Montego Bay, Jamaica's second largest city,
offers tourists plenty of options from exciting nightlife to
world-class golf. The beautiful white sand beaches and majestic
mountain ranges are matched only by the unique charm and easy-going
nature of the people. Music flows freely though the bustling
open-air markets, where visitors can discover handmade souvenirs and
sample jerk cuisine.
Negril, famous for 7 miles of white sand beach,
is located at the western tip of the island of Jamaica. Negril is
actually a state of mind, giving new meaning to casual and
fun-in-the-sun. It is famous for a carefree ambiance and beautiful
sunsets. Visitors will enjoy a wide range of water sport activities
such as snorkeling and scuba diving.
Ocho Rios, located on Jamaica's north coast, boasts white sand
beaches, fantastic waterfalls and lush gardens. Tall green mountains
also make this a perfect vacation hideaway. The town offers visitors a
chance satisfy their passion for shopping at craft markets and local
shops. Ocho Rio's most popular attraction, Dunn's River Falls, offers
visitors a chance to refresh in a 600 foot high waterfall.
The Jamaican dollar is used. The local exchange rate fluctuates
daily. When US dollars are given for payment, Jamaican dollars are
usually given back.
Language
The official language is English. Patois, a mix of English and
African is also spoken.
Proof
of Citizenship
Acceptable forms of proof of citizenship for U.S. citizens
traveling between the U.S. and our International Destinations are a
valid passport, OR a certified , state issued birth certificate with
raised seal along AND a valid government photo ID, (i.e. a driver's
license) a naturalization/citizenship certificate. It is the
traveler's responsibility to provide proper documentation. Married
women traveling with any documentation in their maiden name must
supply a marriage license (a copy is acceptable).
How
do I get around?
Taxis are abundant, but they are not metered. Be prepared to
bargain! Bicycle and moped rentals are also available.
Make
your day with a unique, exhilarating and enchanting
beach ride! Come with us! We will travel in air
conditioned comfort from the cruise ship pier or hotel,
bypassing the quaint and historic town of St. Ann’s
Bay, on to Chukka Cove.
Then
the real fun begins! Leaving Chukka Cove on horseback,
we will ride through Richmond and Llandovery, two of the
oldest sugar estates on the island. The latter is now a
dairy farm; but you can still see the chimney stack and
ruins of the old sugar mill on the way to the beach.
Look out for the breadfruit tree! It’s one of the
original breadfruit trees brought to Jamaica by the
infamous Captain Bligh of the sailing ship
"Bounty". We’ll ride along the seashore to
Chukka Cove’s private beach where we’ll enjoy light
refreshments and prepare for a truly unique experience ~
Riding bareback in the sea! This is indeed the adventure
of a lifetime! After this exciting ride, relax while the
guides re-saddle the horses for the return trip to the
stable. We’ll return to the ship/hotel refreshed,
exhilarated, with unique memories of Jamaica!
Experienced
guides accompany all rides. Riders' cameras, towels and
other personal belongings are taken by van to the beach.
Duration
of the Ride: 3 Hours plus Transportation.
What to Bring: Sunblock, Cameras, Beachwear and
Towels, Sunglasses
Take
a 30 minute drive through the unspoiled hilly interior of
Ocho Rios to the 17th Century landmark "Spanish
Bridge" where your expedition starts. Our tubing
guides will take you on a breathtaking journey down the White
River. We will give you a short safety briefing before
you set off with the guides on your three mile voyage. You
will pass through coconut plantations, bamboo groves along
the river bank, and locals in their riverside homes. Stop at
the "Rasta man" for a taste of "Jamaican
Jerk" and swing on the rope into the river,
while you enjoy the sanctuary of Jamaica's natural beauty.
This
is fun for the whole family, and is the best kept secret in
Jamaica.
What
to bring: Towel, Swim Wear & Aqua Shoes
Duration
of Tour: 3 ½ hours Age Limit: 6 years & upwards
Experienced Drivers/guides on all tours
Complimentary Refreshments
Discover
the real Jamaica. Take an invigorating and scenic mountain
bike ride from the hills to the valleys: high in the
mountains of St. Ann down through woodland and meadow. From
the quaint village of Mount Zion to a thirst quenching stop
at the Spicey Grove Tavern…and, finally, to the
picturesque Chukka Cove, carved by nature out of a
rock to form a serene and beautiful pool, ideal for swimming
and snorkeling.
After
the swim, relax with a cold Red Stripe beer and return to
the ship/hotel refreshed, exhilarated, with unique memories
of Jamaica!
Experienced
guides accompany all rides. Bikers' cameras, towels and
other personal belongings follow the ride by van.
Duration
of the Tour: 3 Hours plus Transportation.
A
unique opportunity to visit the birthplace of the "King
of Reggae".
This
tour takes you from your ship/hotel through some of the most
breathtaking scenery in Jamaica, traveling via Higgin Town
and Claremont to the village of Nine Mile, a quaint
little place in the beautiful mountains of St. Ann. It is
here on the 6th of February 1945 the legendary "King
of Reggae" was born and it is the very same place
he was later laid to rest.
A
tour of Nine Mile is a family affair as many of Bob's close
family live there, including his mother, affectionately
known as Mother B and Uncle Lloyd, who tell tales of Bob's
childhood.
The
tour takes you through the house Bob lived in as a young boy
and your Rastafarian guide will share with you little known
insights into Bob Marley's childhood and musical career.
Stand on "Mount Zion Rock" where Bob used
to meditate and rest your head on "the pillow"
made famous in the song "Talking Blues".
Finally, walk through the mausoleum, which is his final
resting place.
The
return trip is a continuation of your excursion through
rural Jamaica, as you wind your way through picturesque
Muirhouse to Brown's Town market, famous for its produce and
back to the North Coast.
A
must for all Bob Marley and Reggae music fans. "ONE
LOVE!"
Duration
of Tour:
4 ½ hours
Experienced Drivers/guides on all tours
Complimentary Refreshments
Travel
along the coast-line then into the hills and down the valley
in our "Zebra Stripped Jeeps"
and experience the real Jamaica.
Drive
through the famous "Fern Gully",
taking a peek at the 200 different ferns, and view the lush
vegetation of mountainous country. We will take you up to
the highest viewpoint "Murphy Hill",
2000 feet above sea level, where you will see a panoramic
view of Ocho Rios with a glimpse of the Blue
Mountains and even Cuba
on a clear day. You will then pass coffee plantations, old
churches, local markets and a statue of Christopher
Columbus. During this tour you will
visit one of Jamaica's largest estates seeing a working Cattle
Station and a small Coffee
Plantation. Learn our history and taste our
fruits.
Next,
we will visit the exotic and colorful Cranbrook
Flower Forest where you can hike to the
headwaters of the river and take a dip or tour the gardens
and see the many varieties of flowers, plants and birds.
Finally, drive through the famous Chukka Cove
Polo Club on your way back to the Ship.
Yeah
Mon!! You have just seen the best Jamaica has to offer.
What
to Bring: Sun Glasses, Towel, Swim Wear, Aqua Shoes &
Camera
Duration
of Tour:
5 hours Age Limit: 6 years & upwards Capacity: 8 per jeep
Experienced Drivers/guides on all tours
Complimentary Refreshments
Dunn’s River Falls & Park
Expert guides lead you up 600 feet of gently terraced cascades for
climbing.
River Rafting/Martha Brae
Take a leisurely bamboo raft ride down the Martha Brae River
located along the beautiful North Coast, near the historic town of
Falmouth. Your expert raftsman will detail the colorful folklore
of the region and you can stop to explore the lush tropical river
banks.
Black River Safari
Experience the non-touristy, untouched South Coast on this
exciting tour. Refresh yourself in the falls, then take a boat
ride on the Black River and say "hi" to a friendly
crocodile.
Events
January
Accompong Maroon Festival
February
Bob Marley Birthday Bash
UWI Carnival
Polo Tournament
March
Spring Break Events
Montego Bay Yacht Club Easter Regatta
April
Spring Break Events
Carnival
May
Negril Carnival
June
Ocho Rios Jazz Festival
August
Independence Day
Reggae Sumfest
Reggae SunSplash
Portland Jamboree
October
James Bond Festival
Jamaica Open Golf Tournament
Octoberfest
Caribbean Heritage Festival
Coyaba River Garden and Museum
Daily guided tours of the botanical garden and museum are
offered.
Fern Gully
This 4-mile stretch of road built on an old riverbed runs
through a verdant valley with more than 600 varieties of ferns.
Prospect Plantation
One of the most satisfying plantation tours on the island.
Seville Great House and Heritage Park
The site of Jamaica’s first settlement by the Spanish. Take a
tour and see centuries-old artifacts, an ancient Spanish church,
ruins and other fascinating relics.
Shaw Park Gardens
This botanical refuge has hundreds of species of tropical birds
and flowers. A beautiful waterfall is excellent for photo
opportunities.
Runaway Bay
Circle B Farm
Take a tour and see ruins of the island’s first sugar mill.
Columbus Park
The location where Columbus first set foot in Jamaica with an
open-air museum.
Green Grotto Caves
Take a boat ride and marvel at rock formations and caves that
drop more than 100 feet!
Craft markets, roadside stands and street vendors are sprinkled
throughout the island, a shopper’s paradise. Vendors sell
everything in the way of local art, crafts, pottery and hand-made
jewelry. Be prepared to bargain and get great deals on souvenirs!
Shopping centers and malls can be found near the larger resort
areas. These stores offer an interesting and infinite array of
merchandise including clothing, cologne, jewelry, crystal, coffee
and liquor. Visitors from the US are allowed to take items valued up
to $400 back home with them duty-free once every 30 days provided
the items are properly declared to customs and the traveler has been
out of the US for at least 48 hours. Jamaican law requires all
duty-free purchases to be made in foreign currency, preferably US
dollars. For complete details, a helpful booklet titled "Know
Before You Go" is available free of charge courtesy of the US
Customs Service.
Dining
Pull up a chair and get ready to sample some of the best foods in
the world. Jamaica is known for its excellent cooks and tasty
entrees. Jamaican cuisine is generally spicy and sometimes hot,
seasoned with Scotch Bonnet peppers, onion, garlic, nutmeg and
allspice. For a taste of the authentic, try jerk pork with pumpkin
soup or pepperpot stew. Ackee and saltfish is the national dish and
combines scrambled egg-like ackee (a yellow island fruit with a
subtle taste) with shredded saltfish and cooked with onions,
peppers, tomatoes and spices. Saltfish (cod which has been salted
and dried) is also made into batter-fried fritters called Stamp and
Go. Jamaica also grows an abundance of fresh produce which includes
luscious tropical fruits and vegetables: breadfruit (a versatile
green fruit with a bread-like consistency), callaloo (similar to
spinach), cho cho (a white squash served boiled and buttered), star
apple (a soft green or purple fruit served in a dessert called
‘Matrimony’) and sweetsop (similar to the soursop but sweeter).
If you don’t like it spicy, there are plenty of other dining
options around the island from gourmet restaurants to mom-and-pop
eateries serving American, French, Italian and Oriental cuisine.
Recreation
Tennis
Boating
Snorkeling
Scuba Diving
Wind Surfing
Parasailing
Swimming
Horseback Riding
Fishing
Nightlife
The spectacular Jamaican sunsets give way to evenings filled with
fun and excitement. Whether it’s a midnight stroll, a colorful
floor show, dancing the night away at a local disco or a date with
lady luck at an area casino, the island evenings serve up something
for every mood and taste. Many resorts plan nightly entertainment
where the public is invited and feature limbo dancers, live steel
band and reggae music or the occasional fire-eater, just for
starters. Nighttime is the right time in Jamaica, where the
atmosphere radiates with tropical rhythms and energy.