Blog - Lets go to Jamaica

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Lets go to Jamaica

Glass bottom boat

Image Credit: Greg Walters

Beautiful, brash Jamaica is about a lot more than beaches and swaying palm trees. A sensual land of bright colours, soulful rhythms and unfailing creativity, the island retains an attitude – a personality, even – that’s more resonant and distinctive than that of any other Caribbean nation. There’s certainly plenty of white sand and crystal-clear sea to enjoy and, away from the coast, spectacular mountains and rivers, tumbling waterfalls and cactus-strewn savannah plains. This verdant natural environment forms the backdrop to a dynamic cultural history in the island’s towns and cities, illustrated most vividly by the explosive reggae scene, not to mention the powerful expression of its artwork and the startlingly original flavours of its national cuisine.

Bob Marley

Image Credit: dubdem sound system

Jamaicans are justifiably proud of a rich musical heritage imitated the world over, as well as their incredible sporting successes on the running track and cricket pitch. This prominent and vibrant culture has left scarcely a corner of the world untouched – quite some feat and out of all proportion to the island’s relatively tiny size. In some respects it’s a country with a swagger in its step, confident of its triumphs in the face of adversity but also with a weight upon its shoulders. An unsparingly tough history has had to be reckoned with and the country hasn’t avoided familiar problems of development like dramatic wealth inequality and social tensions that occasionally spill over into localised violence and worldwide headlines. The mixture is potent, producing a people as renowned for being sharp, sassy and straight-talking as they are laid-back and hip. They don’t mince their words here; Jamaicans get on with life and their directness can make them seem cantankerous, even uncompromising or rude. Particularly around resort towns and the major attractions this can be taken to extremes at times, though the harassment of tourists that once bedevilled the island is much less noticeable these days.

BBQ Jerk Chicken

Image Credit: Terence Chang

The Jamaican authorities have spent millions making sure the island treats its tourists right, and as a foreign visitor, your chances of encountering any real trouble are minuscule. As the birthplace of the all-inclusive hotel, Jamaica has become well suited to tourists who want to head straight from plane to beach without leaving their hotel compound. However, to get any sense of the country at all, you’ll need to do some exploring. It’s undoubtedly worth it, as this is a place packed with first-class attractions and natural attributes, oozing with character. Jamaica’s food and drink are one of the island’s main draws. From a plate of grilled lobster served up by the sea to conch soup or jerk chicken from a roadside stall, not to mention a variety of rums and fine Blue Mountain coffee, it’s a foodie’s delight. Add to that a rich club music scene, sound-system parties and stage shows and you can dance or chill into the early hours.

Where to go

Jamaica’s tourist business revolves mostly around the “big three” resorts of Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios. Montego Bay is a busy, commercial city, with hotels, bars and restaurants strung along its beach-lined tourist strip and manicured golf courses and high-end all-inclusives hogging the coast to the east. West of here lies Negril, with its low-rise hotels slung along eleven kilometres of fantastic white sand and three kilometres of dramatic cliffs. It’s a younger, more laid-back place, with a long-standing reputation for hedonism and buzzing nightlife. East of MoBay and the least individualistic of the big three, Ocho Rios embodies high-impact tourism. Purpose-built in the 1960s to provide the ultimate package of sun, sand and sea, its beaches aren’t wonderful but the tourist infrastructure is undeniably strong. There are a number of excellent attractions nearby, including the famous Dunn’s River waterfall.

Away from these resorts, you’ll have to look a bit harder for your entertainment. Jamaica’s quieter east and south coasts offer a more casual, less packaged product. In the island’s east, you’ll find lush, rain-fed, sleepy Port Antonio and a number of villages to its east, providing gateways to some of the county’s greatest natural attractions, like the cascading waterfalls at Reach and Somerset and outdoor activities such as swimming at the Blue Lagoon and rafting on the majestic Rio Grande. The south coast offers different pleasures, such as gentle beach action at the terminally easy-going Treasure Beach – the perfect base for exploring local delights like the YS waterfalls or boat safaris in search of crocodiles on the Black River. Set in the upper reaches of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the south’s inland towns, such as Mandeville and Christiana, offer respite from the heat of the coast and an interesting insight into Jamaica away from the resorts.

The true heart of Jamaica is, of course, Kingston. A thrilling place, pulsating with energy and spirit, it’s not just the nation’s political capital but the focus of its art, theatre and music scenes, with top-class hotels, restaurants and shopping; and legendary fried fish on offer at the fabulous Hellshire beach. This is the best place to experience Jamaica’s electric nightlife. Its venues and street dances are nearly always packed with patrons, the music super-loud and its dancers vying with each other for the best moves and dress. A stunning backdrop to the city, the cool Blue Mountains are a captivating antidote, with plenty of excellent hiking, while the nearby fishing village of Port Royal, once a great pirate city, provides some historic diversion.

Title Image Credit: Jamaica Grunge Flag (Image Cropped)

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