White sandy beaches, reggae sounds and rum – Jamaica is a way of life! One thing we can promise: all the clichés that float around in your head will become reality on a trip to Jamaica.
Or to put it in the words of the locals: “Ya man, no problem man!” It’s the Jamaicans who make a trip to the Caribbean island nation so special.
In this blog article we reveal our personal tips for your trip to Jamaica. We will show you the most beautiful sights and beaches and tell you about our experiences so that you can prepare your trip to Jamaica perfectly.
1. Before your Jamaica trip: First travel tips, experiences & FAQs What can I expect in Jamaica? Fantastic natural scenery: Waterfalls, jungle, Caribbean beaches and an imposing mountain landscape. The nature in Jamaica is really beautiful. Caribbean flair & relaxed Vibes: A coconut in the hand, reggae music in the ear & the view of the turquoise blue sea. Jamaica is the epitome of Caribbean vibes. The joie de vivre of Jamaicans is contagious. Package tourism: Jamaica is an incredibly popular destination for package travelers. However, it is quite possible to travel the country individually. Is it true that Jamaica is taken over by package tourism? Jamaica is a Insanely popular destination for package tourists (mainly from the USA). This is not least due to the fact that it takes just under four hours to fly to the Caribbean island from the south of the USA.
In Jamaica you mainly meet families with children and young couples who live here spend their honeymoon. At the latest when you see the large all-inclusive hotels on the most famous beaches in Jamaica, it becomes clear what kind of tourism has prevailed here in recent decades.
From our own experience, however, we can confirm that package tourism is not the same as package tourism and that we really enjoyed our time at the RIU Palace Hotel in Montego Bay, for example to have. (You can find more about this and our detailed hotel recommendations later in this blog article.)
Jamaica is also served by cruise ships. Therefore, sights and beaches near the port are often overrun by crowds within a very short time. You just have to know that and show up as early as possible.
Jamaica Orientation: What to see? The most touristy part of Jamaica is clearly the west. In the east and south things are quieter and more relaxed. In general, the regions of tourist interest can be divided as follows (we will come to the individual sights later):
Negril in the extreme west of Jamaica: Pure Caribbean feeling! Here lies the paradisiacal Seven Mile Beach. Montego Bay (also called “MoBay”) & surroundings: Tourist stronghold with countless hotels. (This is where the cruise ships dock and where most international flights land.)South Coast: More pristine beaches such as Treasure Beach on the west south coast.Blue Mountains: The most famous and longest mountain range in Jamaica in the extreme east. The highest elevation (Blue Mountain Peak) is at least 2. 100 Meter high. Kingston: The capital of Jamaica, which is close to the Blue Mountains. In fact, there aren’t that many sights in Kingston and some skip the island’s capital altogether on a tour. Round trip or trips from a home base? If you want to travel both west and east , then there is no way around a round trip. (So as a guide, Kingston is about a four to five hour drive from Negril.) You just see so much more of the country.
But it is also possible that you only concentrate on the west of Jamaica, which is best developed for tourism. Then it would be possible to stay in one place and go on excursions from there. If you decide to do this, we can (from our own experience) recommend booking the trip through TUI.
You can book your trip here: TUI (official website)
Extra tip: Jamaica round trip on your own It is certainly not the rule to do Jamaica on your own Faust to travel but definitely possible. In principle there are three possibilities:
Private Driver: Convenient & ComfortablePublic Buses and Minibuses: CheapRental car: The most flexible and adventurous option We ourselves were temporarily on the road with a private driver. On our next trip we could definitely imagine booking our own rental car. But be careful: the road conditions are sometimes really adventurous (hello gigantic potholes!) and the driving style of the locals is anything but defensive. So we would really only recommend this variant if you are experienced in driving.
Itinerary through western Jamaica (approx. 10 until 14 Days) You may be wondering which route lends itself to a round trip through Jamaica? If you are more interested in the (more touristically developed) west, then we can recommend the following route.
A little tip: We will tell you our hotel recommendations for the individual stops further down in this blog article. Information on the sights and highlights at the individual locations can be found in the next chapter.
1. Stop: Negril (= THE beach in Jamaica)2. Stop: Treasure Beach (quiet, relaxed, away from the crowds)3. Stop (optional): Blue Mountains (mountainous region, off the east of the island)4. Stop: Montego Bay (touristy, but cool places to visit) 2. What you can experience in Jamaica: Sights & Tips Seven Mile Beach in Negril Welcome to what is said to be Jamaica’s most beautiful beach! Seven Mile Beach makes island dreams come true. The finest, bright sand and turquoise-blue water await you here.
To avoid confusion: Seven Mile Beach consists of two beach sections, more precisely a small bay called Bloody Bay as well as south of it the much longer beach called Long Bay. Bloody Bay tends to be quieter, while Long Bay has more bars, hotels and the like.
Despite all the infrastructure, you can really look forward to dreamlike Caribbean flair . The hotels are all located behind the palm trees and are not (allegedly) allowed to rise above them.
Seven Mile Beach is generally open to the public, however some sections (particularly in front of the major hotels) are private. This has the advantage that only comparatively few souvenir sellers are out and about. If you like it more lonely, you should walk towards south. The beach here is just as beautiful, but you’re almost alone here.
Our tip: Seven Mile Beach faces west. Therefore, you can marvel at fantastically beautiful sunsets here. Don’t miss it!
Top Sight: Rick’s Cafe Unwritten law: One must not leave Jamaica without having been here once. Rick’s Café is something of a institution in Jamaica and enjoys cult status. The restaurant built on a rock on the cliff edge is definitely one of the most iconic sights in the country.
Rick’s Café is known for its cliff divers. From good 20 meters high, locals in particular plunge into the depths and perform daring head jumps and front somersaults.
We felt weak at the knees just by looking at it, but if you still want to get a adrenaline kick, you should take the plunge. You don’t have to start right at the top, there are also several jump ramps that are much lower.
By the way, the prices are high by Jamaican standards, but the atmosphere is really great. What could be nicer than toasting the sunset with a cold Red Stripe beer and live reggae music. Speaking of live music: Bob Marley is said to have performed here once. At least they still play their old hits here today.
Our tip: Katamaran- Tour to Rick’s Cafe You can of course visit Rick’s Cafe on your own. But what we can also highly recommend is a catamaran tour along the coast of Negril.
Our tour started in the early afternoon. First we went to a snorkeling spot. To be honest: The underwater world was quite nice to look at, but not a big highlight. However, it is quite an experience to get to know Jamaica from a boat . You should definitely take your bathing suit with you, you can borrow snorkeling gear. We docked in front of Rick’s Café just before sunset.
You can book the tour here: Catamaran to Rick’s Café
Mayfield Falls We present: E nes of our highlights on our Jamaica trip! The river hike along the Mayfield Falls is pure jungle feeling.
There are two waterfalls along the river (the larger one is called “The Washing Machine”) as well as countless pools in which you can swim. The trail goes upstream on cascades for about an hour.
It is best to bring bathing suits and shoes that you can wear in the water. A guide is not absolutely necessary, but recommended. He makes sure nothing happens and shows you one or the other underground cave that you can dive through.
You can book a tour here: Mayfield Falls
About Mayfield Falls Address: Hertford to Flower Hill Main Road, Pennycooke (we have marked the address on the map)Opening hours: daily from 8 to 14: 20 WatchEntry: 25 USD per personFurther information: There is a small restaurant at the entrance, lockers and you can also borrow waterproof shoes, if you don’t have your own.
Other famous waterfalls in Jamaica There are many other beautiful waterfalls in Jamaica. The most beautiful and therefore also the best known are the Dunn’s River Falls and the YS Falls.
The problem with Dunn’s River Falls is that they are within walking distance of a ferry port and are therefore usually extremely crowded. The YS Falls are a little quieter. If you have the choice, we would rather choose the second. Both waterfalls cost about 20 USD entrance fee.
Bamboo Rafting on the Martha Brae River A amazing natural setting awaits you on a raft trip on the Martha Brae River. “Rafting” is probably the wrong term. You can expect a leisurely ride here rather than an adventurous whitewater experience. We can still highly recommend the excursion.
The raft is about 6 meters long and you sit slightly elevated at the end of the raft, while the captain stands in front and points the way with a bamboo stick. Depending on the water level, the trip takes one to one and a half hours. There are a few souvenir sellers on the bank – but they only stop if you want to.
Info to the raft ride Starting and ending point: It starts at Martha Brae Rafting Village (we marked the address on the map for you), about 45 drive from Montego Bay. If you are traveling with your own car, you must organize a driver at the end point to take you back to the starting point. If you have booked a tour, you don’t have to worry about it.Equipment:
Man won’t get wet if you don’t want it to. Swimming trunks are advisable, but not a must. You can take your camera with you without any problems. Price: 70 USD per raft (2 people).
You can book your tour in advance here: Bamboo Rafting
Roaring River and Cave Another attraction in Jamaica that we can recommend , is the Roaring River. The river flows underground for most of its journey before bursting to the surface in Petersfield. The pond landscape is really beautiful to look at.
But the main attraction is the Roaring River Cave, a limestone cave where you can even swim can. Since the cave is relatively dark, you can only enter it with a guide.
Unfortunately, one reads on the internet that so-called tour guides like to rip you off locally, so we recommend that you be careful if you come with your own car. If you organize the tour through your hotel, the drivers usually know which tour guides are trustworthy.
Information on the Roaring River Cave Address: Petersfield (we marked the point on the map for you).
Price: You can visit the springs for free, the cave costs about 10 Dollar entrance fee. There are also the costs for a guide.
Greenwood Great House Many magnificent mansions in Jamaica are reminiscent of the former colonial era. One of the best known and best preserved mansions in Jamaica is the over 200 year old Greenwood Great House.
Once the family of Elizabeth Barrett-Browning, the famous English poet, lived here. The house is one of the few plantation houses that survived the slave rebellion of 1931 without prejudice have survived. Means: the interior is still from the 16. Century.
At a 45 minute tour you will get a great insight into the history of the family and Jamaica. By the way, the house is still inhabited.
Information about the Greenwood Great House
Address: 256 Belgrade Avenue St James, Jamaica
Opening hours: daily from 9 to 18 o’clock (last tour at Watch)
Price: 18 USD per person
Other mansions in Jamaica Very close to Greenwood Great House, just 15 away by car, There is another important building that we unfortunately didn’t visit: the Rose Hall Great House. The old mansion is said to be haunted. A tour costs 18 USD per person.
3. Where to eat best in Jamaica: Tips for restaurants The most important tip First of all: If you really want to eat well, then in most cases you should move outside the high hotel walls. Because the real, authentic Jamaican food is mainly served in the many small street bars.
Abroad, Jamaican cuisine is best known for its jerk. Meat or seafood is marinated with a spicy-sweet spice mixture and then prepared using a special grilling technique. It’s worth trying, but unfortunately there are no vegetarian options for the national dish.
Vegetarians and vegans should look out for the term “Ital”. Ital is the name for the diet of the Rastafarians (i.e. the followers of the Rastafari movement). Animal products are avoided here as much as possible. So Ital Food is often (not always!) vegetarian or vegan.
You shouldn’t miss the exotic fruits, which find the best conditions in the tropical climate. You can buy fresh fruit, juices or chilled coconuts on practically every street corner.
Our restaurant tips for Jamaica Zimbali’s Mountain Cooking Studio (30 Minutes from Negril): Quite an insider tip and one of the trendiest restaurants in Jamaica is Zimbali’s Mountain Cooking Studio. The restaurant (which is part of the retreat of the same name) is tucked away in upstate Jamaica, about 30 minutes drive from Negril. A 4-course (lunchtime) or 5-course (evening) menu awaits you here at its finest. Most of the ingredients are sourced from own cultivation. Our verdict: Just great, don’t miss it!
Murphy’s West End Restaurant (Negril): If you’re staying on Negril Beach, you should definitely try Murphy’s pay a visit. We went here twice because we liked it so much. The restaurant is best known for its fish and seafood. But there are also a few vegetarian options. You sit outside here, but under cover – the employees are super nice and helpful.
Just Natural (Negril): The Just Natural is nice a Negril institution for many years. Vegetarian dishes, seafood and Italian food are served here. You should definitely try the freshly squeezed juices! The atmosphere in the restaurant, which is more like a tropical garden, is very special, a bit quirky but absolutely lovely.
Scotchies (Montego Bay): This Jamaican eatery is THE spot for jerk. The supposedly best jerk in Jamaica is served here. We can’t confirm that, but you always eat well. The ambience in Scotchies is rustic and cozy – you sit here in a kind of courtyard or garden.
4. Hotel tips for Jamaica: Information & Experiences First things first: Who small boutique Hotels expected, will unfortunately have a hard time. In Jamaica large hotel complexes are the rule and not the exception. Above all, the good locations on the beach are mostly occupied by well-known hotel chains.
The package tourism in Jamaica is mainly due to the many guests from the USA strongly represented. Many hotels have therefore also specialized in honeymoon vacationers and offer special packages.
That means: You really have to look with a magnifying glass for the alternatives to large all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica. However, we still have some hotel recommendations for you. So if you are planning a Jamaica tour through the west, then follow our hotel tips.
Jamaica round trip: Our hotel recommendations 1. Stop: Negril Let’s start at the heavenly, snow-white Seven Mile Beach. That’s where this little gem of a hotel called Idle Awhile Beach is located. Unlike in large hotel complexes, the atmosphere here is pleasantly personal and informal. Simply gorgeous!
The rooms are traditionally and tastefully furnished. From some you even have a direct view of the turquoise blue sea. Our conclusion: It can definitely be endured here. The perfect hotel for the first days in Jamaica!
You can book the hotel here: Idle Awhile Beach
2. Stop: Treasure Beach Secluded, sleepy and away from the crowds – that’s Treasure Beach in the Describe southern Jamaica. The ideal accommodation for your time there is the Jakes.
You stay here in simple, natural and very colorful bungalows or rooms. You have to like the hippie flair, but one thing is certain: The Jakes definitely stood out from the range of all-inclusive hotels.
You can book the hotel here: Jakes
3. Stop (optional): Blue Mountains To the east of Jamaica are the Blue Mountains, Jamaica’s most famous mountain region. If you also want to travel to this part of Jamaica, we can only warmly recommend the Hotel Strawberry Hill. The location in the middle of the jungle and the view towards Kingston are fantastic.
You can book the hotel here: Strawberry Hill
4. Stop: Montego Bay Although we usually prefer small, family-run boutique hotels, we have Made an exception in Jamaica and stayed at the RIU Palace Hotel in Montego Bay. And what can we say: Good decision!
The hotel (adults only) is located directly on the beach. Our conclusion: In this exclusive all-inclusive hotel you can really switch off – simply wonderful! The ideal hotel for the last few days in Jamaica.
You can book the hotel here: RIU Palace Hotel in Montego Bay
5. Travel expenses Jamaica: This is how much money you need Currency and Payment in Jamaica The national currency of Jamaica is Jamaica Dollar (abbreviated J$ or JMD). Locally, the currency is usually called “Jay”. One euro is roughly equivalent to 70 J $.
Due to the geographical proximity and the large number of tourists from the USA, the US dollar (USD) is also very widespread. In regions that are well developed for tourism, many prices are often only written in USD.
We have done well with a combination of US and Jamaican dollars. For example, we paid for tours with USD, smaller purchases with Jays (J$). You can get Jays either directly at the ATM or you can change in an exchange office. Attention: Do not change your money at the airport, because the exchange rate there is usually extremely bad.
Travel costs in Jamaica: price level and price examples How much does it cost in Jamaica…?
Double room in a nice hotel in Negril: 90 until 200 Euro per night (or more) Admission to the famous Dunn’s River Falls: 18 USDCatamaran Tour to Rick’s Cafe: approx. 70 EuroCocktail at Rick’s Cafe: 7-9 USDMeal in a rather simple restaurant for two people incl. drinks: 20-30 Euro As you can probably tell already: Jamaica is definitely not a cheap travel destination. Above all, the prices for nice hotels and the entrance fees or tours to the sights are quite expensive.
Restaurant prices are also sometimes steep (although you can also eat cheaply at street stalls). One of the reasons for this is that a lot has to be imported. And then of course there is the long flight, which also costs a few hundred euros.
6. More tips for Jamaica: arrival, safety & Co Arrival and entry to Jamaica From Germany there are direct flights from Frankfurt with Condor to Jamaica. The flight time is approximately Hours. You don’t end up in the capital Kingston, but in Montego Bay in the west of the island.
Alternatively (or if you are traveling from Austria, for example) you have to make at least one stopover. Flight connections via the USA or Canada (e.g. Toronto) are popular. Important: It is important to remember that you have to apply for an ESTA (USA) or eTA (Canada) here!
Entering Jamaica is uncomplicated and free of charge. For tourist trips shorter than 45 days, there is no visa requirement. All you have to do is fill out an immigration form and make sure that your passport is still valid for at least six months.
You can search for cheap flights here: Skyscanner
Best time to travel to Jamaica You can basically travel to Jamaica all year round. The temperatures are warm all year round and range between 25 and 30 Centigrade. At night the temperatures drop a little.
The European winter is ideal for a trip to Jamaica, because from December to April there is a dry season on the Caribbean island . Then it tends to rain little – one or the other shower is not excluded.
Rainy season prevails in May and June and from September to November. Then there is usually more precipitation. It often rains really hard for an hour or two before the sun comes out again. Also worth mentioning is the hurricane season, which runs approximately from July to November in the Caribbean. Hurricanes are most likely to occur in August and September.
We would personally leave out Christmas as well as other peaks like Easter or Spring Break. Then not only is there a lot more going on, but the hotel prices usually shoot up.
Safety: Is Jamaica a safe country to travel to? There are many myths circulating about whether Jamaica is a safe or unsafe travel destination. We would like to explain this briefly and describe our personal experiences.
Fact is: Of course Jamaica is less safe than Austria or Germany. The reason for this is quite simple: gang crime. Jamaica has one of the highest murder rates in the world! As bad as it is for the local people, as a tourist you usually don’t come into contact with it.
The risk of becoming a victim of a robbery is low – but of course it is, like in any other place in the world. More likely are pickpockets, which happen again and again.
We can recommend the following to make your trip to Jamaica as safe as possible:
Carry valuables close to your body or leave them at home altogether. Most of the time, raids happen in the dark . Therefore avoid dark, secluded alleys at night (especially in the capital Kingston) or inquire (e.g. in the hotel) which areas you should better not enter. Listen to your common sense. If you have a bad gut feeling somewhere, take it seriously. What you you should always keep in mind: Tourism is an important economic factor in Jamaica. The locals are therefore very interested in you being able to travel through the country with a good feeling. We never unsic ourselves in Jamaica felt here.
For current assessments of the security situation we would like to refer you to the website of the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Jamaica Travel Advice.
7. Map: Sights & highlights at a glance To give you a better overview of the If you can get the location of the individual sights in Jamaica, we have drawn our highlights on this map for you.
29339Transparency: Invitation & Affiliate Links29341
We were invited by TUI on the trip to beautiful Jamaica – thank you very much! Our opinions and experiences are of course unaffected by this. This blog article contains our personal recommendations in the form of so-called affiliate links. If you book or buy something through the links, we will receive a small commission. For you, this does not change the price at all. A thousand thanks from both of us!
And now tell me: Have you been to Jamaica? What are your experiences? Which sights did you particularly like? Do you have any other travel tips you would like to share with us? We look forward to your comment!
