Jamaica Public Holidays

During public holidays, expect all government offices and most retail establishments to close. See our Calendar of Monthly Events January 1 New Year’s Day February-March Ash Wednesday March or April Good Friday and Easter Monday May 23 Labour Day August 1 Emancipation Day August 6 Independence Day October (3rd Mon.) National Heroes Day December 25 […]

Jamaica People & Culture

It is estimated that nearly 750,000 enslaved persons were brought to Jamaica between 1655 and 1807 (about 200,000 were then sent to the Spanish isles). The slaves came primarily from the west coast of Africa, mostly from the Gold Coast (now Ghana) and Biafra (now primarily Nigeria). In addition, many immigrants arrived from elsewhere around […]

National symbols

National Flag: With a diagonal gold cross, the background of the flag is black (the left and right triangles) and green (the top and bottom triangles). Each color is symbolic: the black stands for hardship, the green for both hope and the fertile land, and the gold for wealth and sunshine. The flag’s symbolism is […]

Government

The island is divided into three counties: Cornwall, Middlesex and Surrey. These counties (whose designations are used infrequently) are then divided into 14 parishes (whose designations you will often hear). The parishes of Jamaica are Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Thomas, Portland, St. Mary, St. Ann, Trelawny, St. James, Hanover, Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, Manchester, Clarendon and […]

Bites & stings etc.

Things You Want to AvoidRemember when your mom told you, “Look but don’t touch?” Those words of wisdom come in handy here. Although most plants and animals are harmless, you’ll find a few creepy crawlies both in and out of the water as well as some plants that are best avoided:   Cockspur (Caesalpinia bonduc): […]

Climate

Temperatures The average annual temperature is 82°, but expect temperatures to be hotter during afternoon hours (and feel much hotter because of high humidity levels). Fortunately, the island is blessed with northeasterly trade winds that keep you from sweltering no matter what time of year. CLIMATE CHART (Kingston) By Month JanuaryHigh/Low (F): 86/67Rain Days: 3 […]

Geography

Jamaica’s geography is, unlike that on some of its Caribbean neighbors, diverse. While many tropical islands are flat and featureless, Jamaica is large enough to have a full menu of topographical features – mountains, waterfalls, rivers, forests, plains, caves, bays, beaches. RiversThe island covers over 4,000 square miles. Mountains run like a backbone down the […]

Fast facts

FAST FACTS Location:90 miles south of Cuba Size: 4,411 square miles.Slightly smaller than the state of Connecticut in the U.S. Length: 146 miles Width: 22-51 miles Average Temp. 82° F Climate:Tropical. Hot, Humid, temperate interior. Average Rainfall 78 inches annually Population:2.6 million (July 2000 estimate). Annual population growth rate is 0.46%Kingston, 800,000; Montego Bay, 82,000; […]

History

The Arawak Indians, early residents who arrived from South America around 650 AD, named the island Xaymaca or “land of wood and water.” They lived peacefully on the land and the sea’s bounty. Jamaica, the Caribbean’s third-largest island, was visited by Christopher Columbus in 1494 on his second voyage to the New World. When the […]

Overview

Welcome to Jamaica the third largest island of the Caribben and the birthplace of Bob Marley and James Bond. A place that is both unique and familiar with beaches that strecth “clear blue” forever. And the seemingly endless hours of warm Caribbean sunshine. A trip to Jamaica may include river rafting, waterfall climbing, horseback riding, […]