cruise port. The crystal-clear water is definitely worth experiencing and is at par with that of the best beaches in the Caribbean .
• Martha Brae River – The Martha Brae River is best known for its three mile river rafting trip and its green waters. 
• Rick’s Cafe – Rick’s Cafe sits nicely atop one of the cliffs overlooking the turquoise waters, which makes it one of the best places to enjoy the Jamaican sunset. It is best known for its rum punch, live reggae music, cliff diving, and for having the most beautiful view of the sunset in the Caribbean.
• Rose Hall Great House – The Rose Hall Great House is one of the area’s top attractions for its history. The house is replete with 18th Century Colonial style art and furnishings, perfect for visitors who want to learn more about the Colonial history of one of the island’s legendary homes and the ghost that supposedly haunts it .

Montego Bay is only one of three major tourist hotspots in Jamaica. There are many other places and activities that make Jamaica a great place to visit . You might also want to look into Negril and the Ocho Rios.

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Jamaica Travel Guide

Last Updated: August 30, 2023

With its laid-back pace, stunning beaches, rugged mountains, lush rainforests, picturesque waterfalls, and lively music scene, it’s easy to see why Jamaica is one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean .

The third-largest island in the region, Jamaica has more churches per square mile and more rum bars per capita than anywhere else on the planet.

Unsurprisingly, the island attracts a wide crowd and has plenty to offer travelers of all stripes. Whether you’re looking to relax, splash out, or party, Jamaica has you covered.

Although it’s easy to lounge away most of your time on the beach, try to experience the local music scene and Rastafarian culture while you’re here. It’s what gives the island its iconic flair.

This Jamaica travel guide has all the practical information you need to help you plan your visit, save money, and make the most out of your time in this island paradise!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Jamaica

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Jamaica

1. Cliff jump at Rick’s Cafe

Rick’s Cafe was founded in Negril 1974 by Richard Hershman and is now in the list of Top 10 Bars in the World. This restaurant and bar overlooking the ocean is a popular place for locals and visitors alike with spectacular sunsets and cliff jumping. It’s about 35 feet to the water, so if the height is too much for you, you can just relax and enjoy the view with a drink.

2. Go on a rum tour

Rum, made from fermenting and distilling sugarcane, is one of Jamaica’s biggest exports. If you’re a rum aficionado, this is your chance to get up close with the production and tasting process. Tour Appleton Estate in St. Elizabeth, voted one of the best in the Caribbean, which has been producing rum since 1749 (they produce 10 million liters of rum each year). It’s located in the beautiful Nassau Valley and offers the chance to learn how rum is produced (samples included). Worthy Park and Hampden Estate also offer rum tours.

3. Hang out at the beach

Jamaica is rich with soft, powdery beaches. In Montego Bay, head to Doctor’s Cave Beach on Jamaica’s Hip Strip, one of the country’s finest and most popular beaches with miles of impeccably white sand and sparkling waters that are said to have healing properties. It’s also a great place for snorkeling. If you want something more secluded, choose Cornwall Beach with its chill vibes, lounge chairs, and sunset beach parties on Sundays. In Negril, Seven Mile Beach has a history of pirates and stunning turquoise perfect water with something for everyone including water sports, snorkeling, diving, and more. You can even rent jet skis or kayaks and explore on your own or go horseback riding on the beach. There are many eateries and restaurants for incredible seafood and places to take in the sunset. And past the overpriced hub around Margaritaville, you’ll find quieter stretches of pristine sand.

4. Lose yourself in the clouds

The Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park lies to the east of the island and covers over 100,00 acres. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to many rare and endangered mammals, amphibians, and bird species. The Blue Mountains here are the longest mountain range in Jamaica and offer incredibly lush scenery of 1,300 flowering plants and 530 fern species. It’s a great place to bird watch and hike the Holywell Nature Walks that take you through the rare tropical Cloud Forest. A short drive from Kingston, this park offers hiking, biking, and coffee plantation tours.

5. Explore Montego Bay

Montego Bay is the third largest city in Jamaica and the top place for tourist bars, international restaurants, beautiful beaches, and epic parties. There are tons of things to do here, from chilling and floating down the Martha Brae River on a bamboo raft, doing eco-adventure tours to the Rockspring Caves, or visiting the 18th-century Rose Hall Great House Georgian mansion. There is the famous Luminous Lagoon, one of the most popular bioluminescent bays in the world that offers a rare chance to see glowing blue waters at night. If you’re a foodie, there are several Jamaican food tours where you can taste delicious jerk chicken and other local favorites.

Other Things to See and Do in Jamaica

1. raft the rio grande.

For a unique look at the landscape, head to the Port Antonio area and take a guided trip down the Rio Grande River on a bamboo raft. This is one of the best ways to see the many caves, waterfalls, and crystal springs that are tucked away throughout the island. A three-hour rafting trip costs 15,500 JMD per person with Rio Grande Rafting Tour.

2. Go snorkeling

On Jamaica’s northern coast, you’ll find a wide array of sea life. Here you can go snorkeling and see coral, stingrays, lionfish, barracuda, and more. Ocho Rios is another exciting place to snorkel, with plentiful scorpionfish, lettuce sea slugs, and nurse sharks. Guided trips start around 5,300 JMD.

3. Explore the Green Grotto

Over 1,000 caves dot the Jamaican landscape. Green Grotto Caves on the north coast is probably the most famous. The caves are made of limestone and the tides have etched the walls with the green algae that have given the cave its name. As you move through the cave, you’ll walk through a forest of stalactites and stalagmites. Fun fact: Spaniards hid here in the 17th century when the English invaded Jamaica. Entry is 3,050 JMD per person.

4. Tour the Sun Valley Plantation

Visit the Sun Valley Plantation in Ocho Rios to learn about the island’s history, from the slave trade to the present day, as well as what life was like living on a plantation growing coffee, bananas, and tropical fruits. It’s an immersive experience, where you’ll get to meet the owners and the hardworking staff. The tour takes 90 minutes and includes samples of the plantation’s tasty fruits. This tour doesn’t gloss over the hard facts that this plantation once used slaves for profit. Tours cost 8,600-12,000 JMD.

5. Explore Kingston

The capital of Jamaica, Kingston, is a rough-and-tumble kind of place. It’s worth a visit for a day or two. Check out some of the important landmarks, like Devon House, built in the Jamaican Georgian style typical of the plantation homes built by colonists during the slave trade. It’s 1,775 JMD to visit and admission includes a snack or beverage of your choice. Also, don’t miss King’s House (the official residence of the Governor-General), the Prime Minister’s house, and the Bob Marley Museum. While you’re here, be sure to head out and listen to some live reggae at the Dub Club, visit the National Gallery of Jamaica, go shopping at the Coronation Market, and chill out in Emancipation Park.

6. Climb the Dunn’s River Falls

Located in Ocho Rios, these falls cascade over plateaus 600 feet above the ground. You can actually climb up them if you’re feeling adventurous or just walk the trail that follows the river and go for a swim in one of the many azure pools at the base of the falls. Entrance is 3,800 JMD. If you enjoy adrenaline activities, you can also zipline here.

7. Birdwatch at Cockpit Country

Jamaica has 150 resident species of birds, with 29 of those species being endemic to the island. Just southeast of Montego Bay lies Cockpit Country, an area rife with nearly 110 of these species. Keep an eye out for Black-billed Parrots, endangered Jamaican Blackbirds, and Blue Mountain Vireos. The area itself is lush and scenic, with sinkholes of dissolved limestone and lots of rivers.

8. Swim the Blue Hole

Blue Hole is one of the less touristy swimming spots on the island. Admission costs 3,800 JMD while a tour that includes hiking to a mini waterfall, cliff jumping, a rope swing, swimming in some blue lagoons, and plenty of stunning scenery costs 7,600 JMD. For an extra fee, you can also go river tubing or bamboo rafting. Just be aware that there’s not anywhere you can store your bags, so if you don’t have in a car to keep your belongings, bring a waterproof bag you can keep your stuff in while you swim. )

9. Take a day trip to Portland

This area is off the tourist trail and a nice alternative to the crowds on the coast. Here, you’ll be rewarded with peaceful beaches, endless natural beauty, and friendly locals who aren’t afraid to chat you up. While you’re here, visit the Blue Lagoon, see Somerset Falls, and sample plenty of jerk chicken in the town of Boston.

10. Visit the Bob Marley Museum

Bob Marley, one of Jamaica’s most famous artists, is often blaring in the background all around the country. Visit his house on Hope Road in Kingston where he lived and worked between 1975-1981. You’ll learn about his life, with glimpses into his recording studio and bedroom. Admission is 3,800 JMD or book a combo “One Love” tour for 6,095 JMD that includes Bob Marley’s “Making of the Music” tour.

For information about other Caribbean destinations, check out these guides:

• British Virgin Islands
• Saint Lucia

Jamaica Travel Costs

Hostel prices – A bed in a 4-6-bed dorm in touristy places like Montego Bay costs about 3,500-3,800 JMD per night. They start from 2,200 JMD in places like Port Antonio. A private room with a shared bathroom costs about 6,500 JMD per night and a room with a private bathroom is around 7,400 JMD. Free Wi-Fi is standard and most hostels also have self-catering facilities.

For those traveling with a tent, there are a few campsites in Jamaica. You can get a plot for a two-person tent without electricity for as little as 300 JMD per night.

Budget hotel prices – Budget two- and three-star hotels start at 6,150 JMD per night in less touristy areas like Port Antonio but are closer to 8,000 JMD near beach resort areas. Expect basic amenities like free Wi-Fi, TV, and occasionally free breakfast.

Airbnb is available everywhere in Jamaica. For a private room, expect to pay from 5,700 JMD per night, while an entire home/apartment averages closer to 10,000-12,000 JMD per night.

Food – Jamaican cuisine is influenced by a mix of Caribbean, African, and European flavors, owing to the numerous countries that have occupied the island over the years. Seafood and tropical fruits are super common here, and popular dishes include goat curry, patties (a savory turnover), saltfish (dried and salted cod), and dumplings.

A casual lunch at an inexpensive restaurant costs around 800 JMD. You’ll find stewed chicken or beef on most menus for about 450 JMD, and jerk chicken is about the same price.

A combo meal at McDonald’s costs about 1000 JMD while a large pizza costs about 2,200 JMD. If you want to splash out, a three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant costs around 3,500 JMD with drinks.

Beer is around 400 JMD, and a latte/cappuccino is around 480 JMD. Bottled water is closer to 115 JMD.

If you plan on cooking your own food, expect to pay 7,000 JMD per week for groceries. That includes basic staples like pasta, rice, seasonal produce, and some meat or seafood.

Backpacking Jamaica Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking Jamaica, my suggested budget is around 7,000 JMD per day. This assumes you’re staying in a hostel, cooking all your meals, limiting your drinking, taking the bus to get around, and doing mostly free activities like lounging on the beach and swimming. If you plan on drinking, add an extra 500-1,500 JMD to your daily budget.

On a mid-range budget of 17,000 JMD per day, you can stay in an Airbnb, eat out for a few meals, enjoy a few drinks, take the occasional taxi to get around, and do some paid activities like rafting or snorkeling.

On a “luxury” budget of 34,000 JMD or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat out for all your meals, drink more, rent a car to get around, and do whatever tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages – some days you spend more, some days you spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in JMD.

Jamaica Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Although Jamaica is a holiday destination, there’s more to the island than the resorts. Once you step out of the resort bubble, you’ll really lower your costs (and experience a more local version of the country). Here are some ways you can save money in Jamaica:

• Shop around for tours – If you’re going snorkeling, shop around for the best price as equipment and tours can vary widely even along one beach front.
• Avoid spring break – If you visit during the American spring break season in March or April, you’ll pay 25% or more for everything.
• Enjoy nature – Relax on the beach, go for a hike, or take in a sunset. Jamaica’s natural beauty is breathtaking and free, so drink it in!
• Pay in Jamaican dollars – When possible, pay for anything in Jamaican dollars. You’ll often get a better exchange rate.
• Look for deals and discounts – Visit Jamaica has a whole section on their website (visitjamaica.com/travel-deals) dedicated to travel discounts, deals, and bundles. Some are meh, but sometimes there are sizeable discounts on hotels.
• Shop for souvenirs at supermarkets – If you want to purchase souvenirs like coffee, jerk seasoning, or hot sauce, go to a supermarket like Quality Traders rather than a souvenir kiosk.
• Stay with a local – There are a few Couchsurfing hosts in Jamaica so use the app to find free accommodation during your visit. You’ll save money and get to connect with a local who can share their insider tips and advice with you.
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is generally safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand as their bottles have built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Jamaica

Jamaica has a fair number of hostels and budget accommodations. Here are my suggested places to stay:

• MoBay Kotch (Montego Bay)
• Five Gables (Montego Bay)
• Raggamuffin Hostel & Coffee Bar (Kingston)
• Jay’s Guest House (Blue Mountains)

How to Get Around Jamaica

Public transportation – Jamaica has an extensive transportation network of buses and minibusses that link almost all the villages and towns — and they’re very affordable. There is often no set timetable though so buses leave when they’re full. For that reason, make sure you’re flexible when taking the bus. Buses and minibusses charge around 150-170 JMD.

Taxi – Taxis have a 225 JMD starting fare and charge 725 JMD per kilometer. While affordable, they add up fast so use them sparingly.

Bus – Coach buses can get you to and from most of Jamaica’s touristy destinations. Knutsford Express is one of the most popular buses, with a two-hour trip between Kingston and Ocho Rios costing about 2,850 JMD. A four-hour trip from Kingston to Montego Bay is about 3,800 JMD.

You can also take minibuses (“coasters”) everywhere. Licensed minibusses have a PPV license plate (public passenger vehicle) or a JUTA sticker (Jamaica Union of Travelers Association) and are exclusively used by tourists. They tend to leave on a pre-set schedule.

Scooter – You can rent a scooter or motorcycle from various places around Montego Bay, Negril, and Ocho Rios for about 4,500-9,200 JMD per day, with motorcycles being on the higher end. Remember to always wear a helmet!

Bicycle – The roads here aren’t the safest for cycling, but if you want to rent a bike, rentals start around 2,000 JMD per day.

Car rental – Car rentals can be found for around 4,500- 6,000 JMD per day for a multi-day rental. Renters need to be 21 and have an International Driving Permit (IDP). For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars .

When to Go to Jamaica

Jamaica has pleasant weather year-round, with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s°C (70s°F) to 30s°C (high 80s°F).

January to March is the peak season for the island, with prices spiking all over the place. This is when the island is at its liveliest.

To beat the crowds, avoid popular breaks like Christmas, Easter, and Spring Break. Otherwise, you’ll be shoulder-to-shoulder with tourists at most resorts and beaches. Prices are much higher too.

Personally, I think October to mid-December is the best time to visit if you want to take advantage of the high temperatures in the shoulder season. Hotel and flight deals are usually the best during this time and the crowds are a little thinner.

How to Stay Safe in Jamaica

Jamaica is a relatively safe place to backpack and travel but crime does happen here, especially at night and around the party areas of the country. Petty theft is very common so keep an eye out for pickpocketing. Never leave your valuables unattended while at the beach.

When out and about, do not flash around any cash or valuables. Keep them at your hotel in a safety deposit box whenever possible. This is especially true in touristy areas like Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, and Negril. Keep your hotel/accommodation doors and windows locked at all times as break-ins can occur.

Kingston is, unfortunately, no stranger to violent crime and gang activity. If you want to explore Kingston, do not go out alone at night.

LGBTQ travelers should practice caution here. Homophobia is rampant and there are laws against same-sex relations.

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here, however, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.).

If you’re worried about getting scammed, you can read about common travel scams to avoid here.

If you experience an emergency, dial 110 for an ambulance or the fire department. Dial 119 for police.

My biggest piece of advice is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past.

Jamaica Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

Jamaica Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling the Caribbean and continue planning your trip:

9 Ways to Explore the Caribbean Sustainably

My 16 Favorite Things to Do in the Virgin Islands

Bermuda: The Impossible Budget Destination? Maybe Not!

How to Save (and Not Save) Money in the Virgin Islands

I Didn’t Like Curaçao (But I Didn’t Hate it Either)

The Best Places on Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast

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Montego Bay and Cockpit Country Travel Guide

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Accommodation

Jamaica’s second-largest city, the seaside settlement of Montego Bay is one of Jamaica’s premier tourist honeypots. Framed by a cradle of hills and sitting pretty in a sweeping natural harbour, with fabulous beaches hemmed in by a labyrinth of offshore reefs, it’s furnished with enough natural attributes to fill any brochure, and its slick tourism suits the commercial, easy-access tastes of cruise shippers. Montego Bay remains the reigning old madam of Jamaican resorts: gossipy, belligerent and overdressed, but also absorbing, spirited and lively, particularly during its world-renowned summer reggae festival, Sumfest.

Cockpit Country

East of montego bay, montego bay, the line-up, tickets and information, south and west of montego bay.

The coastline to the east of town has been snapped up by upmarket all-inclusives, strung out alongside souvenir malls and golf courses; most famous of these is Rose Hall Great House and its massively embellished legend of Voodoo and sexual intrigue. The sun-bleached Georgian-era town of Falmouth , aside from the recent arrival of twice-weekly cruise ships, remains marooned from the action of the North Coast Highway and offers a welcome respite from the resort ethic – as well as providing the unusual prospect of a night-time swim in its nearby phosphorescent lagoon. Inland, the landscape rises sharply as you enter rural St James, where districts such as Montpelier and Kensington were once absorbed by huge sugar estates, worth the trip alone for their magnificent settings covered with acres of citrus. The verdant Great River valley here offers good freshwater swimming as well as tubing or rafting in the silky green waters, or hand-feeding a hummingbird at the beautiful Rocklands Bird Sanctuary high above the bay.

Less than two hours’ drive from the centre of Montego Bay lies an area so untouched by any kind of holiday development that it’s something of a parallel universe to the coastal resorts. The mainly uninhabited limestone hillocks of Cockpit Country are the antithesis of palm trees and concrete, and the few settlements that cling to the edges of this almost lunar landscape are some of the most beguiling on the island. Some are still home to descendants of the once-mighty Maroons, escaped slaves who waged guerrilla war against the British. Though Accompong , on the southern side of the Cockpits, is still a semi-autonomous state governed by a Maroon council, the Trelawny Maroons of western Jamaica welcome visitors, and as a result, the west is one of the better places to learn a little Maroon history firsthand.

Top image yacht marina in Montego Bay © Andrei Florin Catalin/Shutterstock

COCKPIT COUNTRY ( cockpitcountry.com ) is without doubt the most bizarre landscape in Jamaica, an uncanny series of improbable lumps and bumps covering roughly eighty square kilometres of Trelawny and St James parishes, south of Montego Bay. It is one of the most intriguing parts of the island, and a visit here is worthwhile not only for its fantastic scenery but also its intriguing history.

Thousands of years of rainwater flowing over porous limestone created this rugged karst topography of impenetrable conical hillocks, dissolved on each side by a drainage system of sinkholes and caves. The area is peppered with bizarre place names throughout: Me No Sen You No Come, Wait-a-Bit (where the police station sign is subject to many a photographer’s lens), Quick Step and Rest and Be Thankful District. It’s also known as the “ District of Look Behind ”, in reference to the justifiable paranoia of English soldiers who made hot, comfortless and usually ill-fated missions here tracking Maroons , whose superior local knowledge and guerrilla strategy brought most sorties to a bloody end. To this day, the Cockpits are thought by superstitious Jamaicans to be the stamping ground for spirits and duppies. In fact, the Maroons here have been established on the tourist trail for much longer than the more secretive Windward Maroons of the east.

Cockpit Country is largely uninhabited. Feral pig hunters make regular forays into the interior, but otherwise locals congregate at villages like Windsor , Albert Town and Accompong , where the economy is based on small-scale farming, coffee and occasionally – cloaked by thick foliage – ganja. Only a fraction of the area is accessible and you can’t get far independently, but the scarcity of tourists and pristine environment – though currently under threat from bauxite mining – make the area unforgettable. It’s a sanctuary of untouched beauty, particularly in the early mornings when low-lying mists and a silence broken only by bird calls give it an almost primeval feel.

Sitting on one of the steep hillocks that make up outer Cockpit Country, ACCOMPONG , the last remaining Maroon settlement in western Jamaica, boasts breathtaking views, and is still ruled by a colonel, elected every five years – the current incumbent is police inspector Ferron Williams (it’s considered proper protocol to call on him when you arrive). Accompong colonels still hold real power; they ensure citizens abide by the town’s constitution, and mete out justice for petty crimes. Though most Maroons value their level of autonomy (they pay no taxes or rates), independence has ensured years of state neglect. A new-ish access road and coverage by mobile phone networks are exceptions to the norm.

Though Accompong is making a determined effort to retain its heritage, there’s a sense that it’s a losing battle. Though older residents claim direct descent from Maroon leaders Nanny and Cudjoe, there are relatively few “real” Maroons left. During the last thirty years two-thirds of the population have left for jobs elsewhere, the secret “Coromantee” language has vanished, resurfacing only in traditional songs and ceremonies, and Maroon culture has become less important to a younger generation more interested in dancehall and hip-hop than goombay drums or Akan chants. The most interesting time to visit is the annual Accompong Maroon Festival, held on January 6, with day-and-night celebrations.

Brief history

Named after the brother of Maroon hero Cudjoe, Accompong came into being in 1739, when, as part of the peace treaty that ended the first Maroon War, the British granted the Maroon people 15,000 acres of land to create a semi-sovereign community; a missing zero in fact meant that only 1500 acres were made available, a matter of continuing contention. Several such communities, including Trelawney Town in St James, were also given land, and the Maroons set about a peaceful farming life. In 1795, however, a Trelawney Town Maroon caught stealing a pig in downtown Montego Bay was publicly flogged, ironically by one of the runaway slaves the Maroons had captured and returned to the plantations in accordance with the peace treaty. His kinsmen rebelled once again and the second Maroon War flared up. Though the Trelawney Town Maroons could muster only three hundred fighters, the British took no risks and sent in fifteen hundred soldiers and hunting dogs to track them down and wreck their villages. Accompong, the only Maroon village that chose to remain neutral, was allowed to stand.

Accompong Maroon Festival

Every January 6, Maroons from all over the island celebrate the anniversary of the 1739 peace treaty. Like everything else in Jamaica, Accompong festivities start late. Under a towering mango tree (known as the Kindah Tree ), a male pig (according to Maroon tradition) is roasted or boiled and eaten communally – bringing luck to all that partake. The highlight of the day (at around 10am) is when Maroon leaders, adorned by the vines used as camouflage by their ancestors, make their way up from the Peace Cave , where they have drummed, danced and chanted since dawn. Goombay drums beat complicated rhythms in anticipation, and a hornblower sends the haunting tones of an abeng horn (a cow horn once used as a means of communication) echoing across the hills, signalling the approach of the elders. The drumming reaches a climax and the assembled mass joins in with call-and-response Akan war songs. At around 2pm, the procession moves through the village, paying respects at the homes of former colonels and those too old to participate, finishing at the Bickle Village parade ground for speeches and whirling dancing, sprinkled with a traditional dash of white rum. Eventually, drums make way for towers of speakers, and the party continues all night, sometimes with live reggae. Note that there’s an entry fee (usually around US$10 for foreign visitors) to the village festival, and that timings vary – get there in the morning, and go with the flow.

Flora and fauna of the Cockpit Country

Soil forms only a thin cover over the Cockpit limestone, and as the rock soaks away most of the rainfall, the area’s plant life has had to adapt in order to survive. As a result, visitors see a proliferation of species that make the most of their rather limited means. Bromeliads collect dew and rainwater in the tanks between their leaves, while the thick, waxy leaves of other plants, such as the tiny orchids that colonize dead wood, take advantage of high humidity. There’s a huge range of bird life here, including 27 of Jamaica’s 28 endemic species; this is one of the few places you’ll see – and hear – profusions of shrieking green parrots. The feral pigs that root through the undergrowth are descended from those reared by the Maroons, and with hundreds of caves, bats are common – 21 varieties are found in the region. The limestone also provides a perfect cover for the Jamaican boa , or yellow snake . For more on the area’s unusual environment, visit w cockpitcountry.com .

Hiking and caving in the Cockpits

Despite popular disbelief, hiking trails do exist in Cockpit Country, with well-organized guided tours on offer to point out rare plants and birds. Windsor, Albert Town and Flagstaff are the most accessible starting points, where you should hire a local guide – essential not only to stop you getting lost but also in case of accident. The main sixteen-kilometre trail starts at Windsor and runs straight through the middle to Troy on the southern fringes of Cockpit Country, though it gets very overgrown towards the middle. The first few kilometres are relatively easy, but in the heat of the day it’s an arduous eight-to-ten hour trek; you’re in the midst of foliage most of the time with few open vistas, and you’ll certainly feel a sense of achievement at the end. Alternatively, the first couple of hours from Windsor give you a pretty good idea, and if you set out from Troy, the trail is mostly downhill and a lot easier – the best plan is to base yourself at Windsor, hire a guide and get yourselves to Troy early enough to make the hike back before nightfall.

Another great option is a trip to the gorgeous village of Bunker’s Hill , from where you can take a walk to Dromilly Cave, and then to a picnic spot by the Clear River, with a deep pool and lunch of anything from pepperpot or janga (freshwater crayfish) soup, to rundown, roast yam and sweet potato. Most walks are fairly easy-going, but for longer treks you’ll need a stout pair of shoes or boots, a waterproof, something warm for the evening, a torch and water bottle – and don’t forget mosquito repellent. Allow double your usual walking time for chopping foliage.

Cavers find Cockpit Country irresistible, despite a lack of infrastructure. Around 250 caves network the area, but only Windsor is easily accessible, with cathedral-sized Quashie River Sink a tougher scramble down steep slopes – not for the unfit. Caving in Jamaica is a good source of information, as is Alan Fincham’s essential book Jamaica Underground , which lists all the island’s caves.

Away from the shops and the beaches, there’s plenty to see around Montego Bay. East of town, the Greenwood Great House has a quiet charm and seductive natural beauty, and the wealth of Georgian architecture at sleepy Falmouth is certainly worth a few hours of your time. Falmouth is the parish capital of Trelawny ; the region is best known for both its magnificent yams (sixty percent of Jamaica’s yam crop is grown here) and as the home of world record sprinter Usain Bolt. Trelawny’s history is dominated by the plantation era; at the height of the plantocracy there were 88 sugar estates here worked by tens of thousands of slaves.

Trelawny’s parish capital, FALMOUTH – 37 kilometres east of MoBay and named for the English birthplace of Parish Governor Sir William Trelawny – became the main port of call for sugar ships in the late eighteenth century. Slaves were traded and goods unloaded, while planters built elegant Georgian town houses.

Falmouth fell into a state of disrepair in the nineteenth century, which continued for well over a hundred years, but its long-held sleepy aspect was finally lifted in 2011 with the opening of a new deep-water cruise ship dock on the town’s eastern seaboard. Divers were contracted to individually move over 150,000 valuable corals from a section of reef, thus making space for a shopping mall to service the happy hordes disembarking from the largest cruise ships in the world. With arrivals twice a week in winter and once a week in summer, the dock is in fact only open one to two days each week, and contains the usual selection of faceless in-bond jewellery shops, restaurants and bars. The development was nonetheless supported by most of the town, desperate for jobs and economic uplift. Some residents were happy, too, to see the renovation of much of its best Georgian architecture , formerly in a terrible state of disrepair – albeit now with quaint faux-original signage and uniform timber colours. This includes some of Falmouth’s most impressive constructions: Tharpe House , a block west of the port, the porticoed post office in the middle of Market Street, and the old courthouse , built overlooking the sea in 1895, are still in commercial or municipal use.

Outside cruise ship days and the immediate vicinity of the port, Falmouth remains an easy-going place, with a high concentration of two-hundred-year-old timbers leaning onto the tarmac, and once majestic properties serving as dilapidated shelters for chickens and stray dogs. A wander through the streets provides an unadorned – and due to its slavery connection sometimes chilling – glimpse into Jamaica’s past.

In the late eighteenth century, Falmouth boasted 150 houses and a cage where the market now stands (akin to the one still standing in Montego Bay’s Sam Sharpe Square), used for locking up drunken sailors found on the streets later than the 6pm curfew. Though slavery ended within fifty years of the town being declared parish capital in 1790, Falmouth’s natural harbour ensured Trelawny’s prosperity, and it thrived where others declined, even after emancipation. The advent of the steamship – the first docked at Jamaican shores in 1837 – spelt the first step in the town’s decline. The harbour wasn’t deep enough for larger vessels, and by 1890 Falmouth had become something of a ghost town – traders left for Montego Bay or Kingston, and their houses began slowly to rot. In 1896, however, the Albert George Market was built, and Falmouth’s status as market town still ensures a bustling centre each Wednesday, with fruit and veg, bootleg clothing and brightly coloured fripperies set out along the pavements, in traditional “bend down” style.

Coastal development becomes more sporadic between Rose Hall and the diminutive village of GREENWOOD . Bar an enormous Iberostar complex and the odd villa development, the coast road passes scrubby mangrove swamps and opens up to a magnificent sea view. At Greenwood’s eastern edge, some enterprising locals have landscaped a pretty little slip of white sand and clear water known as Citizens Beach . It’s a lovely, breezy spot for a drink or a snack, particularly on Sundays when local families come down, and it occasionally serves as a venue for sound-system jams, too.

Greenwood Great House

Perched on a hill overlooking the sea, the classy stonework of Greenwood Great House is deservedly declared a National Heritage site and remains one of the best historical sights on the island. Surrounded by luscious gardens, it has none of the flashy allure of Rose Hall, but is of far more interest, retaining most of its original contents as well as a wonderfully listless, frozen-in-time eighteenth-century ambience. Built in 1790 by relatives of the Barrett family of Wimpole Street fame, the house contains the owners’ original library and an eclectic collection of ancient musical instruments, a court jester’s chair and custom-made Wedgwood china. The Barretts’ seventy-foot veranda commands a panorama of the sea unbroken by land, and you really can see the curvature of the earth. The tour, which ends at a bar in the original kitchen, is more enjoyable than the breakneck run around Rose Hall. Though the Barretts owned 84,000 acres hereabouts, worked by some 2000 Africans, there’s little information on the less savoury realities of the plantation era other than a cursory reference to a man-trap used to catch runaways and a leg-iron displayed like an ornament.

Martha Brae Rafter’s Village

The Martha Brae River , Trelawny’s longest waterway, is notable chiefly for relaxing rafting trips. If you want to have a go, follow the battered signs from Falmouth to the put-in point at Rafter’s Village, which has a small (underused) swimming pool, bar, and decent gift shop. The leisurely trip begins with complimentary rum punch and takes you past banks overhung with silk cotton, mango, and towering banyan trees festooned with vines. There are a few craft stalls, floating bars and a constant mosquito offensive – bring repellent.

Romanticized plantation history comes into its own at ROSE HALL , site of the infamous Rose Hall Great House , the inspiration for Jamaica’s best-loved piece of folklore. Built between 1770 and 1780 by planter and parish custos (mayor) John Palmer, the dazzling white stone structure, surrounded by gardens and a swan-filled pond, is difficult to miss. The mechanical 45-minute tours (by candlelight after 6pm) make much of the embellished legend of Annie Palmer, the “White Witch of Rose Hall”; starting in the gift shop, you gasp at blurred photos sent in by previous visitors that supposedly show the face of an unknown woman in the mirror or a bat in a chandelier, and gawp at Annie’s bedroom, symbolically redecorated in shades of red, and the terrace from which she allegedly pushed a maid to her death. As the house was unoccupied and widely looted during the nineteenth century, almost all of its current contents have been transported from other great houses or from overseas. The silk wallpaper and magnificent mahogany staircase are attractive (if not from the right period), and the fake food laid out on the dining table adds a touch of kitsch.

The Coral Gardens Massacre

The grounds of Rose Hall Great House are lovely, though these too have a violent (and authentic) past. On Good Friday in 1963 the district was the site of the “ Coral Gardens Massacre ”, a bloody altercation between police and Rastafarians – then commonly viewed as vicious, anti-white, drug-crazed maniacs – whose right of way through the Rose Hall grounds to their vegetable plots was being threatened by property speculators developing the house into the tourist attraction it is today. After months of contention, a policeman sent to arrest the dissidents was attacked, and a petrol station was set on fire. During the ensuing bloodbath eight Rastas died, and an unofficial “war on Rastas” was declared islandwide, with hundreds thrown into jail and their locks forcibly sheared off. Obviously, nothing marks the spot, though local Rastafarians commemorate the killings at Sam Sharpe Square in MoBay each Easter.

The White Witch of Rose Hall

Jamaica’s most famous horror story centres on Annie Palmer , the “White Witch of Rose Hall”. A beautiful young woman, Annie Mary Patterson’s early years are cloaked in mystery. Born in either England or Ireland, she was the only child of small-time property owners John and Juliana Patterson, who brought her to live in Haiti, where she learned the Voodoo art. The date of her arrival in Jamaica is unknown, but it’s said that she came to Kingston as a fresh-faced seventeen-year-old in search of a husband. Being young and white, she was granted access to high society and her brooding good looks soon captured the attention of John Palmer, incumbent of Rose Hall and grand-nephew of its architect, also John Palmer. They married in March 1820, but the union was not a happy one; seven years on and bored with her insipid husband, Annie took a young slave lover. Palmer found out and whipped her severely; Annie took her revenge by poisoning his wine and smothering the dying man with a pillow. She went on to murder two more husbands and seduce and murder a succession of white book-keepers and black slaves. She was a cruel and sadistic mistress even to those slaves she wasn’t sleeping with, meting out excessive punishments for misdemeanours.

However, Annie’s cruelty proved to be her undoing, and she was murdered in her bed in 1831. No one knows for sure whose hands encircled her neck, but some accounts point to an old and powerful balmist whose pretty granddaughter had been in competition with Annie for the attentions of a young English book-keeper until the older woman set an “ol’ hige” vampire upon her rival, killing her within a week.

Gripping as it is, there’s barely a shred of truth in the story (though it’s retold in bodice-ripping style in Herbert de Lisser’s novel). Annie Palmer did exist (she’s buried in a concrete grave, where the tour of the property concludes), but by all accounts she had no discernible tendencies to sadism or lechery. She may have become confused over the years with Rosa Palmer, the original mistress of Rose Hall, who did have four husbands, but she was said to be unwaveringly virtuous. Nonetheless, most Jamaicans believe in something more sinister, and visiting mediums swear to strange visions and buried effigies in the grounds, while the house retains a vestige of creepiness.

MoBay , as it’s locally known, nestles between the gently sloping Bogue, Kempshot and Salem hills, and extends some eight kilometres west to the haunts of the suburban rich at Reading and to the plush villas and resorts of Ironshore and Rose Hall sixteen kilometres to the east. Planeloads of foreigners flood in every day, seduced by a heavily marketed Caribbean dream of swaying palm trees, lilting reggae and cocktails at sunset, and although the flow has slowed a little in recent years (with many heading straight for the more expansive charms of Negril), the city in many ways still delivers. It has achieved fame as the base for Jamaica’s summer reggae festival , Sumfest, while the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues festival and the college antics of Spring Break inject shots of adrenalin at other times of the year.

Montego Bay itself is made up of two distinct parts: touristy Gloucester Avenue , vigorously marketed as the “Hip Strip”, and the city proper, universally referred to as “ downtown ”. The split between the two is so sharp that the majority of tourists never venture further than the Strip on foot, dividing their time between the unbroken string of beaches, shops and restaurants, though the air of enforced tourist-friendliness can be a bit disquieting. Downtown offers a more accurate and vibrant picture of Montegonian life, and, though it’s short on specific sights, the malls and markets here provide MoBay’s best shopping possibilities. MoBay’s holiday mask slips along its western stretch, an ugly sprawl of factories and gas containers, whose main concession to the tourist trade is the Freeport cruise ship pier .

When Columbus anchored briefly in Montego Bay in 1494, he was charmed enough to name it El Golfo de Buen Tempo (The Bay of Good Weather). The Spanish were less romantic, dubbing it Manterias , a derivation of manteca (pig fat), after the lard they produced and shipped from here in large quantities. Eventually, the English corruption, “Montego”, stuck. By the time the Spaniards hastily fled the island, the city was little more than a village. Its subsequent development was heavily influenced by two factors. First was the presence of the Maroons in neighbouring Cockpit Country, an African-Jamaican band of militarily skilled former slaves whose frequent attacks on British settlements kept the town from prospering until the peace treaty of 1739. By this time, plantation sugar production was booming, the harbour was thronged with ships, and lavish cut-stone town houses and inns were spreading back from the waterfront. The 1831 Christmas Rebellion nonetheless nearly destroyed it. The most important of the violent slave revolts that prefaced emancipation began in the foothills behind the town, and saw almost every estate in the area burnt to the ground.

After the collapse of the sugar trade, Montego Bay spent a hundred-odd years in limbo, and it was not until the early twentieth century that it entered another period of growth, beginning when Sir Herbert Baker advocated the redemptive powers of the Doctor’s Cave waters, north of the city’s centre. MoBay metamorphosed into the ultimate tourist town ; rich North Americans and Europeans built holiday homes around Doctor’s Cave, or arrived on banana boats to stay in the town’s first hotel, the Casa Blanca . The town’s population increased fourfold between 1940 and 1970, with Jamaicans from all over the island moving in to work at the hotels. In the 1960s, the Freeport peninsula in the south was constructed on reclaimed land, assuring its position as a premier port of call for Caribbean cruises. The beaches were attractively overhauled in the 1980s and 1990s, and, determinedly tourist-friendly, MoBay feels on the upswing.

Most people stay adjacent to the beaches along buzzing Gloucester Avenue – aka the Hip Strip – but quieter options are available on Queen’s Drive , above and to the east of the Strip, which has fabulous sea views and is connected to Gloucester Avenue by shared taxi (or by direct lift from the El Greco and Montego Bay Club hotels; if you make like you’re a guest you may be able to use it). There are a few worthy budget places near the beaches, and places downtown are all considerably cheaper. Many hotels include free airport transfers and beach shuttle. It’s rarely difficult to find a vacancy, unless you hit town during Sumfest (August) or the Jazz Festival (January). Montego Bay’s swankiest resorts (as well as most of the all-inclusives) are out east at suburban Ironshore and Rose Hall, as well at Round Hill , 13km west.

Dealing with Hustlers

At one time, a defining characteristic of MoBay was constant interaction with hustlers , who earn a living selling crafts, hair braiding or services as a guide or driver. These days you’ll find approaches on the Strip increasingly rare, but unless you’re encased in an all-inclusive you will at some point be accosted by someone trying to sell you something. It’s tiring and irritating, but it’s also easy to lose perspective, bristle with tension and regard every encounter as adversarial. People need to make a living, and whether or not harassment becomes a problem depends largely on your attitude. Hustlers play on guilt and use psychological trickery. Lines like “Don’t you remember me from the hotel/car rental shop/airport/beach?” are designed to suck you into a dialogue. Of course you’ve never met them, but once you’ve stopped the sales pitch begins. If you ignore the outstretched hand or catcall, you may be upbraided for thinking yourself too good to talk to a regular Jamaican. The best approach is to acknowledge the seller, and say you’re not interested in a straightforward manner – and you don’t need to stop walking. Don’t try to avoid the issue by giggling or hinting that you may be interested another time; and if you’re white, don’t fall into the liberal trap of buying things you don’t want just to avoid looking racist. Keep your sense of humour, treat sellers as people and you’ll minimize problems.

Drinking, nightlife and entertainment

Montego Bay has many lively nightspots , but aside from the buzz around Margaritaville , you have to search them out. Doctor’s Cave Beach is great for a drink at sunset, and some of the restaurants listed double up as bars: Houseboat Grill is superb for cocktails and bar snacks (happy hour 5.30–7pm), with Friday night attracting the expat crowd; Memorabilia has a wonderful bar with a private section of beach; while the Beach House is a lively spot at weekends. At the other end of the scale, the Dead End at the end of Kent Avenue beyond the Strip is often busy with Jamaicans taking a drink and listening to music at sunset.

Live music is surprisingly thin on the ground, with all-inclusive resorts snapping up local performers. If you’re lucky you’ll catch a full-moon party at Doctor’s Cave or Cornwall Beach, a sound-system jam at Aquasol or other one-off events advertised on Irie FM or on posters. The large music events of the year are Jamaica Jazz and Blues in January (see Basics) and Reggae Sumfest in July/August.

Montego Bay’s resort status ensures a fair share of swanky international restaurants alongside the usual Jamaican places. Some restaurants offer free pick-ups for dinner guests, especially those furthest from the centre. If you’re in the mood for a serious splurge, head west of town to Round Hill in Hopewell (reservation required), a supremely romantic candlelit affair; at the other end of the scale, there are a string of stalls to the west of Hopewell churning out seafood for an enthusiastic local crowd.

Montego Bay Marine Park

Until 1991, MoBay’s offshore reefs remained open to attack from plunderers, spear fishers, divers, boat anchors and industrial pollution. In an attempt to stem the destruction, Montego Bay Marine Park was created, Jamaica’s first national park with environmental regulations enforced by rangers. Running west from Sangster Airport to Great River, just past Reading, the park comprises fourteen square kilometres of coral reef, sea-grass and mangrove, divided into watersports, fishing and fish nursery zones. Within the park, it’s illegal to mine sand, damage or move coral, shells and seaweed, fish without a permit, spear-fish – and drop litter, too. Other initiatives have included the introduction of buoys along the major reefs, so that pleasure-cruise snorkelling stops don’t result in damaged coral, the replacement of small mesh used for fish and lobster traps with larger mesh to allow young specimens a chance to reach maturity, and annual reef fish counts, to assess conservation success. Though funding, staff shortages and lack of policing resources make it difficult to run the permit system effectively, patrols and education projects aimed at educating fishermen (and their children) on alternative means of income do take place, alongside numerous restriction signs. Tours with park rangers are available (phone the number above), and donations in cash or kind (particularly depth gauges) are gratefully accepted. If you’d like to learn more, visit the Resource Centre on the top floor of the row of shops and offices adjacent to the Pier One restaurant and night club.

Sam Sharpe and the Christmas Rebellion

During the course of just over a week, slavery in Jamaica received the blow that would kill it forever. The Christmas , or Baptist , Rebellion began on December 27, 1831; by its end on January 5, 1832, twenty thousand slaves had razed nearly 160 sugar estates, causing damage to the value of £1 million – then a massive drain on the British exchequer. It was the largest slave uprising in Jamaican history, and it set in motion the process that led to the abolition of slavery in 1834 and full emancipation in 1838.

The rebellion was led by Sam Sharpe , a house slave working for a MoBay solicitor. Though Sharpe took on the surname of his master in accordance with tradition, his sideline as deacon of the town’s Burchell Baptist Church made him anything but servile. Baptists were slavery’s most outspoken critics, rightly seen as a threat by the British establishment. The church taught Sharpe to read, and through international newspapers he learnt of English anti-slavery sentiments and became convinced that emancipation in Jamaica was imminent, a reality that planters were trying to suppress. A powerful orator, Sharpe formed a secret society and planned a nonviolent withdrawal of labour over the Christmas period. Talk of the insurrection spread fast through St James estates, and even the planters became uneasy as December 1831 drew to a close. By the night of the 27th, passions were running high. Peaceful protest soon degenerated into anarchy; tipped off by estate owners, the militia were out in force, and more militant slaves responded by lighting bonfires at the highest point of the Kensington estate to signify the start of a full-scale rebellion . Others followed suit and within days western Jamaica was burning as the cane fields and great houses were destroyed one by one. The response of the British militia was brutal. Though damage was predominantly restricted to property and only fourteen whites died, soldiers gunned down one thousand slaves, and magistrates handed down a further three hundred execution orders during the emotional six-week trial that ensued. Sharpe himself was hanged in the MoBay square that today bears his name. He was buried in the harbour sand, though his remains were later exhumed and interred in the vault of Burchell Memorial Church.

Countless malls are given over to tax-free in-bond shopping for the cruise ship crowd, with identical jewellery, perfume and leather goods; City Centre Plaza on Fort Street is the least ostentatious, and The Shopping Village in Ironshore, easily the most, with numerous attractive Caribbean designer boutiques. The Montego Bay Shopping Centre – usually referred to as the LOJ (Life of Jamaica) Mall – on Howard Cooke Boulevard is better for general purchases, with clothes shops and a branch of Fontana Pharmacy, great for gimmicky souvenirs, while the nearby Baywest Centre between Harbour and Strand streets is similar. Browse the untouristy stores downtown on St James and Barnett streets for miscellaneous odds and ends like red, gold and green string vests and car-mirror tassels. Out of town, the Round Hill Resort Boutique in Hopewell sells excellent clothing, scents, coffees and oils, including Starfish bathing products.

Sumfest: Jamaica’s premier reggae festival

Every year, Jamaica’s best-loved art form overwhelms Montego Bay as Reggae Sumfest takes to the stage. The build-up is frenetic: flights are overbooked, beaches throng with fans and the line-up – which reads like a reggae hall of fame – is worried over on radio talk shows. By the time sound and light equipment arrives, the city’s hotel rooms are booked out and every scrap of cardboard is appropriated by entrepreneurs to be sold as “reggae beds” – an essential piece of equipment for tired legs.

Sumfest’s origins date back to 1978 when revellers enjoyed five nights of roots reggae at Jarrett Park. This “ Reggae Sunsplash ” captured international attention and a year later organizers announced a killer line-up with Bob Marley at the helm. The quintessential 1980s shows drew huge crowds in a heady combination of rum and ganja, and “good musical vibes” were the order of the day with none of the posturing that some of today’s artists indulge in. By the mid-1990s, legal wrangles left Sunsplash outshone by its new Montego Bay competitor Reggae Sumfest , which today remains Jamaica’s most popular festival. The party was marred slightly in 2005 when obscenities and homophobic lyrics led to a (temporary) ban on Beenie Man and other locally popular artists – in the eyes of some this was evidence of sanitization in the quest to appeal to foreigners – but its draw for tourism dollars, especially from Jamaicans overseas, is simply immense. It continues to attract some brilliant line-ups, with sets in recent years from Tessane Chin, Shaggy, Mr Vegas, Beres Hammond, Damian Marley, Tarrus Riley and the late John Holt, plus huge international stars like Ne-Yo, Alicia Keys and Nas. And with 60,000 tickets sold, it remains unmissable.

Sumfest usually takes place between mid-July and early August, kicking off with a beach party on the Sunday featuring top sound systems, fashion shows and food stalls. A “ Mad Monday ” street jam often follows, with Tuesday’s All White Party staged at Pier One a slightly smarter affair.

Sumfest proper takes place just along the road from Pier One at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Centre Thursday’s show is a showcase for raw dancehall – the mostly local crowd is packed to the rafters to see the current biggest names in the industry. Jamaican audiences know their music and are notoriously hard to please; people waste no time demonstrating their appreciation with firecrackers or setting a lighter to a stream of hairspray – or not, with some blistering heckling and, occasionally, bottle-throwing. By the time Konshens or Mavado take to the stage in the early hours, the atmosphere is truly electric. Shows usually good-natured despite on-stage rivalries, and aside from lyrics and posturing you’ll be treated to some truly rude dancing courtesy of “dancehall queens”. Friday and Saturday nights have a more international feel. The new generation of roots artists add a cultural flavour, and grizzled old dreads wave enormous sticks of ganja in the air. A fabulous PA bounces all your favourite tunes around the hills surrounding the town.

Specialist travel agents offer festival packages that include accommodation and entrance fees, and ticket outlets (including JTB offices) are found in all the resorts. Entry to the Sumfest beach party costs around US$20, the White Party US$25, while the Monday street party is free. Dancehall night is US$40 and the international nights US$70 each. A season ticket (around US$160) covers entry to all the main nights, and a VIP version (around US$230), gives access to the backstage and front of stage areas. Combined Fri & Sat passes cost around US$130. For information , check out reggaesumfest.com , call t 953 2933, or contact the JTB.

The Hip Strip: Gloucester Avenue and the beaches

Though it stretches for less than three kilometres, Montego Bay’s glittering Hip Strip is the focal point of many a Jamaican vacation. Dazzling beaches with protected offshore coral reef are located here, leading to development of the whole of Gloucester Avenue and stretching north into Kent Avenue . The Strip goes all out to cater to tourists’ every need, but its shiny commercialism does make it feel a bit unreal, as though visitors and Jamaican workers here are all playing out designated roles in a sort of open-air tropical theme park.

Though Gloucester Avenue runs parallel to the sea, the water is mainly obscured by buildings. The only place to fully appreciate the sweep of the bay is from the Strip’s only green space , around Walter Fletcher Beach, opposite the restaurants and bars at Miranda Ridge; it’s a favourite spot for football, and there are a few benches to take in the view.

Doctor’s Cave Beach

The magnificent Doctor’s Cave Beach is Montego Bay’s premium portion of gleaming white sand, located amid the parade of bars, cafés and tax-free in-bond shops at the northern end of Gloucester Avenue. The beach was put on the map in the late nineteenth century when Doctor Alexander McCatty founded the Sanatorium Caribbee, a private bathing club that’s still in existence. In the 1920s, English chiropractor Sir Herbert Baker was so impressed by the curative potential of the waters that he published an article extolling their efficacy. The beau monde flocked and MoBay’s tourist industry was born. The city’s very first resort hotel, the Casa Blanca (now closed) backs onto the western end of the beach. The rapidly deepening, crystal-clear waters really are the best in town and facilities are excellent, though it does get very crowded at weekends. Beach umbrellas, sun loungers or snorkelling equipment are available (at high cost), and there are beautiful corals offshore. The membership-only clubhouse (of interest to repeat visitors at an annual cost of US$250 per family) offers a games room, a gym and steam room, but the regular changing rooms are also well equipped. There are several snack counters, as well as a reasonable restaurant and bar.

The smooth coastal highway towards Negril hugs the shoreline and offers beautiful views of the turquoise, reef-studded water. By contrast, the roads heading inland are overhung with the dripping foliage of the jungle-smothered interior, and pass over swift streams towards the Cockpit foothills with the tarmac barely gripping the edges of steep valleys. If you have your own transport, you’ll be able to appreciate how spectacular the scenery is in places.

The principal road south from Montego Bay veers away from the coastal highway by the traffic lights at Reading , a couple of kilometres east of Hopewell. The well-signposted B8 road heads straight up the tortuous ascent of Long Hill into the verdant St James interior , parallel to the Great River valley with occasional glimpses of lush palms and ferns in the chasm below. Most visitors venture here to tube the Great River or sail through the treetops at Lethe, though the area also offers less contrived sights such as the eco-oriented Animal Farm or Rocklands Bird Sanctuary . The B8 rises to 2000ft before Anchovy and passes through the citrus groves of MONTPELIER (look out for rows of seasonal ugli fruit, a cross between a grapefruit and an orange), before the road forks; a right turn takes you over the interior mountains on an incredibly pretty route to Shettlewood and Sav-la-Mar (via the excellent Border Jerk stop), while a left fork passes through marvellous countryside to the unique German settlement of Seaford Town .

The rolling hinterland pastures of the St James interior was prime plantation territory under the British, and a few of the old estates have kept their land and opened it up to the public. Polished boiling pots and repointed stone mills illustrate the mechanics of the sugar industry, and lavishly restored great house interiors gloss over the planters’ lifestyles. Regrettably, Kensington , the key flashpoint of the 1831 Christmas Rebellion, is just a tiny hamlet with nothing to commemorate its role in one of the most significant phases in Jamaican history. The insurgency began here in St James and set the wheels in motion for the abolition of slavery.

Lethe Rafting

Towards the top of Long Hill, the inland road from Reading, there’s a well-signposted left-hand turn towards LETHE , a pretty village set amid cool and vividly green hills with a graceful stone bridge straddling the Great River, built by slaves in 1820. Aside from the scenery, the only real reason to come to Lethe is for rafting and ziplining; the one-hour rafting trip takes you past banks dripping with vines. Due to heavy rainfall, the water often takes on a muddy aspect, but it’s still safe for swimming. There are a few turbulent shallow spots where the bamboo rafts scrape the bottom, but the raftmen are highly experienced. The five ziplines are proudly proclaimed as the longest in the Caribbean, and offer an enjoyable tour through the treetops.

Rocklands Bird Sanctuary and Feeding Station

The fabulous Rocklands Bird Sanctuary and Feeding Station was the home of the late Lisa Salmon, a celebrated ornithologist. More than a hundred varieties of bird have been sighted here, including orange quits, vervain and the streamer-tailed doctor – Jamaica’s national bird – but it’s the iridescent colouring and thrumming wings of the hummingbirds that make the prettiest visitors. The hummingbirds here are confident enough to drink sugar water while perched on your outstretched finger; feeding peaks at around 4pm. A nature walk is included in the entry fee, but serious ornithologists should call ahead for specific hikes with knowledgeable Fritz, who can take you on trails beyond the property.

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Why Go To Jamaica

To many, Jamaica is the heart of the Caribbean. The birthplace of reggae music, the Rastafari movement and all-inclusive resorts (at least as we know them today, the concept originated with Club Med in Europe), Jamaica symbolizes many of the things most loved and, perhaps, most misunderstood about the region. A simple remedy to clear the confusion? Come to the land of sugar cane, coffee and limestone, and form your own opinion. Your new ideas are bound to be swathed in cream-colored beaches, bordered by rugged  Blue Mountains and anchored in foamy waterfalls. 

Most who travel here don't leave the comforts of their all-inclusive resort; those who do typically don't venture too far outside their immediate area. As the third-largest island of the Caribbean, Jamaica is hard to cover in one trip. Rather, it's best to choose your activities and vacation priorities, then make your hotel plans accordingly. Of the three main tourist pockets on the island, westernmost Negril is popular for its beaches and upscale accommodations; northwestern Montego Bay is well-liked by golfers; and Ocho Rios in the northeast appeals most to adventurous types who might be interested in climbing waterfalls like Dunn's River . Some visitors choose the eastern area of Port Antonio to try top-notch surfing at  Boston Beach , hiking amongst the Blue Mountains and rafting on the Rio Grande River. If you want to explore areas of the island not often seen by tourists, sign up for one of the best tours in Jamaica .

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• # 1 in Best Cheap Destination Wedding Locations
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• # 1 in Round Hill Hotel and Villas
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• # 1 in Dunn's River Falls and Park (Ocho Rios)
• # 2 in Seven Mile Beach (Negril)
• # 3 in Blue Hole (Ocho Rios)

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Jamaica Travel Tips

Best months to visit.

The best time to visit Jamaica is November to mid-December. That's when the island's already beautiful weather (ranging from mid-70s to the high 80s all year-round) is the most pleasant and the hotel and flight deals are the easiest to find. Rates are also cheap during the summer, but you'll risk the wrath of hurricane season (which runs from June through November). January to March is the peak travel season to the island – room rates can spike to more than $700 per night at some hotels .

Weather in Jamaica

Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center

What You Need to Know

It's the home of reggae From ska, rock steady and dancehall to anything by Bob Marley, you'll hear a lot of great music wafting through hotel lobbies and vibrating poolside.

It's the home of jerk seasoning  This spicy-smoky rub tastes good on many types of meat, fish and even tofu. Try it for yourself and then take a few jars home.

It's the home of James Bond  From his home on the north coast, author Ian Fleming wrote many novels and short stories about the British secret agent.

How to Save Money in Jamaica

Learn to haggle  Bargaining for a better price is expected and encouraged in many souvenir shops. When visiting the craft vendors or taking a cab ride, don't accept the first amount quoted to you.

Pay for it all upfront  Jamaica is the nerve center of the all-inclusive. Many of the resorts include more than just food and drinks in their packages (think: water sports equipment and gratuities for resort employees).

Skip spring break Throughout March and early April, prices at area resorts skyrocket thanks to an influx of spring break crowds.

Culture & Customs

Jamaican culture has often been lumped together with Caribbean culture – though it is true that the music, food and phrases from Jamaican culture have pervaded other nearby islands. But more so than other Caribbean islands, Jamaica's strong ties to its African history play a large role in its modern culture. 

Jamaicans speak English, but use a number of idioms that may not easily translate for tourists. In fact, many have been adopted from the Rastafarian religion and culture. For example, when a Jamaican says, "all fruits ripe" it indicates that all is well. 

Jamaica's currency is the Jamaican dollar; roughly one U.S. dollar is equal to about 151 Jamaican dollars. You can pay in U.S. dollars at most of the island's resorts, especially those that are all-inclusive. When dining out, servers in restaurants usually expect a tip equal to 10% to 15% of the bill; if the service charge is already included, travelers can add an additional 3% to 5% based on good service. Note that at most all-inclusive resorts, tipping is included in the cost. Don't worry about carrying cash with you at all times; most hotels and restaurants accept credit cards. 

What to Eat

Jamaica is known for unique cuisine that fuses flavors and ingredients from different cultures. Seafood is a staple, and no Jamaican vacation is complete without sampling some of the island's fresh produce or main courses enhanced with some zesty jerk seasoning. Where to dine largely depends on where you're staying, but many area restaurants serve traditional dishes like ackee (the island's national fruit) and saltfish,  callaloo  (a stew-like soup made with callaloo leafy greens) or fried plantains. To try some spicy jerk seasoning, look for the nearest roadside stand and order a jerk chicken skewer or jerk pork with rice and peas. 

Although many travelers choose to dine from the all-inclusive options at their hotels , Jamaica has hundreds of restaurants – some of which are worth venturing off the beaten path for. The beachside Blue Mahoe Restaurant in Negril, attached to Ocean Cliff Hotel Negril, earns high marks among travelers for its views (especially at sunset) and diverse menu. Scotchies is an affordable restaurant known for its delicious, local fare in Montego Bay. Meanwhile, Miss T's Kitchen in Ocho Rios serves up a colorful experience and a menu of healthy plates.

Keep in mind that some parts of Jamaica are safer than others. Exercise caution when moving around at night, avoid traveling in buses and stay in groups when at all possible. Petty theft has been reported in the past, so make sure to keep your valuables near you at all times. According to the U.S. State Department, violent crime can occur too, even at all-inclusive resorts. Areas of Kingston, Montego Bay and Spanish Town are particularly prone to violence. Visit the state department's website  for more details. 

Getting Around Jamaica

The best way to get around Jamaica is by taxi, whether you're coming from one of the airports – Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport (MBJ) is the most accessible to the tourist areas – or making your way around town. Renting a car is also an option, but driving on the left side of the road can be confusing, road signs are unhelpful, drivers can be aggressive and potholes are rampant. Many cruise lines, including  Carnival ,  Celebrity  and  Holland America , make stops in Jamaica. They usually head for Montego Bay on the northwestern side or Ocho Rios in the northeast.

Entry & Exit Requirements

Entry and Exit Requirements:

All United States citizens will need a passport for entry into and exit out of Jamaica. And keep in mind that customs officials may ask you to provide evidence of sufficient funds for your stay plus evidence of a return trip to the U.S. or an onward journey. A departure tax is generally included in the cost of your airfare; you won't be charged an additional fee upon leaving Jamaica. For more information on entry and exit requirements, visit the U.S. State Department's website .

This Port Antonio shore has some of the best jerk food on the island, plus waves that will satisfy most beginner surfers.

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Montego Bay: Jamaica’s Crown Jewel and Your Next Escape

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Imagine yourself on a sun-kissed beach, the reggae beats in the background, and the aroma of jerk chicken wafting through the air. Sounds like paradise, right? But wait, there’s a hiccup. With so many Caribbean destinations , why choose Montego Bay? Let’s dive deep into this tropical dilemma.

• Montego Bay attracts a whopping 1.5 million tourists annually.
• Its intriguing name has Spanish origins linked to lard production.
• The city offers a lively blend of culture, landscapes, and irresistible rhythms.

Why Montego Bay Reigns Supreme

Boasting crystal-clear waters, golden sand beaches, and a vibrant cultural scene, Montego Bay stands out as the Caribbean’s premier destination. According to TripAdvisor , this Jamaican hotspot draws around 1.5 million visitors each year. And it’s no wonder!

The History Behind The Name

Did you know? The name “Montego Bay” isn’t just a fancy title. It harks back to the Spanish term “Manteca” meaning lard. This region was once a hub for exporting lard, derived from the local wild boars during the Spanish reign.

Culture and Rhythms: The Heartbeat of Montego Bay

As an anonymous tourist once put it, “”Montego Bay is not just a city, it’s a world full of vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and a rhythm you can’t help but dance to.”” From reggae concerts to local craft markets, MoBay offers an authentic Jamaican experience.

Insider Tips from Kevin Erickson

Looking to spice up your Montego Bay visit? Why not venture to Sam Sharpe Square for a deep dive into the local history? Or, if water adventures beckon, consider a rafting tour on the Martha Brae River. And don’t miss out on the famous Doctor’s Cave Beach, known for its therapeutic waters!

Unraveling the Montego Bay Magic

Montego Bay, affectionately called MoBay by the locals, is a testament to the island’s rich history and vibrant spirit. Beyond its pristine beaches and radiant sunsets, the city offers a blend of past and present that beckons travelers to dive deeper into its story.

The Greenwood Great House, for instance, stands as a testament to the colonial era. This preserved plantation home houses antique furniture and rare musical instruments, taking visitors on a journey back in time. A stark contrast to this is the bustling Hip Strip – a lively stretch filled with cafes, bars, and boutiques. Every corner tells a tale, and every beat echoes Jamaica’s heart and soul.

For the culinary enthusiasts, Montego Bay is a haven. The flavors of jerk spices, coupled with the freshest seafood and tropical fruits, offer an explosion of tastes. Whether it’s a high-end restaurant or a roadside shack, the promise of a delightful meal remains consistent.

As the sun sets, MoBay transitions into a hub of nightlife. The pulsating beats of reggae and dancehall fill the air, and the streets come alive with energy and excitement. It’s this seamless blend of relaxation and revelry that makes Montego Bay a must-visit. In essence , this Jamaican jewel is not just a destination; it’s an experience, waiting to be savored.

Conclusion: Montego Bay Awaits

So, whether it’s the sizzling food, the pulsating rhythms, or the abundant natural beauty, Montego Bay promises an unforgettable getaway. Pack those bags , and let Jamaica’s jewel dazzle you!

What’s the best time to visit Montego Bay?

Mid-November to early December offers great weather and fewer crowds.

Is Montego Bay family-friendly?

Absolutely! From beach activities to cultural sites, there’s something for everyone.

Can I find vegetarian food options in Montego Bay?

Yes, many restaurants offer delicious vegetarian and vegan Jamaican dishes.

What’s the main airport in Montego Bay?

The Sangster International Airport .

Are there direct flights from the US to Montego Bay?

Yes, many major US cities offer direct flights to Montego Bay.

• tripadvisor.com – Montego Bay Tourism Statistics
• historyofjamaica.com – Montego Bay’s Spanish Roots
• caribbeanadventures.com – Things to do in Montego Bay

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One response to “Montego Bay: Jamaica’s Crown Jewel and Your Next Escape”

Kevin, your post evoked memories of my first solo backpacking trip in Europe which was nerve-wracking but adventurous! Ever considered a subtopic on overcoming travel anxiety? It could potentially resonate with first-time travelers. Also, did you find language barriers adding to the authenticity of the experience as I have? Just a thought! Keep sparking that wanderlust spirit, Kevin! 🌍🎒

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• Help centre
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• Montego Bay airport guide

Jamaica airport guide

Get your trip off to a flying start with Virgin Atlantic at Montego Bay Sangster Airport. From check in details to airport facilities for departures and onward travel information for arrivals, don't stress - we've got it covered.

On this page:

Which terminal?

There is only one terminal at Montego Bay Airport. Our check in desks are open from four hours before departure.

Do I need a visa?

Check out our Visa information pages for every country that we fly to.

Visa information

When does my flight depart/arrive?

Unsure of your timings? It's best to be safe than sorry. Check your departure and arrival time with our handy Flight status tool.

Flight status

Online check in

The best way to check in is online where you can pick your seat and print your boarding card. If you’re travelling with carry on baggage only, you can print off your own boarding pass and we’ll see you at the gate.

Check in online now

What time should I arrive at the airport?

Leave those last-minute airport dashes to the big screen! We recommend that you arrive at least two hours before your flight is due to leave.

Counter check in and bag drop

Our check in and bag drop desks are in the departure terminal at Desks 1-10. They open four hours before departure and close one hour before departure .

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Ultimate 5 Day Itinerary for Montego Bay Jamaica

by Nylah Akua Adjei | Jan 16, 2022 | Caribbean , Jamaica

Affiliate Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links meaning if you click on them and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps me to continue making content and I couldnt thank you enough for your support!

Jamaica is a beautiful island rich with culture so I hope you’re ready to explore it using my ultimate 5 day Itinerary. This is perfect for those of you who enjoy both luxury resort vibes + local cultural vibes. 

How to Get Around

The 4 times my family or I have been to Jamaica, we always hire a driver. This is honestly the best thing to do since 1) in Jamaica you drive on the left side of the road so renting a car isn’t the best idea and 2) excursions can be hours away. We have a great driver Stanhope who I recommend booking with for your stay! 

Stanhope – 1-876-486-2172 | Book via What’s App  

Where to Stay

This guide is specific to staying in Montego Bay so here are some of the places I’ve stayed in:

• Airbnb 1   -Pineapple Palms
• Airbnb 2  – St.James Parish
• All Inclusive Resort – Hyatt Ziva/Zilara Rose Hall 

For this trip, my family and I spent half our time in an airbnb and the other half at our favorite all inclusive resort – Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall. This is my preferred way of traveling as I get to explore the island and also enjoy resort life. We typically do airbnb for the first half then resort the second half. Let’s get into the day to day itinerary!

Day 1 – Travel Day

Arrive and Get Settled

On travel day you typically want to rest, so that’s what we did. Once we arrived, Stanhope picked us up and took us to our airbnb. On the way we stopped to try the highly recommended KFC. Now I know what you’re thinking…”did you really travel to Jamaica to eat KFC?” YES I DID. Lol, ok I had the same thoughts but apparently it’s really good and better than the chains in the USA. We got 1 bucket of fried chicken and biscuits…I’ll give it a 7/10. Wasn’t the best I’ve ever had, but it was pretty good. I do recommend trying it out just to say you did it 😉 

KFC’s in Montego Bay

• Allice Eldemire Drive, Montego Bay, Jamaica
• Whitter Village Ironshore, Montego Bay, Jamaica

Since you’re staying in an airbnb, you may want to stock up on some basic food items like breakfast and snacks. Here are some grocery stores you can count on. 

Grocery Stores in Montego Bay

• Progressive Foods Supermarket 
• Hi-Lo Food Stores

Restaurants in Montego Bay  

In case KFC isn’t up your alley…here are some fave restaurants to try out in the area.

• Tastee’s – The Best Patties
• Scotchies – Jerk Chicken / Pork galore  
• Pier One on the Waterfront – really beautiful restaurant on the pier

After eating our late lunch/early dinner we played games, hung out at the pool and rested up for the next big day – Dunn’s River Falls. 

Day 2 – Dunn’s River Falls 

Our first full day was an excursion to Ocho Rios to climb Dunn’s River Falls. This was such a fun day and actually my second time being there. I was last at the falls in 2000 when I was just 4 years old! (Check out our then and now 20 yr difference pic below) On the way to the falls we stopped at Tastee’s to grab some patties for lunch – a must have when visiting Jamaica. 

Noon – 3pm Dunn’s River Falls Location: Main St, Ocho Rios, Jamaica Hours: 8:30am – 4pm Price:  $3846 JMD Adults , $2615 JMD Kids | $25 USD Adults, $17 USD Kids 

Here are some notes & tips for visiting Dunn’s River Falls:

• The falls are about 2 hours away from Montego Bay, so plan to leave early
• The beginning of the falls actually begins down at the beach
• Be sure to either bring water shoes or be prepared to purchase some on site ($10 USD)
• Make sure you put on sunscreen and are hydrated before starting the climb
• Guides are available to take you through the best path and I highly recommend doing this 
• It can be scary when climbing up – but it is safe and you will be okay 🙂 Just listen to your guides and have no fear!

4 – 6 pm Local Beach for Sunset Location: Flavours beach St Ann | Google Address Price: Free99

On our way back to the Montego Bay area, we stopped at a local beach front to watch the sunset. My mom and I walked along the shore and it was so beautiful. I don’t typically see local beach fronts that aren’t marketed for tourists so it was a nice change of scenery – very serene.

6pm – 7pm Dinner at Scotchies  Location:  G4CP+GWR, Montego Bay, Jamaica Hours: 11am – 7pm  Price: $

Before heading back to the airbnb we stopped at our fav Jerk chicken restaurant – Scotchies. This is definitely the place you’ve got to try at least 3 times before leaving lol. I recommend ordering jerk chicken, rice & peas, festival and breadfruit.

Day 3 – Negril Village 

Our third day was the most packed and most fun. We started off with a yummy traditional breakfast trying red pea soup & peanut porridge at Stanhope’s family restaurant – Portions. Then headed off to Negril Village to hang at the beach, do bamboo rafting, and cliff jumping. 

9am – 10am Traditional Breakfast  Location:  Portions | Airbnb Experience Link Hours: 11am – 7pm  Price: $

10:30am – noon Bamboo Rafting with Juicie’s Adventures Location: Lethe District, Hanover, Jamaica  IG Page: @Juicies_Adventures Price $60 USD pp

Bamboo rafting is a go to activity to partake in when you go to Jamaica. It was a really cool experience to sail down the river in a bamboo raft! This 1 hour excursion includes: trip down the river, limestone massage, coconut water, and sugar can – yum. This specific raft activity is from a more local business rather than the popular touristy one. I prefer this one as it was more authentic. 

12:30pm – 4pm MargaritaVille Location: Norman Manley Blvd, Negril, Jamaica  Price: $FREE99 entry | $-$$ Food & Drinks (touristy prices)

Margaritaville is typically not my preferred choice of activity because of how touristy it is…BUT yall… it was a 10/10 experience. They had constant entertainment – music, fun games and free drinks (for the winners)! Great thing is that the chairs are free and the umbrellas are only $10 for rent. My favorite part was the Mango Spa – a little spa on the beach where you can get a massage for $1 per minute!! A beautiful price if you ask me. This was the best beach day.

This is a family friendly place to go and you should def add it to your list for a bit of fun. Enjoy this photo of my beautiful family and I.

4pm – 7pm Rick’s Cafe Negril Location: W End Rd, Negril, Jamaica Price: $$ Food & Drinks (touristy prices)

Ricks Cafe in Negril is a super popular restaurant that is on top of a cliff overlooking a blue lagoon. The sunset views are immaculate and the music matches the vibe. Whenever you visit here, be sure to go right before sunset so you can fully enjoy the scenery. I will say, the food is super expensive and tbh not great so don’t waste money here. Rather, head back to Scotchies like we did before going to your airbnb.

Day 4 – Resort Day 

Our last full day was going to be spent at my favorite All Inclusive resort – Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall. You will not regret splurging here – unlimited drinks, food, beach front, pool vibes and more. 

All Day: Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall Location: Rose Hall Road, A1, MontegoBay, Jamaica Price: $250+ a night | 20K points via Hyatt or via Chase travel reward points (these prices can fluctuate throughout the year)

Here are some tips for staying in an All-Inclusive Resort

• 💸𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀: You may think it’s backwards to tip at an all inclusive resort BUT I can tell you from experience it will enhance your stay. Tipping throughout your time —> staff giving you above & beyond service. ⁣
• 🔝𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘂𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀: Closed mouths don’t get fed! When you check in, ask if there are any available upgrades. Maybe you want an ocean facing room? Just ask! Worst they can say is no.⁣ 
• ⁣🗣𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗵𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲: I follow this rule wherever I travel but it’s especially nice when at a resort when often the guests only speak English. ⁣
• If your flight leaves later than your checkout time, the lobby can hold your bags however long you need and you can still enjoy the resort. 
• Did you know Hyatt resorts usually offer free photography sessions? All you have to do is pay for the photos! My family and I did this for our Christmas photos (see below 😉 )
• Some restaurants require reservations ahead of time for dinner – so when you check in go ahead and ask for the schedules and make your reservations.  

List of Restaurants at Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall

• ChoiceZ Buffet Restaurant: This offers a plethora of cuisine options everyday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 
• FuZion Asian Grill: Here you can have Hibachi show for dinner or order A la Carte from the menu. This was one of my favorite places because I loveee Asian cuisine. It’s only open for dinner.
• Barefoot JerkZ AKA JerkHut: This is an outdoor walk up restaurant where you can get some good jerk chicken/pork, rice & peas and festival. Its right next to the pool too!
• Blue Grill at CalypZo: This outdoor restaurant offers seafood, sandwiches, pizza, and more. They are open for Lunch and Dinner. 
• Di RoZa Italian Restaurant: They serve traditional Italian cuisine so all the pasta and pizza you can eat. Only open for dinner.

My favorite drinks to order

• Pina Colada + Rum Floater 
• Miami Vice 
• Lemon Drop Martini
• Strawberry Daiquiri

Day 5 – Last Day

On our last day, we spent the morning (8am – 3pm) at the resort since our flight was later in the evening. Tip: Book a later flight on your last day because you can still enjoy all of the perks of the hotel before you leave. Here is how I recommend you spend your last morning:

7am – 8am Have a gourmet breakfast at ChoiceZ  8am – 9am Do a yoga or aquatic class (scheduled by the hotel) 9am – 11am Enjoy the pool or beach and make sure to grab a drink too 😉  11am – noon Get dressed, pack your bags & drop them off at the lobby  Noon – 2pm Have lunch at your choice of restaurant! Afterwards head to the airport to fly home

I hope this itinerary will help you have an EPIC trip to Montego Bay! 

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15 comments.

amazing itinerary, will use for next Jamaica trip! 🤍

Can’t wait to visit. 🤩

I really appreciate this well put together blog with great info. Also On Day 3: Negril Village in your family photo, your mom had a lil slip up just wanted to let you know.

This is one of the best and informative breakdowns for vaca I’ve ever read!!!! Thank you, I feel more confident to plan my itinerary.

Yay! I’m so glad it was helpful. I hope your trip planning was successful 🙂

Your parents have not aged a day , beautiful vacation.I will visit after reading this

Thank you so much! I hope you have a great trip 🙂

A well organized vacation. thanks for sharing. Heading to Jamaica the end of this month. Thanks for listing your drivers name and number. I know trips are cheaper than booking through the hotel. Mona

Of course! I hope this helps with your trip, enjoy!!

forget to mention. Beautiful family!!

You’re so sweet thank you!

This is what I needed! Very detailed & great tips. Also, you have a beautiful family. One week until my first trip there! Thank you for this!

Yay! I hope you had a wonderful trip and thank you 🙂

You and your family nailed this and we’ll be following your recommendations! Beautiful family!

Thank you so much! I hope you all have an amazing trip 🙂

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I’m a travel influencer + content creator based in Los Angeles, CA. I love  sharing my life experiences through creative content! I am especially passionate about discovering all that the world has to offer. Whether it is a vlog, photo or fun story, I enjoy connecting with others and I want to encourage YOU to live your life to the fullest. 

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The 9 Best Adults-Only All-Inclusive Resorts in Jamaica

K nown for its white sand beaches, variety of water sports (including world-class scuba diving), jerk chicken and reggae music, Jamaica is a destination filled with incredible all-inclusive resorts. If you're looking for an adults-only all-inclusive resort for a child-free vacation, there are plenty to choose from on this tropical Caribbean island. Whether you want to dine on farm-to-table cuisine, take a walk on a private beach, grab a cocktail at a swim-up bar or stare out at the turquoise sea from your ocean-view suite, these all-inclusive resorts are the perfect escape.

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Excellence Oyster Bay

Located on Montego Bay, this private Victorian-style adults-only resort is set amid crystal-clear waters and lush mangroves. The all-inclusive resort has multiple international dining options including a Jamaican jerk stand for lunch, French, Italian and seafood restaurants; along with 11 bars, 24-hour room service and unlimited premium and domestic alcoholic beverages. Excellence Oyster Bay resort guests also have access to water sports equipment (like snorkeling gear), land activities (like dance lessons and beach volleyball) and multiple pools, including a beachfront retreat and a rooftop pool with a bar.

Choose to stay in a luxury suite, a beach villa with a private pool or in an Excellence Club suite with butler service, special amenities and access to two Excellence Club lounges. If you want an active vacation, there are plenty of options, ranging from yoga classes and stand-up paddleboarding to karaoke and cooking lessons. In the evenings, recent guests say the nightly entertainment is a highlight of the resort. Make sure to leave time for a relaxing and indulgent spa treatment at the Miilé Spa, with a hydrotherapy circuit that includes several types of showers, a plunge pool and an ice treatment room.

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Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall

Relax on a pristine Caribbean beach at the adults-only Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall. Recent resort guests appreciated the attentive service, along with all-inclusive amenities such as unlimited top-shelf drinks, oceanfront dining, nonmotorized water activities, lively entertainment and beach butler service. This Hyatt offers both guest rooms and suites with private terraces, and those looking for a little something extra can reserve a swim-up suite or butler suite.

Additional amenities and activities available for an extra fee include treatments at the Zen Spa, golf outings and day excursions, such as swimming with dolphins, zip lining or historical tours. The resort features 10 international dining options, serving Moroccan, Italian, Jamaican and Asian cuisine, as well as a buffet with a wide variety of foods to offer.

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Read: The Best All-Inclusive Resorts for Weddings

Sandals South Coast

If you're looking for a romantic destination with overwater bungalows without a long haul flight, Sandals South Coast is your destination. From an over-the-water butler honeymoon bungalow, you can relax in a soaking tub, be pampered with butler service, sip a cocktail from your in-room bar or watch the sea life below you through glass floor panels. Visitors can dine at any of the nine restaurants, participate in a plethora of land or water sports, see a show or be pampered by a personal butler. This adults-only all-inclusive resort provides guests with the opportunity to be as active or relaxed as you want.

Honeymooners and couples can walk hand-in-hand along the 2-mile beach to watch the sun set over the breathtaking Caribbean Sea, grab a cocktail at the over-the-water bar, swim in Jamaica's largest zero entry pool, work up a sweat in the fitness center or enjoy the tranquility of the Red Lane Spa.

For those looking to get married, there's an over-the-water wedding chapel available. Or, if it's time to pop the question, recent visitors highly recommend booking a private candlelit beach dinner.

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Iberostar Grand Rose Hall

This Montego Bay hotel has direct access to the beach, five restaurants and four bars – including a swim-up bar for cocktails from the pool – water sports and a dive center. This resort embraces a focus on sustainability with responsible fishing practices, a commitment to coastal health and a drive to promote a circular economy, including banning single-use plastics. The suites at Iberostar Grand Rose Hall range from 689 square feet to 1,981 square feet, with amenities such as a minibar that is serviced daily, aromatherapy, a pillow menu and a private terrace.

During the day, you can swim in the pools, explore the beach, grab a bite at the Beach Grill, go kayaking or, for an additional charge, play a round of golf or get a spa treatment. With five restaurants, buffet-style dining and a 24-hour gourmet food station, there are plenty of eateries to suit guests' culinary desires. After the sun goes down, listen to live music, see a show or find your groove at the Fiction Nightclub.

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Sandals Royal Caribbean

At Sandals Royal Caribbean, guests will be spoiled with luxurious over-the-water villas and a private Balinese-inspired island for a unique escape. The main resort reflects British heritage, including gardens, afternoon tea and a pub. This all-inclusive resort features unlimited dining and drinks, PADI-certified scuba equipment, live entertainment, airport transfers and all taxes and tips are included, so you never have to reach for your wallet. Just relax and have fun. Several visitors commented that they were warmly welcomed by the staff upon check-in and throughout their stay.

There are five bars, nine restaurants, eight pools, six whirlpools and a variety of activities, such as snorkeling, croquet and paddleboarding. You definitely won't be bored. Guests also have exchange privileges with nearby Sandals Montego Bay that allows them to dine at an additional 12 restaurants. For an extra fee, guests can have butler service, enjoy day excursions or get pampered at the Red Lane Spa.

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Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay

The signature Unlimited-Luxury experience at Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay features unlimited dining and drinks, free Wi-Fi, and a variety of entertainment and activities.

Each of the 350 guest suites includes a soaking tub, a furnished balcony or terrace, 24-hour room service and concierge services. Upgrade to a Preferred Club room for extra amenities and services, including daily breakfast service, access to a private lounge, and a suite with an upgraded minibar and bath amenities.

In terms of activities, the resort offers a range of options to appeal to all types of travelers. Guests can play tennis, take scuba lessons in the pool, go sailing, see a gorgeous waterfall, try the hydrotherapy water circuit at Spa by Pevonia or venture out to visit a nearby sugarcane planation.

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Sandals Montego Bay

From the beachfront swim-up butler suites and Latitudes Overwater Bar to the over-the-water chapel (wedding packages available) and the largest exclusive white sand beach in Jamaica, Sandals Montego Bay is truly a tropical escape for those who love the sand and sea. As if that's not enough, you get two resorts for the price of one with exchange privileges to all that nearby sister resort Sandals Royal Caribbean has to offer, including a private island. Guests looking for even more options can pay extra to go bamboo river rafting or zip lining, visit the luminous lagoon or take a catamaran cruise.

Guests raved about the quality of the food at the resort's 12 restaurants, which serve Caribbean, Indian, Italian and French cuisine. There's a wide selection of rooms and suites to choose from, with ocean, garden or pool views. Some are furnished with a colonial British design, while others offer a more modern beach vibe. What's more, you can upgrade your accommodations to include swim-up pool access, an outdoor soaking tub and butler service.

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Breathless Montego Bay Resort & Spa

Dance to the rhythm of reggae, grab a cocktail (or take a swim) at the rooftop pool bar and relish the mountain and bay views at Breathless Montego Bay Resort & Spa. Here you can relax with a personal butler at your service, attend a lively pool party or just soak up some sun. Whether you're traveling with a group of friends or a special someone, this resort has all you need for a relaxing or festive adults-only vacation.

Activities abound at this adults-only all-inclusive resort: Wake up early to hit the gym, take a yoga class or enjoy a meditative walk along the beach. If nightlife is your thing, stay up late to take a dance lesson, see a fashion show or go to a glow foam pool party. For the ultimate indulgence, visit the full-service Secrets Spa by Pevonia for treatments such as the mango passion body wrap or the choco-sumptuous body scrub. Get the VIP treatment with an xhale club suite that comes with special perks, such as upgraded minibar and bath amenities, a bottle of wine, petit fours at turn down and a pillow menu. Many recent travelers who have stayed at the property highly recommend upgrading to a swim-up suite.

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Couples Negril

Visit the charming coastal town of Negril, home to the stunning Seven Mile Beach , for a stay at Couples Negril. This romantic escape is set on 18 tranquil oceanfront acres. The resort offers a spa (where you can take treatments in a treehouse or an open-air beachfront therapy room), six on-site eateries, beach parties, bonfires and a waterfront area for couples to enjoy clothing-optional sunbathing. Couples looking for something special can even book a private candlelit sunset meal on the beach.

Although there are plenty of on-site activities to keep you busy, there are also exceptional excursions the resort can arrange for you, such as deep sea fishing, horseback riding on the beach, bobsledding, taking the party bus to Margaritaville or visiting Dunn's River Falls in Ocho Rios. For an added experience, recent visitors suggest spending the extra money on the catamaran excursion. Splurge on a beachfront suite with spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea, nightly hors d'oeuvres, a minibar with personalized snacks and a private balcony.

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Why Trust U.S. News

Sharael Kolberg is a U.S. News & World Report contributor with a wealth of knowledge when it comes to adults-only all-inclusive resorts. She always appreciates the ease of having accommodations, meals and activities included in the price of a resort stay. Now that she's an empty nester, Kolberg prefers tranquil adults-only resorts. She used her travel experience and research skills to curate this list.

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• The Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Jamaica

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