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Jamaican Cuisine: An introduction to Tours

While Jamaica is known for its white sandy beaches, cool blue ocean, and fabulous sea-side resorts, the country is also known for its spicy and flavorsome cuisine. Some of the most popular dishes include jerk chicken and pork, as well as pepper-pot soup and ackee, which is Jamaica’s national food. If you’re interested in all that Jamaica has to offer as far as spices, food, and drink go, there are numerous tours you can take while on your vacation.

One of the most popular food tours among tourists is the Walkerswood Jerk Country Tour held in Ocho Rios. Lasting an entire hour, participants can see the Walkserwood site and walk through the various spice gardens. A stop at the “jerk pit” allows for sampling of as many as 21 of the delicacies that the company produces. There is also a gift shop filled with Walkerswood jerk sauces, as well as cookbooks. The company is one of the leading producers of jerk sauces and other products and its company site spans over seven acres.

Jamaica’s is the leading producer of rum—that’s no secret. If you’re interested in learning more about the many drinks that the country has to offer, then give the rum tour at Appleton Estate a try. The estate is one of Jamaica’s most popular distilleries and offers tours multiple time each day. The tour will run you $80, but when it’s over, you get to take a bottle of the estate’s famous rum home with you. In addition, you’ll learn about the distillery, the estate history, and about the entire process of making and bottling the rum.

These are just two of the most popular food and drink tours in Jamaica. If food is your thing, then you’ll be in luck. There are other tours and no shortage of restaurants for you to try out. A quick Internet search will offer up a list if you want to plan ahead a bit.

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Jamaican Activities for Everyone

While many people who take trips to Jamaica do so to experience the beaches, there are many other activities to participate in. Jamaica is the third biggest country in the Caribbean and offers something for just about everyone from biking to mini golf to rock climbing. If you’re looking for something to do that doesn’t involve a swimming suit and the beach, take a look at the following list for some great ideas, whether you’ll be vacationing alone or with your family.

  • Go rock climbing at Dunns River Falls. This is one of the most popular activities among tourists in Jamaica. Even the beginning climber can have fun here. You can get a tour guide to point out the safest climbing and swimming spots. If you visit, don’t forget a camera! There’s sure to  be plenty of photo opportunities.
  • Take a raft down the Martha Brae River. This is one of the best ways to take in some of the most gorgeous scenery that Ocho Rios and Jamaica has to offer. You can take a trip during the day or at night, and can even stop for a swim if you want to.
  • Do some bird watching. Jamaica has over 200 different species of birds to offer. The Bluefield Mountains offer some of the best locations for this activity, including views of Bluefields Bay and other scenery.
  • Go mountain biking in the Bluefield Mountains. Whether you’re a seasoned biker or just like to go occasionally, there are trails here for everyone. The most popular allows for a trip down the mountains without ever having to pedal, which allows you to be able to take in the scenery and wildlife while on the move.
  • Try some of the various Jamaican foods. Some of the most popular foods in Jamaica include jerk chicken and pork, as well as pepper-pot soup and ackee, the national food. These dishes are traditionally spicy but very tasty.
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Jamaican Sites: The Coyaba River Gardens & Ysassis Point

Voyager of the Seas in Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Image via Wikipedia

When planning your vacation to Jamaica, don’t forget to visit Ocho Rios, which is very close to many of the island’s most popular tourists spots and natural island highlights. One of the most popular destinations within Ocho Rios is the Coyaba River Gardens where you can learn about the country’s plant life and other agricultural histories.

While the beach and resorts on the island are considered paradise by many tourists, the Coyaba Gardens offer the same feeling. With numerous walkways, various colorful flowers and plants, and plentiful waterfalls, the gardens are becoming a favorite place for those who don’t enjoy the beach that much. Because most people prefer the beach, the Coyaba Gardens are far less crowded and offer activities such as rock climbing at the waterfalls.

In the vicinity of the gardens is a small museum. Inside, you can learn about Jamaica’s colorful history, as well as the Taino Indians who were the very first inhabitants of the island. The Taino were written about by Spanish Explorers and were still living on the island when slavery was abolished.

Close to the museum is Ysassis Point, which offers perhaps the best view of the rest of Ocho Rios in the country. From this location, you can see everything from the natural hills all the way down to the waterfront where many ships dock every day. On a clear day, Ysassis Point offers one of the best photo opportunities you’ll find in Jamaica.

Regardless of your plans while in Jamaica, make a stop at one of the above places for an experience a little different from that of the beaches.

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Getting Around Jamaica

When many people plan a vacation to Jamaica, they usually end up staying in one spot—usually at some fabulous resort on the beach. In doing so, you could be missing so much of the Jamaican culture, as well as other sites on the island. The country is full of adventures, and getting around can be one in itself. If you’ve decided to move around during your vacation, there are some things you should know about traveling and transportation in Jamaica.

When in Jamaica, you have numerous options for getting around. Most tourists take a tour bus or taxi, but if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can use a rental car, a moped or scooter, and a bicycle. If you don’t have far to go, you can even walk if you want to.

If you choose the tour bus, be aware that they follow designated routes throughout the country and that much of the time, they’re very crowded. Jamaican taxis operate much like anywhere else in the world. Because they don’t use meters, they can be very expensive to use. What you end up paying to get around in these ways will vary, depending on how far you’ll be traveling, as well as which method you’ve chosen to get there.

There are numerous agencies for car rentals, the most popular being Avis, Budget, and Island. Like anywhere else you’d rent a car, you’ll need a valid driver’s license and a credit card. In Jamaica, you drive on the left side of the road, rather than the right, and many of the roads are narrow and very winding.

Drivers in Jamaica like using the horn on their vehicles. They do it to express anger, to let someone know they’re being let in, to indicate right of way, and sometime, they honk the horn for no reason. Keep this in mind when being honked at—it may not be for a negative reason.

Regardless of how you choose to travel around Jamaica, be sure to carry a camera or video camera. You’re guaranteed to see something interesting wherever you go.

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Jamaica: Soaring Crime Levels

Although the island nation of Jamaica is one of the most beautiful in the world, it can be a real nightmare for the innocent tourist, adventurer, explorer or even local residents. You may be wondering what has made this paradise island, the one that gave the world legends such as Bob Marley to be hell. The answer is quite simple; although it is the dream of every tourist, the country has one of the highest rates of criminal activities in the world.

In fact, there was a point when this beautiful island in the Caribbean had the highest crime rate in the whole world! Such is the frighteningly high level of crime in this tiny nation. The commonest criminal activities include murder, kidnapping, carjacking and armed robbery. These activities have become so commonplace, especially in the capital city of Kingston that it has assumed an alarming trend.

However, like every responsible institution, the government of Jamaica has taken necessary measures and steps all aimed at curtailing the evil deeds and activities of the criminally minded elements who want to hold the island to ransom. Measurable progress has been recorded but a lot still needs to be done before the nation is totally rid of crime and criminality.

For the tourists, you are advised to move in groups and never alone, especially in secluded and dark areas. Also, you should not hesitate to contact the local police for help whenever you are in any form of distress. It is also important to know that it is unwise for you to engage in unwarranted displays of affluence, as this will only attract thieves. Driving or strolling late at night even when accompanied should be avoided, and never engage in a fight with anyone, he or she could be a hooligan. Keeping to all these will make your stay on the island more enjoyable.

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Entertainment in Jamaica

Even for those that have not been to the resplendent island of Jamaica before, the soothing reggae music of the late legend, Bob Marley is enough to convince any doubting soul that when it comes to entertainment, this beautiful Caribbean island is the best. Without any doubt, the world-renowned music of reggae is one thing that you will enjoy in its pure and undiluted form, right from the source, from the roots.

Apart from the heart-warming music of reggae, there are other forms of music on the island that you will find to be equally enchanting. These include ska, dancehall, rocksteady and soca music. Players of these types of music will render the most melodious of tunes to your hearing and you will never feel like leaving the island. Such is the power of music in Jamaica. It is interesting to know that dancehall music is also known as ragga and is not the same as reggae. Calypso is also a titillating form of music that you can enjoying while cruising around the island.

However, if you are not a fan of music or you simply want to be entertained with something else apart from music, there is diversity on the island. You can decide to pay a visit to one of the numerous theaters around and watch a play that will transport you to another realm entirely. The time-honored theaters of Jamaica are some of the best in the Americas in terms of architecture, history and performance.

In addition, for those that love sports and are ardent followers, Jamaica is the right place to be. Although small, the island is one that is bustling with countless sporting activities. Whether it is soccer, rugby, swimming, cricket, athletics, basketball, golf or any other type of sport even chess, you will always find Jamaica an interesting place to be.

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Sporting Life in Jamaica

In the middle of the Caribbean is this tropical paradise island called Jamaica. It is a very well known fact that the beauty of the island can be spellbinding and simply enchanting. However, there is also another side to the natural beauty of Jamaica and that is the vibrant sporting life of the nation.

In various sports, this island nation has excelled in various spheres and areas. If you are a tourist or a local resident, there can never be a dull moment on the island as there is always one particular sporting event or the other that you can watch. In fact, you can also take part and claim your own trophy and medal.

The major sporting activities in Jamaica are varied and diverse. Therefore, no matter what type of sports that you like, there is always a place for you in Jamaica. Some of the most popular sporting activities around are soccer, athletics, golf, cricket, horseracing, swimming, mountain climbing, basketball, rugby and lots more. Cricket happens to be one of the most popular and that of Jamaica is one of the most developed in the West Indies.

Because of strong governmental participation and the support of private businesses, there are numerous stadia, training grounds and facilities at your disposal. If you are new and you do not know where these facilities are and you really want to get the feel of sports, you just tell that new Jamaican friend of yours or you contact the local tourism or sports authority.

In order to derive maximum enjoyment from the Jamaican sporting life, you can form a team with the locals and take part in whatever game that you desire. On the other hand, you can be a spectator in one of the numerous sporting championships that are organized every year. Whatever you choose, you can be sure it is fun all the way.

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The History of Jamaica

As it is with other nations of the world, the island nation of Jamaica also has her own story to tell. In all sincerity, the history of Jamaica has been a very eventful one, one full of valuable lessons and admonition. Most historians trace the history of this beautiful island back to thousands of years before Christ. At such times, the island was said to be populated by the indigenous tribes.

These tribes were called the Arawaks and it was they that gave the island the name that it bears until today. It will interest you to know that the name Jamaica was derived from the Arawaki name xaymaca, which means the land of the woods and waters. That is an apt description of the island you might say, considering the tropical nature and geography of the islands.

The Arawaks engaged in agriculture, especially the cultivation of maize and fishing. They lived peacefully and in harmony until the coming of the Europeans. From mainland Europe, the Spanish were the first to set foot on the pristine island in the 15th century. When the legendary Spanish explorer, Christopher Columbus saw the island, he confessed that it was one of the most beautiful he had seen. Thereafter, Columbus decided to rename the island Santiago but this attempt was not successful.

The Spanish were brutal lords of the Arawaks and they drove them into slavery and torture. They were required to work extra hard for the benefit of the Spanish invaders. This was so much so that in less than two hundred years, there was virtually no Arawak left on the island. The inhumane treatment of the locals and slaves was to continue even after the British took over as colonial masters. However, as the saying goes, tough times never last, the nation of Jamaica gained independence in 1962 and has been progressing steadily ever since.

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Travel in Jamaica

From the beginning of time, it has always been the nature of man to move from one place to another. The reasons for the movement can be diverse; it can be for food, shelter, a spouse or even in search of a better life. Whatever the reason for travelling, the process has not stopped as millions of people are travelling from one point to another even as you are reading this. The island nation of Jamaica is not an exception to this phenomenon.

Because of the charming beauty of the Caribbean, not a few tourists move to the region every year for sheer thrilling adventure. One of such unforgettable moments includes traveling in Jamaica itself. It is always one of the most memorable events that any one can undertake. It is akin to traveling in paradise itself.

Traveling in Jamaica is quite easy because there are numerous routes open to the traveler. Either you decide to travel by rail, road, air or even by the waterways, Jamaica has all the options. For those that intend to travel by air, there are two international airports, one at Kingston and the other at Montero Bay, a luxurious holiday destination where you can enjoy yourself to the fullest. This is in addition to the fact that there are other smaller airports all over the island.

However, if you really want to enjoy the incredible beauty that is Jamaica, then it may be best for you to register with an experienced travel agency that knows the business in and out. This will not only save you energy and money, it will also ensure that you get to see the places that matter most. In addition to this, your safety will be guaranteed and will not be unduly harassed by the local authorities. Once you have done all these, then you are ready for that trip of a lifetime, in the heart of Jamaica!

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Tourism in Jamaica

Parishes and countys of jamaica alternative nu...
Image via Wikipedia

The fact that the global tourism industry is now worth billions of dollars cannot be put in dispute. In fact, for some nations the economy is solely dependent on tourist dollars. The Caribbean is one hotspot in the global tourism industry and one of the most important players is the tropical island of Jamaica.

Jamaica is a tiny nation situated right in the middle of the Caribbean. Its economy is one that is very much dependent on tourist activities. According to some experts, as much as 50% of the Jamaican economy is based on tourism. This is clearly pointed out when we realize the fact that the island receives over a million tourists every year. Meanwhile, the population of Jamaica itself is just a little under three million.

The government of Jamaica has taken full advantage of the influx of tourists from all corners of the globe and is doing everything necessary to ensure that tourists enjoy their stay and that security is guaranteed at all times. This is quite important especially considering the fact that Jamaica has one of the world’s highest crime rates and that is definitely not good for tourism.

Without undue exaggeration, the island of Jamaica is truly a pearl of tourism and there is little wonder that millions of tourists throng the sunny island every year. What makes Jamaica beautiful and attractive cannot be enumerated. However, it will not be out of place if some of these are mentioned so that the whole issue is made more lucid.

The island of Jamaica is tropical and what this simply means is that there is an ample all-year-round supply of sunshine. Therefore, for those that are lovers of tanning and sunbathing, Jamaica is the place to be. Apart from that, the whispering palms and the exotic beaches are simply too alluring to be ignored. Also, you should not forget the fact that this is the land of reggae!

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