Jamaica Travel Guide

On the map, Jamaica looks like a turtle, surfacing to draw breath as it swims west to the Yucatan. It is certainly a fantastically beautiful place - one of the most scenic islands of the Caribbean. The rivers, rainforests and high mountains are magnificent and when the sun shines - which it does often - the sea is a surreal shade of blue.

Thanks to all the rivers and the rainfall, Jamaica is lush and green - as you travel around the countryside you will see swathes of banana and sugar-cane plantations and the small plots belonging to local farmers. The shoreline has some classic beaches, mostly white sand, from the near-endless stretch at Negril in the west to the tiny, idyllic coves in the east. Jamaica is a true tropical paradise with alluring white sandy beaches, lush green mountains and sparkling waterfalls. The N and W coastlines are crowded with tourist resorts and 'all-inclusive' hotels. Natural attractions have been commercialised to cope with the crowds and make the most of tourists spending money. Beyond the coastal fringe of massive package hotels you will find plenty of unexpectedly refined and charming smaller hotels.

Despite much commercialisation, Jamaica has not been spoiled and still dazzles the senses with its natural beauty and cultural charm. There is however a significant enough crime rate in the country to keep an eye on your situation. Jamaican's are poor people and unlicensed taxi's and crime can be a problem. Most tourists tend to stick with hotels excursions and organised activities by tour reps which is advisable and a great way to see.

Jamaica sounds fantastic. Reggae music is played everywhere, all day long (as are ska and dancehall, which were also invented here). Even if you don't usually like it, when you're actually in Jamaica it seems to belong - like a well-matched soundtrack.

As a tourist you are extremely unlikely to come across any trouble, though you won't be able to avoid being hassled in the main tourist towns. You could avoid this by never stepping outside the confines of your hotel compound, but that would be to miss out on one of the most extraordinary countries in the Caribbean. However, the crime rate in Jamaica is quite high with unlicensed taxi drivers and opportunistic muggings certainly something to mindful of but not overly paranoid about.

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