Jamaica Travel Guide | visitingthecaribbean.com

AirportMontego Bay (MBJ), Kingston (KIN)
CurrencyJamaican dollar (JMD); US$ widely accepted
LanguageEnglish, Patois
Best timeMid-December to April

Jamaica is the Caribbean at full volume: Blue Mountain coffee farms, jerk pits along the roadside, river rafting on bamboo, and the sound systems that gave the world reggae and dancehall. It's the third-largest island in the Caribbean, so pick a base rather than trying to see it all from one hotel.

Most visitors land at Sangster International in Montego Bay and split their time between the resort strip of MoBay, the cliffs and beaches of Negril, and the waterfalls around Ocho Rios. Kingston, the capital, rewards anyone interested in music, food and art.

Top things to do

Climb the terraced cascades of Dunn's River Falls near Ocho Rios
Watch the sunset from the cliffs at Rick's Café in Negril
Hike or drive into the Blue Mountains for coffee estates and cool air
Raft the Martha Brae or Rio Grande on a bamboo raft
Visit the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston

Tours & excursions on Jamaica

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Landmarks on Jamaica

Waterfall

Dunn's River Falls

Climb 180 metres of terraced limestone cascades hand-in-hand with a guide.

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Beach

Seven Mile Beach, Negril

Jamaica's longest beach: calm water, reggae bars and sunset every evening.

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Mountains

Blue Mountains

Misty peaks, coffee estates and a pre-dawn hike to Jamaica's highest point.

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Historic house

Rose Hall Great House

A restored 1770s Georgian plantation house near Montego Bay, with a ghost legend.

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Map

Where to stay

Negril

Seven Mile Beach and the West End cliffs; relaxed and sunset-facing

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Montego Bay

closest to the airport, big resorts and Hip Strip nightlife

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Ocho Rios

waterfalls, rivers and cruise-port excursions

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Treasure Beach

quiet south coast fishing villages and guesthouses

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Getting there & around

Nonstop flights reach Montego Bay from North America, the UK and parts of Europe. Driving is on the left; roads can be slow and winding, so many visitors use transfers or a hire car with plenty of time built in.

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