Jamaica

Getting Around By Air

Air Jamaica Express (website: www.airjamaica.com) runs scheduled flights between prime resort areas, with regular flights from Kingston to Montego Bay, between Kingston and Ocho Rios, and between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. International Air Link(website: www.intlairlink.com) also operates a shuttle flight between Montego Bay and Negril.

Getting Around by Water

Water taxis, sailing yachts and cruises are offered by numerous tour operators. Boats and yachts can also be chartered on a daily or weekly basis, with or without a captain. Contact the Jamaica Tourist Board for details (see Contact Addresses).

Getting Around by Rail

The nation’s state-owned Jamaica Railway Corporation ceased operation in 1992. Just a few lines continue to function, purely for cargo.

Getting Around by Road

A poor road safety record means roads can be dangerous after dark.

Bus: Although reliable services connect Kingston and Montego Bay the rest of the island’s bus schedule is patchy. The Jamaica Union of Travellers Association (JUTA) (tel: 952 0813) is the largest operator of scheduled and unscheduled bus/minibus and vehicle charter services aimed at tourists. Pick up a Discover Jamaica road map from hotels and tourist offices.

Taxi: Rates are per car - not per passenger, with taxis hailed on the street or booked by phone. Technically, most are supposed to have meters, but it’s worth agreeing a price for the trip ahead of departure. Fares should be displayed inside the taxi - but add 25% if it’s after midnight. Taxis with red plates marked PPV (Public Passenger Vehicle) charge fixed rates with a 10 to 12% tip usually added. Most hotels and resorts have assigned Jamaican Tourist Board(JTB) drivers who carry photo ID and display a prominent blue JTB sticker on the front windscreen.

Car hire: Car hire firms can be found in major towns, hotels and airports and most offer unlimited mileage. A general consumption tax of 15% is applied to all car hire transactions. Drivers must be aged 25 or over. Vehicles drive on the left.

Regulations: Speed limits are 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas and 80kph (50mph) outside the main towns. Seat belts must be worn at all times and children under three years must sit in a child seat.

Documentation: Drivers can use a full UK driving licence for up to 12 months.

Getting Around Towns and Cities

Most transport in the capital is by private minibus.

Journey Times

The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Montego Bay to other major cities/towns in Jamaica.

Main Airports

Norman Manley International (KIN)(Kingston) is 18km (11 miles) southeast of the city. To/from the airport:Coach, bus and taxis depart to the city (journey time - 30 to 60 minutes). Facilities:Banks (with ATM), bureaux de change, shops, bars, restaurants, duty-free and car hire.

Montego Bay (MBJ)(International) is 3km (2 miles) north of the city. To/from the airport:Air Jamaica Express runs shuttle services between the airports. Facilities: Duty-free facilities.

Getting There by Water

Main ports: Montego Bay and Ocho Rios are ports of call for several cruise lines.

Other passenger/freight lines (Geest) sail from North, South and Central American ports.

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Consistently warm tropical weather ensures Jamaica is a popular destination year-round. On the coast, temperatures range from 22°C (72°F) and 31°C (88°F) with chilly mornings and evenings denoting winter. Peak season runs roughly from mid December to mid April when crowds swell and prices rise. The wettest months are May and October, but showers may occur at any time. Between June and November, Jamaica is prone to hurricanes. It also lies within the earthquake zone.

Required Clothing

Pack lightweight cottons and casual linens. Light woollens are advised for evenings when mosquitoes can make long sleeves more appealing than skimpy beachwear. Sunhats and waterproofs are handy all year round.

Hotels

Jamaica has almost 150 hotels and guest houses, each is subject to government inspection and classification and a 15% general consumption tax. Discounted room rates are offered to holidaying students during the annual ’Spring Break’ period in March/April. Contact the Jamaica Tourist Board for details (see Contact Addresses).

Grading: Hotels are government-controlled in four categories: A, B, C and D.

Self Catering

There are over 800 cottages for rent on the island, ranging from small beachfront condos to large villas with a private pool. Many tour operators arrange accommodation packages that include car hire, tours and transfers from the airport. Information is available from the Jamaica Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses).

Camping/Caravanning

There’s no need to ‘rough it’ when camping in Jamaica as the island has sites that range from rustic to deluxe. Some have extensive on-site facilities, including the hiring of tents and additional equipment. Choose from former coffee plantations, botanical gardens, mountains and forested national parks. Information is available from the Jamaica Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses).

Homestay Accommodation

Bed and breakfast in a local island home can provide a fascinating insight into Jamaican family life. Learn patois from native speakers and dine on robust home-cooked Jamaican fare. Play dominoes, strum reggae classics and swap tales on the porch. Information is available from the Jamaica Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses).

Accommodation Information

Jamaican Association of Villas & Apartments Ltd (JAVA)

PO Box 298, Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Tel: 974 2508 or 2763.

Website: www.villasinjamaica.com

Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association

2 Ardenne Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica

Tel: 926 3635.

Website: www.jhta.org

Passport Note

Jamaica does not recognise passports issued by the Palestinian government.

Passports

Passport valid for at least six months required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except:

(a) 1. nationals of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic and Slovenia who can obtain their visas on arrival.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Visa Note

(a) All nationals referred to in the chart above must have evidence of sufficient funds and a return or onward-bound ticket for their next destination. (b) Work visas are issued solely on the basis of evidence of a confirmed job offer. The consulate (or consular section at embassy or high commission) can advise.

Types of Visa and Cost

Visa issued at port of entry: US$20 or equivalent. Visa in advance: £25.

Applications to:

Consulate (or consular section at embassy or high commission); see Contact Addresses.

Working Days Required

Minimum 24 hours, but up to three weeks in cases where applications are referred to Immigration Authorities in Kingston.

Health Care

Medical care standards vary dramatically across the country’s 16 public and six private hospitals. Away from major cities, medical centres are often poorly funded and under-resourced. Health insurance is strongly recommended, since medical treatment can be expensive. Major hotels often keep a doctor and dentist on 24-hour call. Cash payment is often required, sometimes in advance.

Note

* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age coming from infected areas.

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Food and Drink

Although some Jamaican food is hot and fiery, a surprising number of dishes use subtle spicing and are free of chilli peppers. Local dishes include meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables and range from spicy and pickled to plain and deep fried. Restaurants are generally good quality, especially around Montego Bay.

Things to know: Bars can open and close when they choose. They are no licensing hours, alcohol can be bought all day and most have table and/or counter service.

National specialities:

• Salt fish (dried cod) and ackee (the cooked fruit of the ackee tree).

• ‘Rice and peas’ actually consists of kidney beans mixed with white rice, coconut milk, scallions (spring onions) and coconut oil.

• Pepperpot soup contains chunks of salt pork and salt beef with okra and Indian kale (known as callaloo).

• ‘Rundown’ is a delicious reduced creamy coconut milk stew with chicken, meat, fish or vegetables.

• Jerk chicken is marinated overnight in rich spices (cayenne pepper, garlic, chilli, limejuice and all spice) for a full flavour before being wood-smoked in strips.

National drinks:

• Jamaican rum is delicious and potent, especially Appletonat 40%.

• Coffee from Jamaica’s Blue Mountains is among the finest on the planet.

• Ting is a zesty carbonated soft drink made from Jamaican grapefruit.

• Red Stripe beer is sweet, nutty and smooth.

• Rum cocktails blend lime juice and sugar with dark rum.

Legal drinking age: 18.

Tipping: Hotels and restaurants tend to add 10% as standard; otherwise 10 to 15% is expected. Tipping is banned in many all-inclusive resorts.

Nightlife

After-dark Jamaican entertainment ranges from the sophisticated to hedonistic. As the home of Bob Marley, live reggae music can be found throughout the island. There are also regular street dances and steel bands in most towns and villages. Torch-lit limbo dancers and fire-eaters often form a part of frequent folkloric parades. Calypso, jazz, rock, soca, reggaeand many other styles of music can be found in a host of neon-lit nightclubs. The Jamaica Tourist Board’s ‘Meet the People’ evenings offer a chance to interact with the locals throughout the island. Contact the tourist office in Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios or Port Antonio.

Shopping

Local produce, handicrafts and duty-free bargains are just some of the reasons to hit the shops. Jamaica is renowned for its fine hand-loomed fabrics, embroidery, silk screening, woodcarvings, oil paintings, sandal-making and woven raffia. There is also a popular Quaker-run workshop specialising in wicker furniture, floor mats and other tropical furnishings at Highgate Villagein the mountains. At the In-Craft centre, it is also possible to buy custom-made rugs and reproductions of pewter and china from the 17th-century ruins of the ancient submerged city of Port Royal.

Jamaican specialities include rum and rum-related products, such as Ian Sangsters Rum Cream. The island’s most famous produce market is Coronation Market, Kingston. Other markets: Linstead Market, St Catherine; Brownstown Market,St Anne; the Savanna-la-mar Market, Westmoreland; and the Albert George Market, Falmouth. Also locally made and sold are Pepper Jellies, jams, Blue Mountain coffee, hot sauces and spices. 

So-called ‘in-bond’ shopping allows tourists to purchase international goods free of tax or duty. Goods are sealed (hence the ‘bond’) until away from Jamaican waters and must be paid for in Jamaican Dollars.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1600; Sat 0800-1300. Some shops close half day Wednesday in Kingston, and Thursday on the rest of the island.

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• Stroll around the ancient streets of  Spanish Town, Jamaica’s former capital, on a historical walking tour. It was once a magnificent and impressive metropolis and some fine stately red-brick homes and grand monuments remain, including a resplendent plaza.

• Follow one of many hiking and climbing trails up the Blue Mountains to heights above 2,100m (7,000ft). Shrouded by mists that give the peaks their bluish tinge, the Blue Mountains are home to more than 200 bird species and 800 species of plants.

• Explore the hundreds of paths connecting villages and settlements around the mountains, including several non-tourist utilitarian paths around Newcastle on the Kingston to Buff Bay Road where trails lead to Catherine’s Peak and Mount Horeb. 

• Take a rejuvenating dip in the curative waters of the aged Milk River Spa, a naturally radioactive mineral bath. Discovered in 1794, these spring-fed therapeutic waters reach temperatures of 33°C (86°F).

• Ride a bicycle downhill through an elfin forest of stunted soapwood and redwood trees, home to hundreds of species of bird and blossoming plants. Speed through the world-famous Blue Mountain coffee plantations or meander at a leisurely pace along hedgerow-flanked lanes.

• Chill out Jamaican-styleon Montego Bay’s laid-back Doctor’s Cave Beach. Beautiful white sands and sparkling spring-fed waters earned its name from Dr Alexander James McCatty, a medical man who used to enter the beach through a cave, since destroyed in 1932 by a hurricane. 

• Dive in underwater gardens, with many sunken wrecks as well as a rainbow of sponges, corals and varicoloured fish. Spot nurse sharks, furry sea cucumber, eagle rays, upside-down jellyfish, tobacco fish and snapper in shallow spurs and grove reefs amidst an assortment of caverns.  

• Check out a huge labyrinth of limestone caves on Jamaica’s north coast, a stunning natural phenomena. Characterised by stalactites, stalagmites, overhead crags, tunnels light holes, and in its depths a subterranean lake, the Green Grotto was once used as shelter by the Arawak Indians (Tainos).

• Hop aboard a bamboo raft to explore the Rio Grande for a thrilling trip through banana and sugar cane plantations. Set sail from the peaks of the Blue Mountains at Berrydale before winding down to Margaret’s Bay along one of Jamaica’s largest rivers. 

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

• Don’t miss a chance to visit the Port Royal in Kingston, a fine museum on top of the peninsula bordering Kingston Harbour . Honouring Jamaica’s ancient capital city, submerged under the sea after an earthquake in 1692.

• Be sure to have a camera at the ready when dolphin-spotting in Dolphin Cove in Ocho Rios.Surrounded by tropical rainforest, the cove is home to numerous bottle nose dolphins.

• For stunning ocean views head to Montego Bay (or Mo’ Bay, as it is called by the locals), where from Gloucester and Kent Avenues the clear Caribbean waters are particularly dazzling. Look out over the protected bay out to bobbing yachts and sea birds.

• For truly vibrant blooms check out the exhibits at Shaw Park Botanical Gardens, a 10-hectare (25-acre) collection of exotic Caribbean flora in Ocho Rios. Situated high on a hilltop overlooking the Caribbean Sea, the gardens has a waterfall as a centrepiece.

• Pop into the 24-hour open-air museum and see relics of Jamaican history at Columbus Park, a commemorative park to mark the 1494 landing of Christopher Columbus in Discovery Bay.

• Head out to Lover’s Leap, a sheer 518m (1,700ft) cliff overhanging the sea east of Treasure Beach. It was here that two slave lovers leaped to their deaths rather than to be separated. Those with vertigo should stand well away from the edge - the view is terrifying.

• Be sure to take to the streets to witness Jamaica’s riotous fun-filled carnival.Parading musicians, skimpily dressed dancers and floats typify this world famous street party. Expect outlandish behaviour to the sound of soca, steel bands and beating drums.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

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