If you’re looking for a great travel deal, check out Jamaica’s all-inclusive resorts, where food, drink, recreation, and gratuities are all covered with one starting price. Jamaica is part of the Greater Antilles islands, a sovereign nation just 145 miles long and 50 miles wide. The original inhabitants were the Taino Indians who named the island Xaymaca which means The Land of Springs. When Christopher Columbus arrived in 1494, he found more than two hundred villages ruled by local Taino chiefs and promptly declared the island a Spanish colony.
The first Spanish settlement in Jamaica was called Sevilla, near St. Ann’s Bay, but it finally had to be abandoned in 1554 due to frequent pirate attacks. In 1655, the English, led by Admiral William Penn, drove out the Spanish and made Jamaica a Crown colony. Jamaica gained its independence in 1962, where it remains a member of the British Commonwealth. During the two centuries of British rule, Jamaica became a producer of sugar for export, largely populated by slaves. Eventually, the black population of Jamaica came to outnumber the white population twenty to one. The final emancipation of Jamaican slaves was decreed in 1838. When the slave trade was abolished in 1807, the British brought Chinese and Indian indentured servants to augment the workforce, and the descendants of these Asian laborers still live in Jamaica and have influenced life on the island. culture and gastronomy.
One of the most popular beach resort areas in Jamaica is Negril, which comes from the Spanish word for black and refers to the black cliffs south of town. Many travel magazines have rated Negril on Jamaica’s southwest coast as one of the top ten beaches in the world. In addition to its seaside resort, Negril is also located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Royal Palm Reserve on the Negril River has protected wetlands that aid in the formation of coral sand on the beach. The Negril Marine Park with its varied coral reef ecosystems attracts divers and snorkelers from all over the world. The lighthouse on West End Road offers panoramic views of the beach. Don’t miss watching cliff jumpers and spectacular sunsets.
Another great destination for diving and water sports is Ocho Rios, on the north coast of Jamaica. Ocho Rios was originally a fishing village, but has now become the second most popular tourist destination in Jamaica. It is an hour and forty-five minute drive from the Montego Bay International Airport. In addition to its luxurious resorts, Ocho Rios hotels are located near the fabulous Dunn’s River Falls, where the water cascades into the sea from a height of 695 feet. Visitors can climb the falls, which are fed by springs in the hills beyond. Another popular attraction is Dophin Cove, where visitors can swim and interact with live dolphins. In addition to the local entertainment scene, nearby Margaritaville boasts buzzing nightclubs and world-class gourmet restaurants.
