A little more
Jamaica.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Jamaica: what to know before you go

Jamaica is a mountainous Caribbean island of beaches, rivers and waterfalls, the birthplace of reggae and home to a strong food culture of jerk, patties and Blue Mountain coffee. It suits beach holidays, but also travellers who want to hike, raft and explore beyond the resort strips of Montego Bay and Negril.

Where to go

• The Blue Mountains. Cool, misty mountains rising behind Kingston, where Blue Mountain coffee is grown.
• Kingston. The capital is the heart of Jamaican music and culture, with the Bob Marley Museum in his former home, the National Gallery of Jamaica and Devon House, a nineteenth-century mansion known for its ice cream.
• Port Royal. At the tip of the Palisadoes spit near Kingston, Port Royal was once a notorious pirate base until much of it sank in an earthquake in 1692.
• Negril. On the west coast, Seven Mile Beach has long stretches of sand and calm water, while the West End has limestone cliffs where people swim and dive into the sea and watch the sunset.

Best time to visit

The drier months, roughly mid-December to April, are the most popular, with warm, sunny weather and lower humidity; this is also when prices are highest. May to November is the wetter season, with short, heavy showers and lush landscapes, and the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, with the highest risk from August to October.

Staying online in Jamaica

4G coverage is good in Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Negril and along the main coastal highways. Signal becomes weaker in the Blue Mountains, the Cockpit Country and other interior areas, and around some remote beaches. Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, resorts and many cafés, though it may be slow at busy times. WhatsApp is widely used to contact drivers and guides. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.