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KingstonThe capital of Jamaica, Kingston jives to the beat of the infectious reggae music that was born here and has swept through the world. It is the largest English-speaking city south of Miami, lying on a wide plain with the world's seventh-largest natural harbor to the south, and the Blue Mountains behind.
Jamaica itself may have the image of being laid back and rather slow, but cosmopolitan Kingston moves at a fast pace, in keeping with its importance as the dominant force on the island politically, commercially and culturally.
Tourists tend not to stay in Kingston
as such, generally heading for the northern and western beaches and resorts instead, but the city does have a wide array of historical and cultural attractions, not to mention a very sophisticated and sizzling nightlife.
Kingston was founded in 1692 after the demise of nearby Port Royal, the former capital, which was devastated in an earthquake. Port Royal was known as the 'wicked city', being the haunt of decadent aristocrats and swashbuckling pirates. Kingston has tried to be more dignified, but it is a little grimy and crime is rife. There are also some inner city neighborhoods to avoid, which are more prone to drug-related killings and gang violence.
Getting Around: Public transport is not recommended to visitors to Kingston due to overcrowding and unsafe conditions aboard the buses, and driving conditions are chaotic. Downtown is easily navigable on foot, but walking anywhere at night is not advisable. Taxis come in various shapes, sizes and vintages, but should bear a red license plate with the letters 'PPV' indicating it is an authorized taxi. Passengers should negotiate a fare before setting off.
Montego BayThe north coast of Jamaica is the island's popular 'Riviera' area, and at the center of this resort paradise is Montego Bay, known affectionately as 'MoBay' to locals and regular visitors. The area has a sparkling 10-mile (16km) shoreline, fronted by coral reefs and aquamarine blue lagoons, backed by green hills shrouded in sugar cane, banana palms and lush tropical vegetation.
Christopher Columbus was the first European tourist to step ashore at Montego Bay in 1494. Now the Spanish settlement that was founded in 1510 has grown into Jamaica's second city, but it is first choice for holidaymakers. The beaches in the area are picture-postcard perfect and visitors can choose from a variety of recreations, from bird watching to music festivals; golfing to riding a river on a bamboo raft.
The MoBay area also has some fascinating historical perspectives, not all of them pleasant, that live on preserved in the legends and a stories surrounding the few remaining great plantation houses belonging to dynastic families that grew rich from slave labor in past centuries. Several of these are open to the public.
Ocho RiosThe port town of Ocho Rios used to survive on the strength of fishing and banana boats, but now it is the daily arrival of cruise ships full of tourists that keep the coffers full all along the northeast coast of Jamaica. Ocho Rios and its near neighbors Runaway Bay, Discovery Bay and Port Antonio are mainly clusters of holiday resorts and hotels, catering for package-deal holidaymakers and several celebrities who maintain their private retreats in the region.
Ocho Rios cannot claim to be a genuine Jamaican experience, and is filled with tourist paraphernalia. Because of the need to entertain thousands of fun-seekers, the natural and historical attractions of the area have been commercialized and controlled. There is plenty to see and do in between bathing and sun-worshipping on the magnificent beaches, from climbing up waterfalls to horseback riding through sugar cane plantations, or taking afternoon tea at the former home of British playwright/songwriter, Noel Coward.
The surrounding countryside at Ocho Rios (sited in the 'Garden Parish' of St. Ann) is lush and tropical, with fern-clad cliffs and breathtaking waterfalls, and a self-drive tour of the region to take in the scenery, like a drive through the famous three-mile vine-draped Fern Gully, is well worthwhile.
Ocho Rios is a town dedicated to fun and sun, a crossroads of pleasure and leisure full of surprises and delights, in the center of Jamaica's vacation wonderland.
NegrilJamaica's western edge is a laid-back haven where there is little to do other than sit back, relax and enjoy the renowned gorgeous sunsets, in between beach bathing and partying. Center of this hedonistic haven is Negril, dubbed the 'capital of casual', a sunny resort town that despite its popularity and proliferation of tourist accommodation has managed to retain the sleepy tropical charm that first seduced seekers of sun and solitude when it was 'discovered' in the 1960s.
It was the hippies and flower children who first found Negril, a part of Jamaica appreciated for being different from the over-developed package tour market of Montego Bay. Negril still attracts a young crowd, and the beachfront bars and cafes are abuzz each night with reggae music and wild partying. Along with the party people, however, Negril is favored also by those just wanting to get away from it all. It sports its famous seven-mile (11km) stretch of pristine beach, encircling Bloody Bay, and five miles (8km) of cliffs, where locals and visitors alike dare each other to indulge in some extreme cliff-diving, sometimes from ropes. The coral reefs and caves along the coast make it a scuba diver's and snorkeller's dream come true, and for active visitors there is the chance to take part in just about any watersport imaginable. Adventure seekers can venture by kayak into the mysterious Great Morass (a protected area full of palm trees, exotic birds and crocodiles).
South CoastThe south of Jamaica is the most unspoilt part of this Caribbean island where the true heart of the nation still beats, relatively untouched by the tourist boom evident on the rest of the island.
Center of the region is the breezy hill town of Mandeville, founded in 1816 and lying 2,000ft (610m) above sea level. The genteel British colonial influence is strong here, from the village green bordered by a church and courthouse to the Manchester Club, which boasts Jamaica's oldest golf course founded in 1868.
The surrounding area, and the south coast region, has numerous natural attractions and wildlife refuges. With its natural beauty and slow pace, Jamaica's south is sought after by more discerning visitors intent on secluded relaxation rather than glitz and glamour.
Port AntonioAn hour and a half's drive east of Ocho Rios lies Port Antonio with its rugged coastline, where mist-shrouded mountains come right down into the sea providing hidden coves and beaches. Orchids and palms grow in profusion and waterfalls drop into fern-edged pools. The town itself, which nestles between twin harbors, is relatively unspoilt, with no high rises, although there are some luxury resorts like Jamaica Palace Hotel. Beaches in the area are among the prettiest in Jamaica, especially Fairy Hill, San San, Dragon Bay and Boston Beach.
Described in the past as 'the most exquisite port on earth' (poetess Ella Wheeler), 'heaven on earth' and as 'the most beautiful woman I have ever seen' (Errol Flynn), Port Antonio still captivates visitors with its charm today. The seaside town has been a favored destination for the rich and famous for decades, from Hollywood stars to billionaires and royalty, and the seclusion of its beautiful beaches, the azure sea, verdant hillsides and lush flora continue to enchant both the celebrities and unknowns who visit.
Port Antonio's banana industry during the late 1800s and early 1900s brought unprecedented prosperity to the area, but the Golden Age came to an end with the arrival of the Panama disease that almost completely wiped out the banana industry. The town still boasts a number of grand buildings from the days of the banana boom, such as the Musgrave Market and the Georgian Court House, and remains of lavish hotels, like the ruins at Frenchman's Cove, are a reminder of the extravagance and extraordinary wealth of days past.
Today the main allure of Port Antonio is the undeveloped nature of its tourism trade, its unspoilt character, and the protection afforded to the environment and culture, which has been fiercely undertaken by the local community to ensure that future generations will still be able to enjoy the natural wonders of this vacation paradise.
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