What To See in Jamaica
By Anna Lynn Sibal
When we think of Jamaica, most of us have this notion of an island in the middle of the crystal-blue Caribbean Sea, where the beaches are gloriously sun-kissed and pristine, where hedonism colored by reggae music and Rastafarianism is a way of life, where people are dreadlocked and all speak the singsong patois that is uniquely Jamaican. That is the general image people have when they think of the island of Jamaica.
When people come to visit Jamaica, it is usually to spend time sunning themselves on the beaches. Jamaica, just like most of the islands nestling in the Caribbean Sea, is blessed with beautiful beaches. The tropical beaches of Jamaica, beloved enough by the likes of Errol Flynn and Sir Ian Fleming to call the island home, are among the best in the world. Families on vacation tend to go to Montego Bay where the waters are mild. On the south coast, the rocks are too sharp and the undertow too dangerous for swimming, but because it is less crowded there, lovers prefer to stay there. Surfers love the waves at Port Antonio, so that is where they go for their rides. Nudists, on the other hand, attain their desired freedom to bare all at the beaches in Negril.
It is certainly to be expected that because Jamaica is an island teeming with beach resorts, there would be places where tourists can indulge in water sports and fishing. Negril and Montego Bay are both frequented by divers enamored by Jamaica’s marine life. Boats can be hired for some deep sea fishing; families that fish can also go to Nature Village Farms to get some angling done.
Nature lovers make it a point to trek to the Royal Palm Reserve, home to some 114 plant species and 300 animal species native to Jamaica. The Blue Mountains are also a favorite of hikers and explorers. Spelunkers love the mystery of the Green Grotto Caves on Discovery Bay, the seemingly endless tunnels of which served as refuge for runaway slaves, and where the underground Grotto Lake is also located. The seven-tier Y.S. Falls in St. Elizabeth and the Dunns River Falls and Parks are must-go places as well for tourists who love nature and the outdoors.
For tourists who want to learn more about Jamaica’s culture, history and colonial past, there are a number of establishments in Kingston that offer tours of the many museums, churches and other historical establishments that bear testament to the olden days of Jamaica. Many plantations and historic houses have also opened their doors to the public to let visitors have a taste of what it is like to live on the island. Among these houses is Firefly, once called home by Jamaica’s renowned songwriter and playwright Noel Coward. The home of Sir Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond, is also open to the public.
Jamaica is truly one of the gems on the bosom of the Caribbean Sea. If colorful memories are what you long for on a holiday, Jamaica is the place to go.
Caribbean Travel
|