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Jamaica is
ranked #2 among this year's Top 10
honeymoon hotspots! |
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Jamaica
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Long, long
ago—back
when
nature’s gifts were being doled out—Jamaica strolled off with
far more than
her share. Situated about 90 miles south of Cuba, Jamaica, 146 miles long and 50 miles at
its widest point, is the third-largest island in the Caribbean Sea.
Jamaica is crammed with
huge waterfalls, mysterious grottos, deep caves, high mountains, lush
rainforests, thick mangroves, 120 rivers, and a great many fertile fields. In the north
you'll revel in reef-protected white sand beaches; in the south you'll
fall in love with gorgeous black sand beaches. And everywhere are those
stunning turquoise seas.
All that
and a vibrant, influential culture besides. It’s amazing to think of how
much good stuff has emanated from this small island and become a permanent
part of the world arena. Reggae & ska & dancehall. Bob Marley, Peter Tosh,
Jimmy Cliff, Shaggy, Grace Jones, Desmond Dekker, Third World Band. Red
Stripe beer & Blue Mountain coffee & Jerk chicken.
Also
See: Caribbean Index |
Antigua & Barbuda |
Aruba |
Bahamas |
Barbados |
Bermuda |
Caymans |
Curaçao |
Grenada |
Martinique |
Puerto Rico |
St. Croix |
St. John |
St. Lucia |
St. Thomas |
Turks & Caicos |
Virgin Gorda/BVI
Yet, it
must be said: with its poverty, racial tension, political upheavals, and
high crime rates, Jamaica isn’t always safe. If you come here, be
cautious—particularly in Kingston, which is noted for violent crime.
On
the plus side, Jamaica is a wildly popular honeymoon
destination—especially, but not only, with couples who want to
avoid checkout-shock by going all-inclusive. In fact, when the first
Sandals resort opened in Montego Bay back in the mid-1980s, Jamaica
became the birthplace of the "it's-all-included concept. If all-inclusive doesn’t
rock your boat—no problem, mon! You’ll find plenty of
moderate-to-luxurious hotels and resorts, not to mention fully furnished
villas, around the island.
Where you choose to hunker
down
in Jamaica will dictate a good deal about the basic "personality" of your
honeymoon. Here's a brief rundown:
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Montego Bay,
located on the north coast, is Jamaica's top destination (and home to the
international airport). "Mo Bay," as it's often called, is loaded with
resorts, attractions, night life, restaurants, water sports, and golfing.
The duty-free shopping is superb. Beaches can be crowded, but they're
beautiful. You'll find plenty of opportunities for daytrips outside the
city. Personality: active, lively, high fun quotient.
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Runaway Bay is
popular with couples who like being close to—but don't want to "live with"—Montego
Bay's action. Golf, scuba, and other sports are close at hand here, as are
the exceptional beaches with their protective outer reef. Personality:
Fairly quiet, outdoorsy.
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Ocho Rios is
a lush area with waterfalls and gardens—and a wide diversity of
accommodation, including some of Jamaica's finest resorts. Personality:
active and fun.
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Port Antonio
is known for its untouched beauty and captivating blend of Victorian and
Caribbean architecture. This region has the highest waves in the island
and is great for surfing. Personality: peaceful. Legendary film star and
lothario Errol Flynn once called Port Antonio "the most beautiful woman I
ever laid eyes on."
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Negril, the
furthest west of Jamaica's towns, has a bohemian reputation; this is where
you'll find nudist beaches and a do-your- own-thing
environment. Negril has many big resorts offering all sorts of amenities,
but not much exciting happening in the surrounding community. Personality:
relaxed, as risqué as you want it to be.
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The South
Coast has little tourist infrastructure, although the coming of
Sandals' upscale Whitheouse Resort in 2006 may begin to change that. Personality:
extremely peaceful.
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Kingston, Jamaica's
capital, is where you'll find music, art, and dance. The
National Gallery
is here, and it's definitely worth a visit. Kingston is also the entry
point to the famed Blue Mountain region. Personality: brimming with
creativity (but please keep Kingston's high crime rate uppermost in mind
if you visit here).
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The Blue Mountains
are a lush place of
high peaks, deep valleys, and mists. Most of the island's 120 rivers
originate here. The highest point, Blue Mountain Peak, rises nearly 7500
feet above sea level. Tucked away in these mountains are a few places to stay. Personality: serene and beautiful.
No matter where your
accommodations are located, though, try to get out and see some of the
island. All resorts and most hotels offer half- and full-day excursions to
the most popular spots. Rent a car if you're willing to
tackle (1) driving on the left side of the road; (2) frequent potholes;
and, (3) a devil-may-care attitude among many residents when it comes to
the rules of
the road.
YS Falls: You get to this
wonderful,
7-tiered waterfall on the South Coast via a tractor-drawn jitney that
winds slowly from the parking lot, through a ranch that breeds
thoroughbred horses and Jamaica Red Poll cattle, to a garden filled with
colorful indigenous flora. From there you walk to the springs-fed falls, a
few of which cascade into peaceful pools where you can hang out and cool
off. You can also swing into a deep pool from a hanging rope, like Tarzan;
or, when river conditions are safe, go tubing in the river. The number of
visitors allowed into the falls each day is limited, which makes a trip to
YS Falls a
genuinely enjoyable experience.
Blue Mountain-John Crow Mountains National Park: This 194,000-acre
park on the eastern end of Jamaica contains virgin forests mahogany,
cedar, broadleaf, and mahoe—thereby constituting one of the largest
migratory and indigenous bird habitats in the Caribbean. In fact, 28 bird
species are found at
Blue-John Crow Mountains NP and nowhere else, including the yellow-billed
parrot, Jamaican blackbird, and ring-tailed pigeon. If you come, keep an
eye out for the giant swallowtail butterfly, second largest butterfly on
earth. You'll find a diversity of hiking trails, from the short, gentle
Holywell trail that makes its way through the forest to the steep and
rigorous Blue Mountain Peak trail—after 7 miles, you'll end up at the
island's highest point surrounded by killer views. Then, too, you could
just find an isolated picnic spot with its own gorgeous view and
indulge...
Beachin' It: Mo
Bay's 5-mile long Doctor's Cave Beach, with its white sands, see-through
waters, and excellent snorkeling from shore, is a beach that seems to
please just about everybody (which, unfortunately, makes it the island's
most crowded beach as well). ~ Negril's Seven Mile Beach
stretches for just that many breathtakingly beautiful miles, with some
sections reserved for nudist sunbathers. ~ On the South Coast, Treasure Beach is dramatic and beautiful,
with big crashing waves—you have a good chance of having the beach to
yourselves. ~ Besides its golden sands and turquoise waters, Port
Antonio's Boston Bay Beach is famed for its
surfing community and jerk food stands.
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Local Comfort Food:
The two essential ingredients of Jamaican jerk are allspice berry and the
oh-so-hot Scotch bonnet pepper. Other ingredients get added to the mix
according to the chef's taste, and can include nutmeg, thyme, cloves,
cinnamon, garlic, and scallions. This marinade, which can be wet or dry,
is rubbed onto (traditionally) chicken, pork, goat, or fish (and, less
traditionally, anything from sausage to tofu). The food is then
barbecued—a wood fire is best—and devoured. This simple food has
traveled across the planet and is now familiar almost everywhere. You'll
find jerk stands all over Jamaica. Try a few, and you'll see that each
chef adds his or her own twist to this delectable dish. Another dish
you may want to try while you're here is Saltfish and Ackee, Jamaica's
"National Dish." BTW: the word jerk, it's said, comes from the
Spanish word charqui, which means jerked or dried meat. In English
the word eventually became jerky.
»»Check out
other comfort foods
in the
USA and
around the world
Cranbrook
Flower Forest: This beautiful eco-park is a must-see for anyone who
wants to experience the lush beauty of Jamaica without the crowds. Located
in St. Ann, about 18 miles west of Ocho Rios, the 130-acre park's tropical
gardens are filled with plants like birds of paradise, croton, orchids,
ginger, bromeliads, heliconia and begonias—as well as formal lawns,
serene pools, and a tropical rain forest. The highlight: a hiking trail
along Little River stretches beneath a bamboo canopy and leads to the
river's origin, where it rises from beneath the ground to form a clear,
inviting pool.
More Info:
Jamaica
Tourism
honeymoon,great honeymoon,greatest
honeymoons,honeymooners
All written material ©WGH ~ Photos: Suzanne Rodriguez (Flowers in Pot
at YS Falls); Creative Commons/Rappensuncle
(Woman on deck at Montego Bay, Jamaica Beach); Creative Commons/David G (Negril sunset);
Wikipedia/Whitebox (jerk spice); Cranbrook Flower Forest.
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