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Most of Jamaica's tourist business is concentrated in the
resorts of Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril, which
together attract hundreds of thousands of visitors every
year. Montego Bay is a busy, commercial city with
hotels lined up along its lively main strip, a stone's throw
from a couple of Jamaica's most famous beaches. There's a
great entertainment scene, especially during the annual
August Reggae Sumfest festival. To the west is
Negril, its low-rise hotels slung along seven miles of
fantastic white sand and two miles of dramatic cliffs. It's
younger, more laid-back, and with a longstanding reputation
for hedonism that still carries a hint of the truth. 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. It's not an overly attractive place, and the
beaches don't compare favorably with Negril and MoBay, but
its tourist infrastructure is undeniably strong - the place
is packed with shops, restaurants, bars and water sports -
and you're right by some of Jamaica's leading attractions,
including the famous Dunn's River waterfall.
Jamaica's quieter east and south coasts offer a far less
packaged - perhaps more rewarding - experience, and there
are plenty of real gems worth hunting out.
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In the island's east, lush, sleepy Port Antonio
and its increasingly popular neighbor, Long Bay, provide
gateways to some of Jamaica's greatest natural attractions,
like the cascading waterfall at Reach.
The south coast offers different pleasures, from
gentle beach action at easy-going Treasure Beach -
the perfect base from which to explore area delights such as
the YS waterfalls - to boat safaris in search of local
wildlife on the Black River.
Last, but in no way least, Kingston is the true heart
of Jamaica, a thrilling place, pulsating with energy and
spirit, that is home to more than a third of the island's
2.5 million people.
This is not just the nation's political capital but the
focus of its art, theatre and music scenes, with top-class
hotels, restaurants and shopping, a clubbing scene that is
second to none and legendary fried fish on offer at the
fabulous Hellshire beach. A stunning backdrop to the city,
the cool, coffee-smothered Blue Mountains offer
plenty of hiking possibilities, while the nearby fishing
village of Port Royal, once a pirate refuge, provides
historic diversion.
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Jamaica
Travel Guide
Montego Bay, Kingston, Ocho Rios, Negril, Blue Mountains, Portland
Jamaica map
- Google Maps
Caribbean Travel Guide
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