Everybody knows Jamaica as the home of Bob Marley, but there’s more to it than just reggae and Rastafarians. The third-largest island in the Caribbean has everything – wonderful white-sand beaches, mountains, waterfalls, wildlife and the best coffee in the world. Kingston is its lively capital, surprising visitors with elegant, old colonial houses against the stunning backdrop of the Blue Mountains. Jamaica has gained a reputation for violence, and there certainly are no-go areas in Kingston, but most Jamaicans are overwhelmingly friendly and fun-loving.
The two main tourist resorts are Negril and Montego Bay, Jamaica’s second city – known to one and all as Mo’ Bay. Negril boasts one of the longest beaches in the country, some 11km (7m) of it, with all the water sports one would expect in a lively resort. But just a little way along the coast, one will find ‘the real Jamaica’ with fishing villages like Treasure Beach, Port Antonio and Oracabessa providing quieter retreats.
Tourism grows, encouraged by the governing People’s National Party that won its third successive victory in the 1997 elections. Many visitors return as they succumb to Jamaica’s charms, the beautiful scenery, the warmth of the people; and of course, wherever you go, there is always music, music, music.
