Jamaica travel guide
Meet JamaicaJamaica weather reportGetting into JamaicaFrom the Jamaican kitchenFrom the Jamaican bar Currency in JamaicaMajor airports in JamaicaDid you know?
Meet Jamaica
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Home of white sandy beaches, gorgeous reefs, the Blue Mountains and reggae, Jamaica is a beautiful and diverse country. And although it nestles among the Caribbean islands, Jamaica’s unique, varied culture gives it enough of an identity to stand out from the crowd.
Formerly a Spanish country, the British seized control of Jamaica in the 17th century, turning it into a British colony. It remains a commonwealth country today. The sugar trade, with its labour-intensive demands, resulted in large numbers of slaves being brought in from Africa, China and India.
Modern Jamaican culture is a rich, vibrant mix of many influences. Africa plays a major role in the culture, and ethnic pride is what primarily distinguishes Jamaica from its neighbouring islands.
Despite the high crime rates, exploring the urban sprawls of Kingston and Montego Bay promise a rich Jamaican experience, where you can visit the Bob Marley museum, head straight to the heart of the exciting reggae scene and party the night away in upscale nightclubs and cool bars. Or if sunbathing is more your style, Jamaica is not short of super-luxury resorts, where every need is catered for and every wish can be fulfilled.
For a heady mix of urban and luxury, Jamaica is a one-stop-shop. It also has plenty of authentic fishing villages, mountain hikes, dangerous swamps and an unbeatable music scene to throw into the mix.
Jamaica weather report
Jamaica’s glorious tropical maritime climate means that there are alluringly high temperatures year-round. In the region of 26-30˚C daily, dropping to around 18˚C in the Blue Mountains, cool weather will never be a problem. Rainy season runs from late May until early December, and mainly affects Jamaica’s east coast, which receives the majority of the country’s annual rainfall. It is also advisable to avoid the June - November hurricane season when planning your trip.
Peak tourist times are Christmas and Easter, but Jamaica is a great holiday destination any time of year; even the rainy season provides plenty of baking sunshine.
For the latest weather info use the Pampo weather forecast tool.
Getting into Jamaica
Citizens of the EU, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada, the US, Mexico and Israel need only a valid passport to enter Jamaica. Most other visitors can purchase a visa upon arrival. It is advisable to check specific visa requirements before travelling.
From the Jamaican kitchen
Jamaican food is often colourful, full of flavour and spicy. Most famously, Jamaican cuisine is known for its jerk spice – a method of cooking in which the meat is rubbed with dry, spicy marinade before being baked or smoked. The jerk spice usually includes allspice (or pimento) and Scotch bonnet peppers. Because of its simplicity, and the ability to vary the ingredients of the marinade, this dish is often reinterpreted and customised around the world.
Other common Jamaican dishes include ackee (a popular tree-grown fruit) and saltfish, dumplings, seafood, goat curry and tropical fruit.
From the Jamaican bar
An abundance of fresh fruit shakes and juices characterise Jamaica’s most common beverages, including several unusual varieties such as peanut and tamarind.
Beer is also popular and widely available, particularly the Jamaican Red Stripe Beer. The country is also famous for Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, which is mild and not bitter. The coffee beans are used as the base for the coffee liquer Tia Maria.
Currency in Jamaica
Jamaica’s currency is the Jamaican dollar ($), referred to as the ‘jay’ that comes in notes of the denominations of 50, 100, 500 and 1000. For the latest info on your rates, please use the Pampo exchange rates calculator.
Major airports in Jamaica
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Donald Sangster International Airport (MBJ) is the main airport in Jamaica, serving Montego Bay and the north coast of the country. It is also the most important hub in the Caribbean
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Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) serves Kingston and the south coast of Jamaica.
Did you know?
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James Bond author, Ian Fleming, lived in Jamaica and often incorporated it as a setting in his novels. His house was called Goldeneye
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There are 73 species of orchid that are unique to Jamaica
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The Rastafarian movement was begun in Jamaica
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Famous Jamaicans include Bob Marley, Grace Jones, Shaggy, Sean Paul and Bunny Wailer
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The Jamaican flag is one of only two flags in the world that don’t share any colours with the US flag. The other is Libya
