Jamaica Travel Guide

With its slow pace of life, long sandy beaches, and great music scene, Jamaica is exactly what the doctor ordered. This Caribbean island has plenty to offer travelers of all kinds. Whether it be the baking sunshine, crystal waters, or the spectacular views, you re sure to find something to tempt you here. Although it would be very easy to spend most of your time on beaches, try to experience the local music scene and Rastafarian culture. Avoid going during spring break when college students swarm the island and prices skyrocket.

Typical Costs

Accommodation A night in a shared hostel dorm will start at 1,750 JMD, while a single or double room will cost between 2,335–5,850 JMD. Budget hotels start from 3,500 JMD.

Food Lunch and casual meals cost around 585 JMD, while dinner will be about 1,400 JMD.

Transportation Buses are extremely inexpensive, under 120 JMD per trip. Taxis, on the other hand, are expensive expect 2,340 JMD for a 10-mile trip.

Activities Expect to pay 4,675–9,355 JMD for 1-2 hours of snorkeling and 2,340 JMD for the Bob Marley museum.

Money Saving Tips

Shop around If you’re going snorkeling, shop around for the best price as equipment and tours can vary widely even along one beach front.

Route taxis Taxis can be shared between many people, all following the same route. This works out to be much cheaper than private taxis.

Avoid spring break If you visit during the American spring break season in March, you ll pay 25% or more for everything, not to mention have to see their shenanigans.

Top Things to See and Do in Jamaica

Go rafting Head to the Port Antonio area and take a trip down the Rio Grande River on a bamboo raft. Rafting is one of the best ways to see the numerous caves, waterfalls, and crystal springs that are tucked away throughout the island.

Bob Marley Museum Without a doubt, Bob Marley is one of Jamaica’s biggest exports. Make the pilgrimage to his museum to learn more about the iconic Rastafarian’s greatest influences, and then, after all that, head to the Bob Marley Cafe where tenderloin kebabs and jerk wings are some of the delicious treats on the menu.

Snorkeling Put on that sunscreen, and spend a couple of blissful hours uncovering the deep blue on a snorkeling trip. Go to the Northern coast where you can see a wide array of sea life, coral reefs, sponges, and caves.

Rum tours Rum is another one of Jamaica s best enjoyed exports. See where the foundations of rum were created and take a tour of the Appleton Sugar Plantation and the Appleton Rum Factory

Go caving For the budding explorers among us, embark on an intrepid exploration of one of the 1,000+ caves which dot the island. To start, head to the Green Grotto Caves on the north coast.

Tour the plantations   Go to the Sun Valley Plantation in Ocho Rios, a site which has been in operation since the colonial slave days. You will have the opportunity to take a tour down the Crescent River and experience real plantation life.

Explore Montego Bay Montego Bay is the center of tourism in this country. Take a trip here to load up on your shopping and souvenirs.  Visit the City Centre Plaza or the main Crafts Market for some good buys.

Walk around Kingston Witness history at your fingertips with a trip to Kingston, a city full of important landmarks such as Devon House, King’s House and the prime ministers’ house. Go to the shopping malls in Kingston to find some of the best coffee in the world and find deals on European and American clothes and luxury items.

Dunn’s River Falls Located in Ocho Rios, these falls are 600 feet up and are absolutely stunning. For those who are adventurous enough, you can actually climb up them—but for everyone else, you should at least take a look.

Cockpit Country Just southeast of Montego Bay lies an area known for birds. Over 70 different species have been found here. It is very scenic, with interesting pockets and sinkholes of dissolved limestone, as well as many rivers.

Eat at Rick s Cafe This is a popular place for locals and visitors alike. There are huge cliffs to jump off and many people even leap from the trees. It’s about 35 feet to the water, so if the height is too much for you, you can at least enjoy the sun and people-watching.

Port Royal This used to be the pirate capital of the Caribbean. Now, visitors are free to check out Fort Charles, the St. Peter’s Church, and the naval cemetery. Additionally, there are potential plans for a tourist redevelopment, which will include a theme park, pier, arcade, museum, and more.

Lose yourself in the clouds Holywell National Park lies in the Blue Mountain region of Jamaica. Walk along the mountain s edge and find yourself in a sea of clouds, with birds and monkeys screeching around you. A short drive from Kingston, this tropical park can easily be visited in an afternoon.