Showing posts with label Jamaica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jamaica. Show all posts

Monday, August 16, 2010

Amazing Beaches in Jamaica

Jamaica is the third largest islet in the Caribbean, located just south of Cuba. Jamaican hospitality is well known all over the world. As well, the islet is famous for rum, music, coffee and many picturesque beaches. There are many beaches near Jamaica. You can visit some Jamaican beaches during your Jamaica tours.

The beaches in Jamaica are amazing and worth visiting. Some major Jamaican beaches are Doctor’s Cave Beach, Seven Mile Beach, Boston Bay Beach, Treasure Beach, Cornwall Beach, Fairy Hill Beach, Hellshire Beach, James Bond Beach and Mallards Beach. On the beaches of Jamaica, you can laze around in the rich sunlight, can observe the unending sea or can taste a sip of unusual hot drinks. Resting on the sunny sands is always a nice experience.

Tourists can enjoy various beach activities on the beaches of Jamaica. You can have water sailing, windsurfing, parasailing and scuba diving on these beaches. All the beaches serve as a haven for swimmers and adventure lovers. Deep-water fishing facility is also available on some of the beaches. Location of the beaches is so charming and gorgeous that you will forget everything while observing the glory of the nature here.

Ocho Rios is one of the popular Jamaican beaches. The beach is famous for Blue Mountains, the kingdom of flora and fauna. The mountains are full with dense plantations of coffee and you can taste here the world famous coffee during your visit. Mallard beach is another beautiful beach in this region, which is sited in the center of Ocho Rios. The beach is surrounded by many hotels. The specialty of this beach is that the beach is untouched by modern civilization; therefore, it is the perfect place getting away from the workloads of daily life.

Grande Beach is an eye-catching community beach on Jamaica's rich shores. The beach is not far from the colonized areas of Jamaica, yet the people do not heavily occupy it. The scenery of Grande Beach increases the gory of it.

Boston Bay Beach is located near Port Antonio. The beach is known for white sands, plain waters and grand jerk pork stands. This beach has the biggest waves in Jamaica, and you can hire surfboards here to enjoy surfing. Cornwall Beach is one of the most famous Jamaican beaches.

The beach is located near the Montego Bay and it is surrounded by smooth, pasty, sugary sand. Doctor’s Cave Beach is famous for five-mile stretch of fair sand. Water of the sea is easygoing and suitable for swimming. The beach houses some changing rooms and a bar and it is one of the perfect spots to enjoy vacation with your family.

Negril beaches are famous for many reasons. Seven Mile Beach is the major attraction of Negril. This picturesque beach is extended 7-miles beside the west coast and golden sands cover it. The beach is suitable for the whole family to enjoy various beach activities. Yet there are some nudist patches where you will find all the tourists naked.

Thus, Jamaican beaches are full off various beach activities and one should not miss a them while visiting the islands of West Indies.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Vacation to Montego Bay Jamaica


Montego Bay is the second largest city of Jamaica. Montego Bay is widely known as MoBay. Miles and miles of steamy beaches surround the city. There is an international airport at Montego Bay; therefore, tourists from all over the world can come here by air.

The location of the city is eye-catching and beautiful. Montego Bay Jamaica Vacation offers a nice opportunity to explore various scenic places of Montego Bay. A visit to the city offers excellent beaches, charming mountains and an array of beach activities.

There are many tourist attractions near Montego Bay. Doctor’s Cave Beach is one of the most appealing beaches of Montego Bay. The beach is famous for white sands, navy seashores and abundance of bars and restaurants. The beach is wide spread over five-miles of land and it is the perfect place for swimming and enjoying various water sports because the waters of the are plain and calm. You can get changing rooms there as well to change your clothes. The beach is quite suitable for a families.

If you want to laze around in sun, sand and sea then start your Montego Bay Jamaica Vacation from the Cornwall Beach. This scenic beach is always packed by visitors and it is surrounded by fair, smooth and sugary sands. The waters are clean and placid, so you can enjoy swimming here and it is an ideal place to take the whole family.

Tourists can also enjoy rafting during Montego Bay Jamaica Vacation. Martha Brae’s village is famous for river rafting. Sitting on a raised dais of bamboo logs you can see the picturesque glory of the river.

Montego Bay is the home for many resorts and beachfront hotels. It is also famous as the hub of the Jamaican tourism and marketplace for a massive part of western Jamaica. The city of Montego houses both ancient and modern constructions. Walter Fletcher Beach is one of the most famous beaches of the city. The beach is always full with travelers and visitors.

A large number of tourists come here to relish various beach activities and water sports like scuba diving, windsurfing, water sailing and other water sports.

Do not miss a visit to the Rose Hall, during your Montego Bay Jamaica Vacation. The Rose Hall is the most popular Grand House of Montego. The house is completely re-established on a sugar plantation. The construction of this historical house is eye-catching and it is the symbol of the architectural marvels of olden Jamaica.

Rocklands Feeding Station is another worth visiting spot at South of Montego. The Rocklands is dwelling to some of the migrant birds in the world. You can get here some of the rare species of birds like Doctor Bird, the national bird of Jamaica, mango hummingbird and the orange quit. Visitors can give food to the birds here.

The Ipswich Caves are located in the dense mountain woods. You have to pass through coconut and banana grooves to reach the caves. All the caves are carved from limestone and all of them are beautiful and eye-catching. Enjoy Montego Bay Jamaica Vacation visiting the beaches and exploring the beauty of the place.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Backpacking and Camping in Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Some people who want to see and experience the beauty and excitement of the popular Ocho Rios a bit differently choose to try backpacking and camping in this exotic bit of Jamaica. Not only could this be the adventure of a lifetime, but they’re also able to save a great deal of money.

Although most people don’t backpack the Caribbean— often a tourist destination for honeymooning couples, retirees, and families looking to live it up at a full-serviced hotel or resort - the concept of backpacking is on the increase. Backpacking in Ocho Rios means you’ll definitely be avoiding the large resorts and swanky hotels, and be settling for accommodations ranging from cheap hotels, motels, and hostels to campgrounds, and so getting closer to the real Jamaica.

A few examples of places to stay while backpacking in Ocho Rios include Wynfield Hostel, idyllically situated just minutes away from the famous Dunn’s River Falls, Seascape Hostel by the Sea, and the lovely Paradise Jamaica.

Keep in mind, however, that Jamaica, overall, is not particularly well designed or developed for campers—and neither is Ocho Rios as a specific city. Even seasoned Jamaican tourists, as well as travel planners don’t recommend camping in much of Jamaica as unsuspecting tourists are vulnerable. Backpacking and camping in “the wild,” on beaches, or anywhere isolated or not part of a camping facility should be avoided.

If you’d still like to camp in Ocho Rios, investigate if any of the resort or hotel properties will rent you a tent to stay on their premises. If you have your own tent and camping gear, ask if you can use their outdoor property and then pay per night. Many resorts and hotels in Jamaica rent out parts of their property for camping, and provide tents, as well as a few other facilities. This is one way of getting the best of all possible worlds!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Diving into Jamaica

Diving into the waters off the Jamaican shore may sound very exotic, and can be a lot of fun for both the beginner and the seasoned diver. For anyone who wants to be a little more adventurous than snorkeling there’s a world to explore beneath the ocean, but if you don’t have diving experience, you need to consider taking a class before you get into the water. In some areas such as Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril, the popular diving areas do tend to get booked up in high season so make sure of your place by making your reservation as soon as you can into your vacation (or before if this is at all possible in the area you are going to stay).

One of the most magical experiences you could take home from your vacation in Jamaica is to have dived to 30 or even up to 150 ft below the ocean’s surface. There you will see not only fish, but also both hard and soft corals and sponges in their natural environment. Once thing you mustn’t do however is to remove anything. There are some very strict restrictions in place in Jamaica that prevent anyone taking anything to the surface that belongs below the water – in certain areas, your diving guide may even tell you that touching things in the ocean is forbidden either for your safety or the safety of the wildlife.

Other things you can do when diving in Jamaica (depending on the time of year and part of the island you’re visiting) is to dive with turtles, swim with schools of exotically colored fish, or even see nursing sharks. A word of caution on the sharks however, most sharks in Jamaica won’t attack you but if you encounter one, swim slowly away – if you show fear and panic, this could upset them! There are places you can dive without fear of meeting up with sharks if you prefer life to be slightly less unpredictable, locations such as Sandy Hole which is home to sting rays, but no sharks!

Annual festivals in Jamaica

There are a number of annual festivals that take place in Jamaica. If you are interested in any of these, knowing when they occur may help you decide when to take your vacation.

The Annual Jamaica Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival: This year this jazz festival will be held in June and will celebrate 17 years of consistent artistic success, presenting the best of Jamaican musical talent and some of the most famous names in International Jazz.

The past ten years have seen an emergence of a variety of 'Jazz Festivals', at home and abroad, and many other Caribbean festivals have adopted the innovative features first introduced by the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival. This festival is eagerly anticipated by both locals and tourists alike.

Annual Jamaica Spice Festival: In July, the Jamaica Tourist Board will again celebrate Jamaican cuisine with its premier food festival, Jamaica Spice, a one-day celebration showcasing all that Jamaica has to offer local and international Epicureans. The main highlights of Jamaica Spice will be the exhibition of traditional gourmet, processed foods, and delights that originate in Jamaica and are produced locally.

Close to fifty exhibitors are expected to showcase their products including coffee, chutneys, meats, juices, rums & liqueurs, arts & crafts, fruits and candy. Lively cooking demonstrations will be conducted throughout the day by exhibitors, restaurateurs and local media personalities.

There will be displays of contemporary Jamaican food products prepared by culinary experts who will be available for sale and public sampling. Food lovers look forward to this festival with great anticipation. If you intend to go to this and intend to bring some local flavor home, check what you’re allowed to bring through customs on your return before you go shopping at the festival!

Accompong Maroon Festival: This unusual festival is celebrated by the Maroons, who are the descendants of the slaves brought to Jamaica to work on the sugar plantations. Part of the festival involves a pig roast, in which black, male pigs are cooked in large pots. The whole community, including visitors, then eats the results – and, according to tradition, eating a mouthful of the succulent pork will bring you luck. This festival is held in January.

Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival: For ten years, the national airline has been sponsoring a lively musical event, featuring artists from all around the world, as well as popular Jamaican performers. Reggae is an important feature of the program, but there is also plenty of opportunity to listen to jazz and other types of music. This festival is held at Montego Bay in the month of January.

The Jamaican tourist board will be able to tell you the exact dates of these and other festivals that will be held in Jamaica throughout the year.