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Jamaica map
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Spas
Jamaica was quickly onto the recent fashion for spas and so many of the major hotels have had dedicated spa buildings for several years now. They use their lovely tropical settings to increase the sense of tranquillity and calm, some because of the building in which they are set, others because they use the island’s magnificent greenery to create a natural jungle atmosphere, or of course the shorefront, where the cliffs or a beach have a wonderful atmosphere too. You can expect a full range of massage and beauty treatments in the spas and occasionally some more exotic healing activities too. Hotels often have a few favourite secluded spots in their grounds where a massage can take place if you would prefer it to your hotel room.
There are many independent therapists on the island and so if a hotel does not have massage service they can contact someone who will come to your room. These same therapists are also available to come to you if you are staying in a villa, a few of which have their own massage tables and even massage rooms. If hotels do not have their own service they can usually recommend and a secluded spot in their grounds where a massage can take place if you would prefer that to your hotel room.
A Pick of the Best accommodation for Jamaica spas:
Fern Tree Spa, Half Moon, Montego Bay
Opened in late 2007, Fern Tree Spa is set around a courtyard in a specially constructed spa building. There are nine treatment rooms, which include a wet treatment room and a couples’ room, and treatments include wraps, massages, aromatherapy and reflexology and beauty treatments, some using local Jamaican ingredients.
Round Hill, west of Montego Bay
An impressive spa set within a restored 18th century building looking along the north coast.
Strawberry Hill, Blue Mountains
An Aveda Concept Spa set in the lovely traditional plantation-style buildings, with views out onto the slopes of the Blue Mountains
Jamaica Inn, Ocho Rios
Their charming KiYara Ocean Spa, a wooden building in earthy colours with cracking view through the trees and out to sea from a low sea cliff.
The Caves, Negril
A small spa with a lovely setting on the cliff top tucked away in its own hotel compound in Negril
Villas
Silent Waters, near Montego Bay
A stylish hilltop villa with a number of selected areas that can be set aside for treatment.
Greatview, near Half Moon in Montego Bay
A specific semi-open air massage room with Swedish and rain shower and a steam shower room.
Roaring Pavilion, outside Ocho Rios
A full service spa with a treatment room, relaxation terrace and a steam room, plus air-conditioned gym.
Interestingly Jamaica itself has a tradition of spas that dates from long before the current fashion for them. There are two places where the islanders have ‘taken the waters’ for over two hundred years.
On the south coast, between Mandeville and Maypen, you will find the Milk River Mineral Bath & Spa, t 902 4657/6902, which is fed by hot springs from Milk River. The first mineral bath was opened there in 1794 and the waters are said to cure ailments such as gout, rheumatism, neuralgia, sciatica, lumbago, nerve complaints as well as liver disorders. The spa is open to the public (there is a local hotel there too) and the recommended length of time to spend in the water which is around body temperature, is between 10-20 minutes.
It is also possible to take the waters at Bath Fountain near the eastern tip of the island, where there is also a simple hotel, t 982 8410. The water, which is again about body temperature, has a high content of calcium, magnesium and sodium and is high in radioactivity. It was known for the treatment of chronic diseases and skin disorders. |
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Special Interests
As a large island with a huge variety of activities and a strong history and culture, Jamaica has plenty to offer travellers with special interests. Please click on the highlighted sections below for more detailed descriptions of the topic.
One of the most impressive things about Jamaica when you first arrive is the sheer beauty of the landscape. It is extremely varied and extraordinarily fertile, which makes it great for anyone interested in Flora and Gardens. Many hotel gardens are fun to wander around, but there are also some excellent botanical gardens to visit. The Bird-Watching in Jamaica is as diverse as its terrain, which has specialist eco-systems and mountains rising to over 7000 feet. There are well over 250 species to be found, 28 of which are endemic. And the diverse landscape also makes it interesting for walkers. Hiking is growing in popularity now, in the Blue Mountains and the extraordinary Cockpit Country. And while the Caribbean is barely know for its fauna, Jamaica has more native animals than most islands, including tree frogs, iguanas, butterflies such as the giant swallowtail, bats (21 species), the hutia (a guinea pig like creature), manatees, crocodiles and sea turtles. See Nature. Offshore, while Jamaica is similarly not renowned for its Scuba Diving, it certainly has its interest. The diving is concentrated along the north shore, where a wall runs a mile or so to the north of the island (the south coast is sandier and shallower in many places).
In general the Sports in Jamaica are pretty good. All the hotels have watersports equipment (usually windsurfers, small sailing boats and kayaks etc) and on land you can expect tennis courts and the occasional squash court. Outside the hotels there are good facilities for Horse Riding and cycling. The Golf in Jamaica is also very good, particularly around Montego Bay, where there are six courses within easy driving distance. And of course there are some fine spectator sports, including the cricket. Although the island is not known for its Sailing, there are days sails and sunset cruises and there are lots of inland excursions to the rivers, see Day Sails.
If it is the inactivity of a Spa that you feel like more, then Jamaica has plenty on offer, and the island also has plenty of opportunity if you are interested in Holistic Activities, with many practitioners inside and outside the hotels.
But it is in its culture that the island distinguishes itself most, particularly in its Music. Jamaica is famous for its reggae of course, and other styles such as dancehall, which you will hear at the various concerts and festivals. Strangely the backing music for Carnival, which came late to Jamaica, is not reggae, but soca, or soul calypso, from Trinidad and the Eastern Caribbean. Carnival is a lively event held in Kingston around Easter. Unlike most islands in the area, Jamaica has a fair bit to reveal in the way of History and places of architectural significance. See Places of Interest. You might also want to investigate Jamaican Food and Cooking. The most famous word associated with it is ‘Jerk’, which is best experienced in Boston Bay, but there is plenty else on offer, including Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, which is probably the most famous coffee in the world.
While most people travel to Jamaica as a couple, the island is lively enough to cater well to Solo
Travellers, in certain hotels (some offer company, others a getaway where you will be well looked after alone) and of course in the many bars and clubs. You may want to travel with your Children on the other hand. There are many hotels that have programmes for them as well as limitless activities in which they can become involved. And finally, it could be that you do not have any children, yet. In such a beautiful island there are plenty of wonderful locations in which to hold a Wedding. |
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Sports
Jamaica caters well for anyone who would like to enjoy sports action while they are on holiday, particularly if you go to one of the larger hotels or resorts. These will have all the equipment you need for watersports (kayaks, windsurfers and small sailing boats etc) and then some land based sports too, including tennis, even squash in some cases. Outside the hotels, the island has some of the best golf in the Caribbean, with around a dozen courses, and then there are horse-riding, mountain biking and even opportunities for hiking in the mountains. There are also races in which you can take part, including marathons and half marathons, for instance in Negril, and a couple of triathlons.
The Jamaicans themselves are passionate sports fans and it can be fun to attend sports events on the island as a spectator, for instance the cricket - Sabina Park in Kingston is one of the Caribbean test grounds. They also enjoy horse racing. And latterly, since the Reggae Boyz qualified for the World Cup in 1998, there has been an increase in interest in football.
In fact it is worth noting how successful the Jamaicans are in the international sporting arena, particularly when you consider that the island has a population of just two and a half million. They are particularly successful in athletics. In Athens in 2004 Veronica Campbell won gold in the 200m, bronze in the 100m and was one of the Jamaican women who won a team gold in the 4 x 100m relay – with Aleen Bailey, Tayna Lawrence and Sherone Simpson. Donald Quarrie, who competed at five games from 1968 to 1984, won a gold, two silver and a bronze medal, and held world records over 100m and 200m. There is also Merlene Ottey, who won many medals for Jamaica (though never a gold). And this is another part of the story. Many more athletes of Jamaican descent compete for other nations. It’s worth considering that three of the eight fastest men in the world in 1988 (at the 100 metres Olympic final in Soeul) were Jamaican born – Raymond Stewart (Jamaica), Linford Christie (UK) and Ben Johnson (Canada). Actually two in the end, because Johnson was stripped of his gold medal for drug abuse.
However, the Jamaican athletics performance at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing topped all others. The Jamaican women won a clean sweep of the medals in the 100 metres final (Gold – Shelly-Ann Fraser, Silver – Kerron Stewart, Bronze – Sherone Simpson) and in the 200 metres Veronica Campbell-Brown took gold and Kerron Stewart took Bronze. Sadly in the four by 100 metre relay they dropped the baton. And in the men’s - three of the nine hundred metre finalists were Jamaican (among six from the Caribbean). Asafa Powell and Michael Frater did not make the medal podium but the race was dominated by Usain Bolt, who electrified the audience by smashing the world record in 9.69 seconds, and that despite cruising the last 10 or more metres. Bolt also broke the 200 metres world record (in 19.30 seconds) and the men’s four by 100 metre relay record (with Powell, Frater and Nesta Carter), covering the 400 metre circuit in 37.10 seconds.
If the Jamaicans received anything from the British then it is probably eccentricity, and surely there cannot be anything more eccentric than a bobsleigh team from a tropical island that has never seen snow. But the Jamaicans overcame everyone’s disbelief and competed with honour in the Calgary Winter Olympics in 1988. Of course they became more widely known through the Walt Disney movie ‘Cool Runnings’, but the Jamaican Bobsleigh Federation is very much alive and has a team aiming to compete in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Italy. If you want to soak up a bit of the atmosphere there is a bar in Negril that carries the name Cool Runnings (this is a Jamaican expression for ‘everything ok’), where you can see one of the bobsleighs.
WATERSPORTS:
Most of the large beach hotels in Jamaica have a good selection of watersports equipment on hand for use, usually free of charge, mostly for non-motorised sports. This includes windsurfers, sunfish and hobie cat sailboats, snorkel gear, kayaks and sometimes pedalos. The all-inclusive hotels often provide some additional watersports for free, say waterskiing, sometimes scuba diving, even parascending or jet skiing. A number of the luxury private villas provide guests with kayaks and snorkelling gear and maybe a windsurfer.
SNORKELLING
All beachfront hotels and most villas with suitable snorkelling conditions provide guests with equipment, and they can usually arrange snorkelling trips for guests. Gear is also available for rent from the public beaches where snorkelling is good. A number of Day Sail cruises include snorkelling stops on their trips, and there are glass bottom boat and snorkel boat operators in the main resort areas of Negril, Montego Bay and along the north coast. If you are travelling independently, ask around, because many of the hotel managers will be happy to let you know about their favourite places.
SPORTS FISHING
With the Cayman Trench a mere 5 miles off the north coast of Jamaica at its nearest point, where the sea floor drops off into literally thousands of feet, Jamaica offers good hunting grounds for big game fish. Species such as blue and white marlin, sailfish, wahoo, kingfish, mahi mahi (dorado), tuna (yellow fin and black fin), mackerel and skipjack can be found in its waters. The best fishing is on the north shore, out of Ocho Rios and Port Antonio, and here you will find boats that you can charter for the day.
Fishing for the prized blue marlin happens year round, but it is best at the end of summer and into autumn/fall, when the fish are larger. This is when the biggest tournaments of the year are held. The highlight of the sports fishing calendar is the Port Antonio International Blue Marlin Tournament in October. Running now for over four decades, it attracts over 50 boats from around the Caribbean and even the USA. Other tournaments include the Montego Bay International Marlin Tournament (also over four decades old now), which is held in September, the Pier 1 Marlin Tournament, also held out of Montego Bay, and the Falmouth Yacht Club Fishing Tournament. Discovery Bay and Treasure Beach also have tournaments – see Calendar of Events for dates.
Deep sea fishing boats available for charter and marinas include:
No Problem Fishing Charters, Montego Bay, t 381 3229, chokey@reggaefemi.com
They run two boats, E-zee, a 41ft Viking and No Problem, a 39ft Phoenix Sport Fisherman, owned by Chokey Taylor, a local reggae musician, offering full and half day charters. They can also do leisure cruises to include snorkelling.
Suzie Q Fishing Charters, Glistening Waters Marina, Falmouth, t 954 5934, heatherwates@cwjamaica.com
A 52ft custom build which takes fishing parties of up to 14 for half or full day charters. Also available for snorkelling and general beach trips for up to 20 people.
Glistening Waters Marina, Falmouth, t 954 3229, info@glisteningwaters.com
Base for sports fishing charters with slips for 30 boats.
Stanley Deep Sea Fishing, Negril, t 957 6341/0667, 818 6363, deepseafishing@cwjamaica.com, info@stanleysdeepseafishing.com
Changing Wind, a 32ft Luhrs that trolls offshore for marlin, mahi mahi (dorado), wahoo and tuna including yellow fin. They support the Billfish Foundation’s tag and release programme. They offer half, three quarter, full day and shared charters.
If you would like to try out angling in inland waters, then a number of locations including Cranbrook Flower Forest and River Head Adventure Trail (both near Ocho Rios) and Negril Royal Palm Reserve have fishing ponds. Also a former commercial fishing farm now operates as the Goshen Wilderness Resort, t 974 5189. It is set in 447 acres in the hills above Ocho Rios and offers fishing in 37 fish ponds stocked with tilapia. Goshen is off the beaten track so be prepared for a bumpy ride. The park will have your catch cooked for you to eat for lunch. Besides the pond fishing, there is horse riding, guided ATV tours (adults only), nature trails, kayaking and paddle-boating in one of the ponds. Closed on Mondays.
RIVER KAYAKING/TUBING
White River Valley, Ocho Rios, t 917 3373/3375, whiterivervalleyja@yahoo.com
A 300 acre park set in the White River Valley, with a variety of activities including white water kayaking in rubber kayaks, where you shoot rapids named the Flipping and Spinning rapids. They also offer river tubing, again through the rapids, as well as horse riding, a horticultural tour and nature trails.
Caliche Rainforest Park & Adventure Tours, t 957 5569 in Mo Bay, t 957 5569 in Negril, calicheadventuretours@yahoo.com
Heads out on the Great River near Montego Bay on inflatable, self-bailing rafts, with two river rafting trips to choose from. The Canyon White Water Rafting is an exciting trip down a section of the river with rapids, waterfalls, and boulders to negotiate. The Rainforest River Tour is gentle paddling which allows a little more time to appreciate your surroundings. It is suitable for children (four years and up) with river swimming and rope swinging.
Chukka Caribbean Adventures, www.chukkacaribbean.com info@chukkacaribbeanadventures.com
Award winning company with two locations in Ocho Rios and Montego Bay/Negril where they operate river tubing and kayaking trips - the River Tubing Safari and the River Kayak Safari down the White River near Ocho Rios, and River Tubing Safari and the Ultimate Kayak Adventure down the Great River near Montego Bay. Minimum age six years for tubing and 12 years for kayaking. To contact the Montego Bay/Negril operations call t 953 5619 montegobay@chukkacaribbean.com and for Ocho Rios t 972 2506 ochorios@chukkacaribbean.com
River rafting in Jamaica is much gentler activity, done on 30ft bamboo rafts, which a steersman navigates like a punt with a pole. It takes place on the Martha Brae, Rio Grande, White River and Great Rivers.
SURFING
Surfing has never really taken off in Jamaica and the Jamaica Surfing Association was only set up in 1999 by Billy Wilmot (of reggae band Mystic Revealers). He has also set up the Jamnesia Surf Club, t 750 0103, jamnesiasurf@yahoo.com, at Bull Bay east of Kingston, to provide a home for local and travelling surfers. The club is run by the Wilmot family, who are all surfers, and one of whom is in the National Surf Team. The club runs surfing camps during the summer.
The best conditions for surfing are on the north east and south east coasts. There can be waves year round, but the best time is between November and late spring. Jamnesia is close to some lively spots including the Zoo, the Lighthouse and Prospect, just east of Morant Bay. The conditions are probably best over on the north east coast, particularly around Long Bay, Boston Bay and, just beyond Port Antonio, Orange Bay.
Note that there are currently no surf shops in Jamaica so you will need to bring all of your gear with you.
See our notes on Scuba Diving and Windsurfing & Kitesurfing.
LAND-BASED SPORTS:
CYCLING
Mountain biking has become quite a popular way of seeing Jamaica’s countryside and a number of companies offer scenic bike tours. Tours are designed to be easy going – some are almost entirely downhill, so you barely need to pedal - and are not for those looking for extreme mountain biking. For triathlon events, see Running below.
The Jamaica Cycling Federation, info@jamaicacycling.com, established in the 1960s is very active and the sport is well supported. There is a series of events, mainly road races, throughout the year. There is a velodrome at the National Stadium in Kingston, and the Jamaica National Cycling Team competes in regional and international events.
Blue Mountain Bicycle Tours, Main Street, Ocho Rios, t 974 7075/7492-3, info@bmtoursja.com, www.bmtoursja.com
Starting at 5,600ft, the tour is almost all downhill, so there is very little pedalling. This is a fun way of seeing the Blue Mountains, the rainforest, coffee plantations and villages and it finishes with a dip at a waterfall. Tours are available from Ocho Rios and Kingston and include return transfers, equipment and lunch - plus brunch for Ocho Rios which sets out earlier to travel the greater distance. Minimum age seven years.
Mountain to Sea Bike Adventure, Chukka Caribbean Adventures, St Ann, t 972 2506, ochorios@chukkacaribbean.com
A tour that takes you through the mountains and countryside of St Ann, starting at the village of Mount Zion and finishing at the beach by Chukka Cove, where you can swim and snorkel.
Half Moon Equestrian Centre, Half Moon, Montego Bay, t 953 2286, r.delisser@cwjamaica.com
The centre offers a mountain bike trip through the Mount Zion trail with a 1 hour intermediate ride and a 2 hour advanced ride, using 21 speed, fully shocked Cyclone bikes.
RUNNING
A number of running events take place during the year, of which the most notable are:
Reggae Marathon & Half Marathon, Negril, t 922 8677/73, racedirector@reggaemarathon.comA major event which started in 2001 and attracts 1500 visitors, held over an IAAF certified marathon and half-marathon course. Both races start at Long Bay Beach Park and are on the flat. Held in early December, the event attracts a big party crowd and features an Expo of Jamaican art, craft and music.
High Mountain Coffee 10K & 5K Road Race, Williamsfield, Manchester, t 963 4211, sanco@colis.com
Started in 1983, the event takes place end of January. In 2005 it attracted a total of 500 runners. Contact Jackie Minott.
Jake's Jamaican Off-Road Triathlon & Sunset Run, Treasure Beach, t 965 3000, or contact Tanya, jakes@cwjamaica.com
The annual event has run for well over ten years and is for seasoned athletes. It now starts with a 5k Sunset Run the night before the Triathlon, which includes a 500m ocean swim, 25k mountain bike ride and a 7k countryside run. Overseas participants welcome – maximum of 100 entrants.
All these races welcome overseas competitors. See Calendar of Events for annual dates.
Jamaica Hash House Harriers, Kingston, hashpage@jah3.virtualave.net
The Jamaican Hash was founded in 1998. Based around Kingston, it is a family hash which runs at different beauty spots every other Sunday. There is a charge for the Hash and for food and drink, the latter being vital to the proceedings.
See our notes on Golf, Hiking and Horse Riding.
TENNIS
Most larger hotels and the big resorts have their own tennis courts, and many of these are floodlit to enable you to play in the cool of the evening. Also a good many private villas also have tennis courts nowadays or, as with hotels that do not have one, can make arrangements nearby. Tennis is played island wide, and the former Jamaica Lawn Tennis Association, which was formed in 1907, is now known as Tennis Jamaica. The island’s major matches are played at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre in Kingston.
SPECTATOR SPORTS:
FOOTBALL & RUGBY
Since Jamaica qualified for the World Cup in 1998 with the team nicknamed the Reggae Boyz, interest in football has increased. Interestingly, the sport has a long history in Jamaica, with the first club apparently founded as far back as 1893 and their first international outing to Haiti in 1925. The JFF was formed in 1965 and now organises major national competitions such as the Craven "A" Premier and National "A" leagues, which each have twelve clubs. The football season starts in October and finishes in April. International and main football fixtures are played at the National Stadium in Kingston.
There are currently 10 rugby clubs in Jamaica. The Jamaica Rugby Union was founded in 1946 and the island has been a member of the International Rugby Board since 1996.
HORSE RACING
Caymanas Park, Portmore Nr Kingston, t 988 2523, racing@cwjamaica.com, www.caymanasracetrack.com
Along with Barbados and Trinidad, horse racing in Jamaica is a well established and popular sport. The racetrack is located in west Kingston and there are around 80 days of racing throughout the year. Races are held every Saturday, on Public Holidays and at least twice a month on a Wednesday.
POLO
Introduced by the British Army towards the end of the 19th century, polo is very much alive in Jamaica. There are five clubs with around fifty players and the island is a regular host to overseas teams. Probably the best known club is the Chukka Cove Polo Club at Laughlands (west of Ocho Rios, t 1877 424 8552) which hosts both local and international matches. Games are played there year round normally on Saturdays, and lessons or “stick and ball” sessions can be arranged for visitors. The game is also played at Chukka Blue on the Blue Hole Estate near Montego Bay. The island’s two main clubs, which host the majority of the international matches, are the Kingston Polo Club in the capital and the St Ann Polo Club at Drax Hall in St Ann, which is also the home of the Jamaica Polo Association. Private polo lessons/clinics are also available at the St Ann Polo Club & Equestrian Centre, t 1876 381 4660, through Lesley-Ann Masteron Fong-Yee, one of the top female players in the world. See here for the Jamaica Polo Association’s Schedule of Events for 2009 |
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Taxis
There are plenty of taxis in Jamaica, which can be spotted by their red licence plate with “PP/PPV” (public passenger vehicle). If by any chance you cannot find one (though you are likely to be offered a ride by taxi drivers if you are even seen walking around the main tourist areas), then they can be ordered through any hotel front desk or found around the main hubs of local transport in the towns. There are a few taxi associations around the island, based mainly at the transport termini, some beaches and of course in some of the hotels. JUTA (the Jamaica Union of Travellers Association) are an umbrella organisation for taxi drivers and companies (as well as an on-island tour operator too) and so they are present in all the towns.
Some taxi drivers, mainly those that belong to the associations that deal with tourists, are also qualified guides and so they can be hired to take a longer trip for sightseeing.
Taxis are not metered in Jamaica. The fares are set as standard rates by the government. It is still a good idea however, to confirm/ negotiate the rates before you get in or set off.
Taxis associations around the island include:
Montego Bay – JCAL, t 952 7574, JUTA, t 952 0813/0623
Ocho Rios - JUTA, Ocean Village, t 974 2292, Maxi Taxi, Pineapple Place, t 974 2971
Negril - JUTA, Normal Manley Boulevard, t 957 4620/9197
Port Antonio - JUTA, t 993 2684
Kingston - JUTA, t 927 4534
You will also hear of ‘share taxis’, which are really part of the public transport system. See Local Transport. |
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Telephone
The international direct dial code for Jamaica is +1 876 and it is followed by seven digits. When on-island simply dial the seven digits. Do note that long distance charges apply when calling outside your immediate area, ie calling from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios. To dial out of the island, dial 011 and then the country code.
Jamaica has fairly good telecommunications. Overseas phone calls can be made from special public phones around the island, paid for by credit card. Dial 113 to get the operator when placing an overseas call and 112 for local long distance calls. A number of shopping centres also have international phone facilities for visitors, for which payment is by local pre-paid calling cards. Public phones are not coin operated. If you are staying in a villa do check to see if the phone allows international calls. Some have debars, which will be lifted for a deposit. You can also use locally arranged World Talk Calling Cards.
Cellular phones can be rented or a roaming feature can be added to your own mobile phone if it is compatible with the local network. Contact Digicel, t 1888 DIGICEL or Cable & Wireless, t 1800 804 2994.
Internet service is available at most hotels nowadays and also in many villas. Otherwise you will find internet cafes in the main resort shopping areas. Internet access and a temporary email account can also be set up via Infochannel in Kingston and charged to your credit card icquery@infochan.com. Alternatively purchase a pre-paid internet card called NetKyaad locally which can be used when connecting your modem to any phone line. |
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Time Zone
Jamaica is in the Eastern Standard Time Zone, the same as the eastern seaboard of the United States. The island does not observe Daylight Saving Time and so in the summer, when the eastern seaboard moves onto Summer Time, it is an hour behind.
During the winter Jamaica is five hours behind Britain (GMT) and six behind mainland Europe, and during the summer (British Summer Time) it is six hours behind Britain and seven behind Europe. |
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Tour Operators
There are many tour operators (UK and Europe) and wholesalers (US) that include holidays and vacations in Jamaica in their programmes. On DefinitiveCaribbean we will be picking out the cream of the bunch for you - operators that are Caribbean specialists and that give the best levels of service, in all price ranges.
Tour operators and wholesalers are usually the ultimate organiser of the holiday or vacation that you take. The holidays that they put together may subsequently be sold to the public via a travel agent, but usually you can purchase them direct if you want to.
In the UK and Europe, all tour operators should be bonded for your financial protection, and sell flight inclusive holidays under licence from government bodies such as the Civil Aviation Authority (UK). Some travel agents also have the required bonding and licences to put together flight inclusive holidays, and there are a few Caribbean specialists among them.
We are looking at the best travel organisers offering holidays to Jamaica and the list that follows will be developed as we make progress in building the site.
Message to Tour Operators, Wholesalers and specialist Caribbean travel agents:
We invite any travel organiser working as a Caribbean specialist with a programme to Jamaica to contact us if we are not already in communication with you. Initially please e-mail us for further details.
The list of travel organisers to Jamaica will appear below as we populate the section:
| | CaribtoursA lovely company that has not diluted its high standards of personal service for the sake of profit; excellent brochure; fairly priced holidays. Strong following of repeat clients, some famous, some infamous and others simply seeking consistently reliable service and value for money. | | CV TravelA long established villa holiday specialist with an extensive Caribbean programme. CV Travel offers a broad range of Caribbean villas of all sizes and prices in twelve islands, ranging from simple beachfront homes to substantial staffed villas, estates, even private islands. Also a selection of the region’s finest villa resorts and characterful hotels and inns. |
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Tourist Information
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) has information booths located within the arrivals halls at both Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, t 952 2462, and Norman Manley International Airport, Kingston, t 924 8024.
They also have a number of regional offices around the island. The main e-mail address for enquiries is: info@visitjamaica.com
Montego Bay
Cornwall Beach (off Gloucester Avenue), PO Box 67, Montego Bay, t 952 4425
Kingston
64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, t 929 9200/19
Port Antonio
City Centre Plaza, P O Box 151, Port Antonio, t 993 3051
The JTB also has a number of overseas offices:
Britain
1-2 Prince Consort Road, London, SW7 2BZ, United Kingdom, t 020 7224 0505, jamaicatravel@btconnect.com
Canada
303 Eglington Avenue East, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario, M4P IL3, Canada, t 482 7850, toll free 800 465 2624, jtb@jtbcanada.com
USA
1320 South Dixie Highway, Suite 1101, Coral Gables, FL 33146, t 1305 665 0557, US toll free 1800 233 4JTB (1800 233 4582), jamaicatrv1@aol.com
Please see below for a promotional video of Jamaica.
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Tours of Jamaica
Jamaica has an excellent variety of tours. Its larger size and geographical variety, more significant history and stronger culture means that it has more to offer than almost all the other islands in the region. Most of the island’s good range of Places of Interest can be visited on a tour from a hotel, but there is also a variety of day outings and activities such as hiking, nature, mountain biking and horse-riding trips that you can take part in. In addition there are jeep and ATV safari tours and of course trips along Jamaica’s exceptional rivers. If you are based in a hotel then many tours will be on offer. There may well be a tour desk in the foyer.
But there is also a good many styles of tours, ranging from the day junkets from the big resorts and cruise ships, with fifty people in a coach, to personalised and even tailor-made tours. Some may follow a particular theme (bird-watching, Bob Marley, hiking), but others are regular round-island tours that follow a standard itinerary. They can be half or whole day tours, but to see get a full impression of an island like Jamaica you need to go on a multi-day tour and these are on offer too. Another regular option, if you want to travel at your own pace, is to take a chauffeur-driven car (which might be particularly suitable if you are staying in a villa). Many JUTA members (otherwise taxi drivers) are trained guides, certified by the Jamaica Tourist Board.
Tours and tour companies include:
Blue Mountain Bicycle Tours, Main Street, Ocho Rios, t 974 7075/7492-3, info@bmtoursja.com, www.bmtoursja.com
Starting at 5,600ft, the tour is almost all downhill, so there is very little pedalling. This is a fun way of seeing the Blue Mountains, the rainforest, coffee plantations and villages and it finishes with a dip at a waterfall. Tours are available from Ocho Rios and Kingston and include return transfers, equipment and lunch - plus brunch for Ocho Rios which sets out earlier to travel the greater distance. Minimum age seven years.
Cockpit Country Adventure Tours, Albert Town, Trelawany, t 610 0818, stea@cwjamaica.com, www.stea.net
A small eco-tourism company managed by the Southern Trelawny Environmental Agency (STEA) and currently offering three different guided walking tours into the wilds of the Cockpit Country, Also some cave exploration.
Caliche Rainforest Park & Adventure Tours, t 957 5569 (Mo Bay) or 957 5569 (Negril), calicheadventuretours@yahoo.com
They offer tours on the Great River near Montego Bay on inflatable, self-bailing rafts, with two river rafting trips to choose from. The Canyon White Water Rafting is an exciting trip down an untamed section of the river with rapids, waterfalls, and boulders to negotiate. The Rainforest River Tour is gentler paddling, allows you to appreciate your surroundings more easily, and is suitable for children (four years old and up), with river swimming and rope swinging.
Calypso Rafting, White River, Nr Ocho Rios, t 974 2527
A picturesque 45 minute trip down the White River on a 30ft bamboo raft.
Chukka Caribbean Adventures, www.chukkacaribbean.com info@chukkacaribbeanadventures.com
Award winning, locally owned company with operations in both Montego Bay/Negril and Ochio Rios offering a popular range of exciting tours and activities. Current tour packages include a rainforest canopy tour, horseback ride ‘n’ swim, ATV safari, various jeep safaris including a Bob Marley tour and one to Dunn’s River Falls, mountain to sea bike ride, river tubing and kayaking, and they also run the Zion Bus Line, Bob Marley tour. In May 2007 the Jamaica Dogsled Encounter and Experience Tours were introduced and in February 2008 the Chukka Buggy Adventure. To contact the Montego Bay/Negril operations call t 953 5619 montegobay@chukkacaribbean.com and for Ocho Rios t 972 2506 ochorios@chukkacaribbean.com
Hooves Ltd, Windsor Road, St Ann’s Bay, t 972 0905, hooves@cwjamaica.com or inquiries@hoovesjamaica.com
They offer a variety of guided rides suitable for first time riders and novices, with private rides and lessons (flatwork and jumping) for experienced riders. Rides include a beach ride and swim, plus a visit to Seville Great House Museum, a bush doctor mountain ride, a rainforest river ride and swim which is suited for those with some riding experience and a honeymoon ride for two with a private guide which includes wine and nibbles.
Mountain Valley Rafting, t 912 0026
Embark at Lethe village and travel along the Great River on 30ft bamboo rafts.
Rio Grande Rafting, Portland, t 993 5778/5290
The longest and most dramatic of the river rafting trips, on 30ft long bamboo rafts that were originally used for transporting bananas down the Rio Grande river. This is now a popular leisurely outing, with the chance for a cooling dip along the way.
River Raft Ltd, Falmouth, t 952 0889/940 6398/7018, info@jamaicarafting.com, www.jamaicarafting.com
The three mile river trip is on 30ft bamboo rafts. It starts out at the Rafter’s Village, a recreational facility which includes a swimming pool, bar, souvenir shops and picnic areas and ends up at Martha’s Rest, where there is a bar, lounge and souvenir shop. Musical entertainment is provided by a traditional Mento band and you can visit Martha’s Herb Garden, where you can learn about the different medicinal uses for a range of plants.
Sunventure Tours, Balmoral Avenue, Kingston, t 960 6685, sunventure@hotmail.com
They offer a good range of tours from sightseeing, educational, hiking, adventure, special interest such as photographic tours, and a choice of overnight (five nights) Coast to Coast tours. Hiking tours include their Blue Mountain Sunrise and Sunset hikes which include an overnight stay and a day time Blue Mountain hike, all to the 7,402ft peak. Other hikes include a 4 hour hike to Cinchona Gardens, or a 7 hour hike that includes the gardens and the Grande Ridge of the Blue Mountains. Hikes through the Cockpit Country vary from three to four hours plus a boat trip on the Luminous Lagoon, to a full on 10 hour hike.
White River Valley, near Ocho Rios, t 917 3373/3375, whiterivervalleyja@yahoo.com
A 300 acre park set in the White River Valley, with a variety of activities including river tubing, kayaking, horse riding, nature walks, an horticultural tour and hiking trails. |
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Water
The drinking water in Jamaica is filtered and purified by modern methods and is therefore safe to drink straight from the taps. If you prefer to drink bottled water, there are many brands of Jamaican spring water readily available.
Brands of Jamaican bottled water include Catherine’s Peak, which is bottled in the Blue Mountains, Wata, Jamaica Blue Mountain and Mivida. |
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Weather
Jamaica has a tropical maritime climate, which means that it is always warm, the sun shines most of the time and there are generally sea breezes to take the edge off the heat, but as a large island with extremely varied terrain it is possible to see differences in the weather, even within a few miles sometimes. The mountains of the North East, the John Crow Mountains in Portland and the Blue Mountains above Kingston, are by far the wettest area (with over 200 inches per year usually). But as you head farther west you find that the frequency of rainfall is much lower, particularly on the coasts. It can still be wet anywhere, with passing tropical showers like upturned buckets, but there are places that look like savannah and others where cacti thrive. Jamaica’s mountains are as high as 7000 feet and the temperatures can be colder at altitude.
Average temperatures range from 19C/66F to 32C/99F, though they can fall as low as 10C/50F in the interior, particularly at altitude. The coolest times of the year are between December and April, when a light sweater/jacket is suggested for evenings.
There is often a light wind off the sea, usually from the North East, which tempers the heat by day, but a still day in either winter or summer can become very hot, and particularly in the summer months, Jamaica can also become quite humid. The island is also large enough to create its own on- and offshore breezes - the Doctor’s Breeze and the Undertaker’s Breeze - which are generated in the mornings and evenings as the landmass heats by day and cools at night, surrounded by water that stays at the same temperature.
Jamaica has two rainy seasons, one in May and another from October into November. These may increase cloud-cover a little, but usually it just means heavier rainstorms in the afternoons (after which the sun comes out again). Jamaica is also in the path of Atlantic hurricanes. The season, which can start as early as July, lasts through August and into September, which is the most likely month for a hurricane. The hurricane season was generally considered to have finished in October, but with changes in the weather recently there have been some hurricanes later in the year. |
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Weddings
Jamaica is a fantastically beautiful island and so it offers a myriad settings for a truly memorable wedding or renewal of wedding vows. Ceremonies, as simple or as elaborate as you like, can take place in a traditional church, on the beach, by a waterfall and rock pool, in a botanical garden, at your villa or on a boat. Most hotels offer wedding packages, and some have dedicated wedding planners that can tailor slightly to your needs. For villa weddings, you will need to check that the villa concerned is happy to accommodate wedding requests (some do not permit a large wedding reception or a live band for instance). You will also find that villas will generally require that their local manager or a local wedding planner is involved to supervise the event.
But then if you want to arrange something truly original then it is a good idea anyway to draw on local knowledge and experience. A wedding organiser can help you with the planning (most importantly making sure that your ideas are practicable to begin with) and then they can use their contacts to put together the best package according to your needs. Handing over to someone else can also remove all the stress from the day for you.
The services of a wedding organiser will include arranging the officiant, photographer, videographer and flower-arrangers, they might bring in outside caterers if necessary, and a vehicle to go away in (it could be a limo, yacht, helicopter, canoe or a donkey). They can also organise rehearsal dinners, cocktail parties, receptions and wedding dinners, even hen and stag parties if you want. Most importantly, they can do all the official paperwork. You can get married 24 hours after arriving in Jamaica, however will need to apply for a marriage licence in advance. You hand the whole lot over to them.
It is best that you include your wedding plans at the same time as you plan your holiday. If you are booking via a tour operator, discuss your requirements with them before booking. Alternatively, if you are travelling independently, then you can get in direct contact with a wedding organiser on island.
Our recommended wedding organiser in Jamaica is Glamour DMC which has a dedicated wedding department within their other services as a local organiser and ground handler. A member of the Association of Bridal Consultants, they have a number of packages, but they can also tailor-make to your requirements. They are based in Montego Bay but are happy to arrange a wedding as far afield Dunn’s River Falls, Negril or Oracabessa.
A basic “Simply Jamaican” wedding package with Glamour DMC costs US$1500 and includes the following. The arrangements for your marriage licence can be made in advance:
Personal on-site wedding planner who will meet you as soon after arrival as wished to discuss all points and finalise details
Marriage licence
Marriage officer (non denominational church minister)
Wedding cake with one tier
Bottle of champagne
Bridal bouquet (tropical blooms)
Groom’s boutonniere
Taped/CD music for the ceremony
Photo album with 36 shots (4” x 6”) with negatives
Obtaining registered copy of Marriage Certificate
Two witnesses are required on the wedding day, and will be provided if necessary
This package can be tailored to suit, and covers a garden or beach on hotel property. Church weddings and other off property weddings carry additional charges.
At all times you will have the full services of their wedding planner, who will accompany you throughout your wedding procedures, having taken care of requirements prior to your arrival.
Glamour DMC also offers two more wedding packages: the “Jamaican Fantasy” which includes a violinist or flautist for the ceremony which will be video taped, and a wedding gift; and the “Ultimate Jamaican” which includes a keyboard player for the ceremony, a two tier cake, two bottles of Champagne, a three course dinner for the wedding party, limo transfer, DJ for a three hour reception, a private cruise for the couple and a wedding gift.
Glamour DMC can also arrange Renewal of Vows Blessings.
Legal requirements for getting married in Jamaica:
You can get married 24 hours after arriving in Jamaica as long as you have already applied for a marriage license through the Ministry of National Security. This takes about four weeks and can be arranged on your behalf by a wedding planner. The following are the requirements and certified or original documents (in English) must be submitted when applying for the marriage license:
Full names of the bride and the groom (first, middle and last names)
Full names of the mother and father of the bride and the groom (first, middle and last names)
Proof of citizenship - original or certified copy of Birth Certificates for bride and groom
Occupations of the bride, the groom and both sets of parents.
If divorced, original or certified Decree Absolute papers must be produced.
If widowed, the original or certified copy of the former partner’s Death Certificate must be produced.
If either party is under 18 years of age, written consent must be given by his/her parents.
Legal proof must be presented if either party has changed their name by Deed Poll.
Italians getting married in Jamaica have special requirements to ensure that their marriages are legally recognized back home, and French Canadians must provide both notarized English translations of their French documents and copies of the French originals.
Note that two witnesses are required for the actual wedding ceremony and can be provided by the marriage officer or wedding coordinator.
The cost of a wedding license is J$4000. The non-denominational Marriage Officer who performs the ceremony at your chosen location will charge a fee ranging from US$100 to around US$250 depending on the individual requirements or arrangements for the ceremony, ie location.
According to current Jamaican law, weddings must be performed before 6 pm.
Church weddings may have special requirements requiring documentation from your church or certain arrangements, depending on your denomination. In the case of Roman Catholics, for instance, a letter from your priest at home is required to prove that you have received marriage counselling.
Do think about the time of day you are hoping to get married, and what you are going to be wearing. Is it practical or comfortable to choose full blown traditional attire and high heels? What about your guests? Does getting sand in your shoes bother you? Most weddings take place late afternoon to avoid the heat and to get sunsets photos in. Think about the practicalities of what you want to do and how it will affect the enjoyment of the event.
The following featured properties either offer weddings packages or will tailor make your wedding: | Golden Clouds
A 9 bedroom seafront estate with sprawling, landscaped gardens and a stunning coastal setting looking towards Ocho Rios on Jamaica’s northern shore. With 7 bedrooms in the main house (perched on the edge of a low sea cliff) and a 2 bedroom cottage set in the gardens, Golden Clouds Estate is an ideal retreat for large gatherings and special occasions such as Jamaica weddings. | Sunset at the Palms
A mid-sized all-inclusive hotel set in attractive tropical garden across the main road from the superb beach at Bloody Bay in Negril. Very comfortable cabins, some on stilts and a lively atmosphere. | Half Moon
A large and luxurious resort on 2 miles of shoreline and beaches just east of Montego Bay. Half Moon has hotel rooms, suites and villas in its extensive grounds, and an extremely wide range of activities, including a children’s centre, conference facilities, shopping centre, golf course, riding stables. A popular Caribbean and leading Jamaican resort. | The Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort
The Ritz-Carlton Golf and Spa Resort is set in Rose Hall, a few miles to the east of Montego Bay. A large and luxurious beach hotel, it has the exceptional service of the Ritz-Carlton brand and includes a full service spa, a championship golf course and conference facilities. | Round Hill Hotel & Villas
Jamaica’s most refined hotel, in an exquisite setting of villas and hotel rooms on a hillside and private peninsular just west of Montego Bay. Round Hill has been a trusted escape for a well heeled, often glitzy crowd for the past five decades and offers the very best in tropical elegance. | Royal Plantation
Royal Plantation offers modern Caribbean luxury in a very attractive cliffside setting just east of Ocho Rios. Some traditional Old colonial elegance, but an upbeat air, with plenty of activity and modern amenities in the suites, spa and watersports. | Sunset Beach Resort & Spa
A large, well priced all-inclusive resort set in the Freeport area just outside Montego Bay. A very lively hotel with a huge range of facilities and activities, by day and night, including a large children’s water park. | Terra Nova All Suite Hotel
An all-suite hotel set in an Edwardian mansion and pleasant gardens in New Kingston, close to the commercial district. Ideal for business travellers, but also independent travellers looking for a hotel in the city with some traditional Jamaican character. | Couples Swept Away Resort
The most sympathetic of the all-inclusive resorts that line the beachfront at the northern end of Negril. A very large hotel with endless facilities on a broad and excellent stretch of white sand. | Hibiscus Lodge Hotel
A friendly, family owned hotel set in three acres of lovely gardens on a dramatic cliff top within walking distance of Ocho Rios’ town centre. It has quite simple but comfortable rooms overlooking the sea and a bar and pool that cling to the cliffside. Also a well regarded restaurant, the Almond Tree. | Tensing Pen
A delightful, very small hotel, set on the cliffs in Negril at Jamaica’s western tip. Tensing Pen is a series of thatched wooden cabins hiding among lovely gardens on the cliffs. It is cool, calm, and extremely laid back. Also excellent for a Jamaica wedding location. | Rockhouse Hotel
A classic laid back hotel on the cliffs in Negril, set in a series of stone walled and wooden, thatch-roofed cottages that line the cliff tops of the West End. Secluded and low key, Rockhouse Jamaica has great tropical style and a distinctly cool vibe. | Silent Waters
A truly spectacular, very private property set high on a hilltop in attractive gardens just west of Montego Bay, with breathtaking views all around. Bedrooms in cottages are ranged around hilltop gardens with oriental statues among ponds and waterways, all encircling the central living areas. At the summit is an even more private one-bedroom villa with its own pool, and the helipad. | Drambuie Estate
A refined, intriguing five bedroom property in plantation style with stunning views over Montego Bay. Drambuie was built in the 1940s using original stonework and combines new and traditional architectural styles with colourful flair. Ideal for large groups, an excellent spot for Jamaica weddings. | Greatview
A first class, 5 bedroom luxury villa overlooking the coast east of Montego Bay, offering an exceptional standard of accommodation, comfort and facilities, with services to match. Newly built, the villa is furnished with family heirlooms, Asian antiques and traditional Jamaican pieces. | Noble House
An immaculate, 4 bedroom villa in a gracious, older style, located at Unity Hall just west of Montego Bay. Noble House is surrounded by lawns with flowerbeds and fruit trees and gives right onto 500ft of beachfront. Spacious living area and a private terrace with a sea view from each bedroom. | Seaside Cottage
An extremely well turned out 4 bedroom property in contemporary and artistic Caribbean style, set on the seafront in Round Hill on the Jamaican north coast, with expansive views across the water to Montego Bay. Seaside Cottage has generous outdoor living space and is furnished to a high standard. It has a separate cottage that is ideal for honeymooners. | Goldeneye
Just a few stylish and very comfortable waterfront villas in the attractive gardens of Goldeneye, Ian Fleming’s house in Jamaica, where he wrote many of the James Bond novels. Set on the north coast east of Ocho Rios, the small resort uses traditional Jamaican and oriental style to create an extremely chic air. Plenty of low key activities. The haunt of music stars and models. | Moon Dance Villas
A small villa resort situated in a double width garden on an excellent stretch of Negril beach. Hidden among the greenery are just six villas (with between one and five bedrooms), built in a mix of modern and traditional tropical styles, with funky interior decor. Very private with excellent levels of service. | Jake's
A fantastic, funky hideout in the delightful and dozy village of Treasure Beach, quite remote on Jamaica’s southern shore. Jake’s is a scattering of brightly painted cottages in pretty shorefront gardens, centred on a small main house and bar. Relatively simple rooms, massage, but without doubt one of the coolest places to stay in the Caribbean. | Strawberry Hill
An exquisite small hotel in modernised plantation style, set at 3000 feet above Kingston in the Blue Mountains. Strawberry Hill is a Caribbean gem with an extremely and luxurious air. With a full service spa, an excellent dining room and high levels of service, it is a superb escape. | The Caves
A discreet and very stylish hideaway on the cliffs in Negril, at Jamaica’s western tip. The Caves has just eleven rooms in a series of brightly coloured stone and wooden cabins strung along the cliff edge. An extremely calm and quiet escape. | Tryall Club
A top notch villa resort set in extensive grounds running down to Jamaica’s north coast to the west of Montego Bay. Tryall has around 70 privately owned villas, many of them extremely elegant, scattered around hillsides and the fairways of an excellent golf course. Some central facilities, with a beach club and restaurant. | Norse Point
A delightful, romantic cottage in traditional Jamaican style set on the point next to San San Beach near Port Antonio. Just one bedroom with a waterside deck and lovely views of Pellew (Monkey) Island. Good Port Antonio villa rental for a Caribbean honeymoon. | Moon Dance Cliffs
A small and extremely comfortable all-inclusive resort hotel set on the cliffs in Negril in the west of Jamaica. With a mix of rooms, suites and villas surrounding a pool and entertainment lawn, Moon Dance Cliffs is upbeat and lively by day and in the evenings. Spa, beauty salon, many sports, also an on-site wedding co-ordinator. |
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What to Pack
Consider taking the following when heading out to the Caribbean:
Sun protection including high factor sun cream, sunglasses, hat/cap and a lightweight shirt/blouse/t-shirt for the beach; suitable beach and walking shoes; mosquito repellent containing DEET suitable for use all day; cream for insect bites; beach mat/towel. Jamaica can be quite wet in some places, so if you are going walking take a lightweight waterproof coat.
Lightweight cotton is generally the best clothing for the tropics, casual for the daytime, though you may want something a little more elegant for the evenings. Note that most good restaurants and top hotels require men to wear long trousers and shirts with a collar in the evenings. At Christmas and New Year people tend to dress up more and the most exclusive establishments may request a jacket and tie. Women may wish to pack a lightweight wrap or jacket during the winter months, as the evenings (Jan/Feb) sometimes feel cool after the heat of the day. If you will be at altitude, in the Blue Mountains for instance, then make sure to have a jersey because it can be cool.
Jamaica has everything you need in the way of batteries, including specialist batteries and camera batteries (also film). If you are taking a computer, make sure to have an electrical adapter and you may want to bring a small torch. Any prescription medication that needs to be taken on a regular basis should be carried in your hand luggage, and should remain in their original packaging for clear identification by Customs should they need to check contents.
Don’t forget your passport, driving licence and insurance (medical and travel) documents. |
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Windsurfing/Kitesurfing
Windsurfing has long been popular in Jamaica, and although the island has never been one of the Caribbean destinations, there are some good places for it, mainly along the north shore, between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. The winds are best at Easter and then in July and August, when they blow at a constant 15-20 knots. They can be good in the winter, but it is much more haphazard – Northers can be so strong that you can barely hang on to the board and the sea so rough that you cannot get out to the breaks. And then the next day it is dead calm. Often winds tend to be lighter in the mornings – and consequently good for beginners – and then to pick up to a good pace in the afternoon.
Windsurfing
Of course many of the hotels will have windsurfing equipment that you can use, but outside of them there are no permanent windsurfing schools to speak of (Club Mistral does not have a presence).
Kitesurfing
Kitesurfing is only just beginning to develop in Jamaica, though there is some potential. There is no permanent place for independent travellers to rent sails and boards, though there is hope that a facility will open up for the winter season in Silver Sands.
The best locations are as follows:
Bailey’s Beach, east of Kingston
Burwood Beach, east of Falmouth
A public beach with some of the best wind conditions on the island.
Silver Sands, off Duncans village, east of Falmouth
Renowned, windy spot suitable for intermediate to advanced windsurfers.
Ray’s Watersports, Norman Manley Boulevard, Negril, t 957 5349, info@rayswatersportsnegril.com
General watersports shop with windsurfing available. |
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Yoga/Holistic Activities
Given Jamaica’s sometimes tricky reputation, it is perhaps surprising to learn that the island is in fact one of the most spiritually enriching islands in the Caribbean. If you already practice yoga, tai chi, qi-gong, Reiki or any other holistic activity, you’ll find plenty of enchanting places, superb landscapes and seascapes in which ‘to be’. If you are into the healing qualities of water, the rivers are also endlessly fascinating. There are quiet pools beside which you can meditate, springs to drink from and waterfalls in which you can wash away your stress. The trees are magnificent too. There are mahoganies, mahoes and vast kapoks, some of which are a century old and stand over two hundred feet tall.
Jamaica has plenty of accommodation for those that wish to practice yoga and other activities in the company of others. Many of the hotels and inns have programmes with daily sessions in dedicated areas, on the shoreline or surrounded by the island’s magnificent greenery. Others will have a yoga instructor on call who can come in for private sessions. Even some villas will arrange for yoga teachers and complementary health practitioners to come in to work with you. Jamaica also offers yoga retreat weeks. These are normally organised by yoga teachers from overseas (for an example, see Round Hill below), who come down with a group, but there are others which you can join on your own or with friends. Another option is to organise your own retreat holiday. There are several places on the island where this would be possible.
A Pick of The Best locations for Holistic Activities and practitioners:
Ananda Marga Yoga Centre, Crieffe Road, Kingston, 978 0848, dadapara@yahoo.com
Founded in India in 1955, Ananda Marga is a social and spiritual organisation. The centre provides yoga, meditation, health instruction and counselling, and runs seminars, retreats and workshops. The organisation also runs a kindergarten in Kingston.
Afya Yoga and Pilates Studio, Bamboo Avenue, Kingston, t 977 6735, sony@cwjamaica.com
Amrit yoga classes, teacher is co-owner Sonita Morin-Abrahams.
The Shakti Yoga Center, 5 Bedford Park Avenue, Kingston, t 906 8403/920 5868, sharon@shaktiyogajamaica.com, www.shaktiyogajamaica.com
Opened in 2000 by a certified Kripalu yoga teacher (1995) and yoga practitioner Sharon MConnell who has practiced yoga for over 15 years. The centre offers a variety of yoga classes in many traditions and levels such as Amrit, with all teachers certified, and includes pilates classes, has a spa which includes reiki therapy and Thai yoga massage, a vegetarian café and a boutique. Shakti hosts workshops, retreats and special events throughout the year, and also run a Yoga for Children programme.
Yoga Centre, Garelli Avenue, Kingston, t 926 6765, hariomananda@yahoo.com
Devanand Paul Chang, JamaicAnanda Yoga, Villa Six, Chukka Cove, Laughlands, St Ann, t 972 0817/794 8086, paulchang@cwjamaica.com
An Amrit yoga teacher who offers private classes to visitors either at their hotel or private villa, covering the areas between Discovery Bay and Oracabessa.
A number of hotels have programmes and have dedicated buildings for yoga and other activities. The best places to stay are -
KiYara Ocean Spa, Jamaica Inn, Ocho Rios, t 974 2380, info@kiyaraspa.com, www.kiyaraspa.com
An exotic and very natural looking spa set on the edge of a low sea cliff with stylish wooden treatment huts overlooking the water. The spa offers yoga, aerobics and aqua-aerobic classes
The Spa, Round Hill, nr Montego Bay, t 956 7050, ext 4141, spa@roundhilljamaica.com
The resort runs an Inward Bound Yoga Program (created by Jane Fryer in 1992), with yoga-based retreats featuring restorative yoga and meditation, and sometimes pilates mat work. Retreats feature daily yoga immersion and instruction. Please check the Round Hill review for details.
Half Moon Health & Fitness Centre
The resort’s dedicated fitness centre has regular yoga classes and their yoga instructors are available for private in-room or villa lessons.
Strawberry Hill, Blue Mountains
A recently built yoga and meditation deck with a fantastic view of the Blue Mountains
Tensing Pen, Negril
A very small and calm hotel, a series of thatched cabins in pretty gardens on the Negril cliffs, with a dedicated yoga deck
Amanoka, Discovery Bay
Jamaica villa rental where a yoga instructor can be arranged for private sessions (extra cost), along with spa services by a private holistic health consultant (extra charge) who will carry out treatments indoors or on the seafront gazebo.
Silent Waters, Great River Estate, nr Montego Bay
Impressive hillside villa which can arrange yoga classes on request.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Definitive Caribbean is most grateful for the photographic contributions we received for use in the Jamaica Guide. Contributions came from: Bacchanal Jamaica Fantasy: www.bacchanaljamaica.com, Blue Mountain Bicycle Tours: www.bmtoursja.com, Captain's Watersports, Country, Country Beach Cottages, Coyaba Beach Resort, El Greco Resort, Financial Dynamics Business Communications: www.fd.com, Forres Park Guest House, Glamour Tours, Half Moon, Island Outpost, Jackie's on the Reef, Jamaica Inn, KiYara Ocean Spa: www.kiyaraspa.com, Moon San Villa, Prendergast, Rockhouse Hotel, Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Royal Plantation, Silver Sands, Sunset Beach Resort & Spa, Tensing Pen, Tryall Club, Villas by Linda Smith, Villa Vacation, Deana Bellamy, James Henderson and Rosemary Parkinson.
Picture Editors, Alexander Gray & Will Orr |
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