Jamaica travel guide

Overview

Most first trips start on the north and west coasts. Montego Bay has Doctor's Cave Beach, the Hip Strip and Rose Hall; Negril is about 1.5 hours by road for Rick's Cafe and its sunsets; Ocho Rios, about 2 hours east of Montego Bay, has Dunn's River Falls, Mystic Mountain and Green Grotto Caves. Kingston, about 2 hours south of Ocho Rios, adds the Bob Marley Museum, Devon House and Port Royal.

The dry season runs from December to April. May to November is the wet season, with rainy spells in May and June and from September to November, and hurricanes are possible from June to November. Temperatures stay between 19 and 32 C all year.

When to go

BestGo with a plan

janBestfebBestmarBestaprBestmayRainyjunRainyjulRainyaugRainysepRainyoctRainynovRainydecBest

Hurricane season runs from June to November, so check forecasts and cancellation terms if you travel then.

Every month in detail: weather and recent fares

Itineraries

[Photo: Montego Bay]

Montego Bay in 2 daysSam Sharpe Square, Rose Hall, Doctor's Cave Beach, Hip Strip, Negril Lighthouse, Long Bay, Seven Mile Beach, Rick's CafeBalanced pace

[Photo: Jamaica]

Jamaica in 5 daysRose Hall, Doctor's Cave Beach, Rick's Cafe, Green Grotto Caves, Dunn's River Falls, Island Gully Falls, Mystic Mountain, Bob Marley MuseumBalanced pace

Where to stay

KingstonNew Kingston for hotels near the main sights and restaurants; the hills above the city for views and quiet; the waterfront and Port Royal side for the airport road.Best areas to stay in Kingston Hotels in Kingston

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Montego BayThe Hip Strip (Gloucester Avenue) for beaches, bars and restaurants on foot; the hills above the city for quiet; Rose Hall for resorts near the Great House; Negril for a beach-and-sunset base.Best areas to stay in Montego Bay Hotels in Montego Bay

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Ocho RiosCentral Ocho Rios for the beach, craft market and jerk centres on foot; the hills of St. Ann for quiet; resort and villa stretches along the coast for beach days.Best areas to stay in Ocho Rios Hotels in Ocho Rios

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Getting around

Airports: Jamaica has three international airports: Sangster in Montego Bay, Norman Manley in Kingston and Ian Fleming near Ocho Rios.
Montego Bay to Negril: Allow about 1.5 hours by road, longer in heavy traffic.
By car: Drive on the left; toll highways run along the north coast and across the island, and country and mountain roads are narrow and winding.
Taxis and buses: Licensed route taxis show red PPV or white P plates, charter taxis are arranged through hotels, and JUTC buses serve Kingston.
Kingston airport: Norman Manley International Airport is about 20 min from Downtown Kingston along the Palisadoes road.

Before you go

Travel insuranceHealth insurance from home often doesn't cover care abroad. Check what your plan includes, then compare travel cover for your dates, especially if you travel in hurricane season.

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Phone dataMobile data helps with taxi bookings, hours that change by day and hotel check-ins between the north and west coasts.How a travel eSIM works

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