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The
Caribbean Islands - JamaicaPort City- Montego Bay - Montego Bay’s main attraction will always be its stunning natural beauty. The town is situated in the center of Jamaica’s superb northern shore, and the scenic countryside surrounding the city also contains many historic sites. Excellent duty-free shopping offers temptations that few can resist. This thriving port is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean.
Port City- Ocho Rios - Ocho Rios achieves a perfect balance between natural beauty and the luxuries of top-notch facilities. You will see gorgeous white-sand beaches, cliffs jutting out into the sparkling ocean, and roaring waterfalls set amid luxuriant foliage. The area also offers a wealth of activities, and shoppers will find a variety of luxury goods as well as a lively crafts market.
Port City- Montego Bay - Sugar, the Caribbean’s boom crop, generated great fortunes for Jamaica’s large landholders. To demonstrate their wealth and power , and perhaps to evoke a feeling of the British Isles they left behind, these lords spent vast sums in building their great houses. Some were even designed by British architects and built in styles reminiscent of home.
Rose Hall may well be the most famous estate on the island. It was built between 1770 and 1780 by John Palmer, a custos, or custodian, of the parish. The estate became notorious when its second mistress, Annie Palmer, took over the affairs of the house. The wife of the builder’s grandnephew, John Rose Palmer, Annie became infamous as the White Witch of Rose Hall. She had a reputation for murderous cruelty toward her slaves as well as toward her three husbands—the latter met their deaths by poisoning, strangulation and stabbing, respectively. Rose Hall, which underwent a painstaking renovation, is open to the public daily.
Greenwood, built in 1800 as a guest house on the Barrett family property, was designed in the old plantation style. (The main house is now privately owned.) This estate, which once belonged to a second cousin of the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, is reputed to provide a more representative look at the lifestyle of the period than the opulent Rose Hall. But Greenwood’s relatively simple style and decor do not accurately reflect the phenomenal wealth of the Barrett family, which once owned all the land from Rose Hall to Falmouth. Greenwood contains an excellent collection of antique musical instruments. Both the house and the musical-instrument collection are open to the public.
Montego Bay proper has several interesting sights, too. Samuel Sharpe Square, formerly the Parade, serves as a popular gathering spot in MoBay. It is named in honor of the slave who led the Christmas Rebellion of 1831, which helped to expedite emancipation in Jamaica. Situated on the square are the Old Courthouse and the Cage, constructed in 1804 and 1806, respectively. The Cage, which once held runaway slaves, is a museum containing historic artifacts. St. James Parish Church, located at the intersection of St. Claver and Church streets, is one of Jamaica’s most impressive churches. The Anglican edifice, dating from 1775, was completed in 1782 and designed in the shape of a Greek cross. The church was badly damaged by a 1957 earthquake but has since undergone a total restoration.
The Townhouse is one of MoBay’s several excellent examples of Georgian architecture, a style emphasizing classic proportions. Structures are brick with white woodwork; American buildings of the same period are usually called colonial. Located on Church Street, The Townhouse was built in 1765 for a wealthy sugar planter. Today, it houses a restaurant.
Just to the east of Montego Bay lies Trelawny Parish. Its capital, Falmouth, first planned in 1790, developed into the busiest sugar-trading port on the north coast. With the decline of the sugar industry in the 19th century, Falmouth harbor lost much of its trade. When steam vessels replaced sailing ships, the town’s fate was sealed—the harbor was unable to accommodate the deeper drafts of the newer vessels and ultimately fell into disuse. The town has a reputation for preserving its past particularly well, however, and much of the original Georgian architecture built during the period of prosperity is still found throughout the town. The section of Market Street just west of Water Square is a good place to start. The Methodist Manse, built in 1799 and now used by the town council, is one of the best examples of Georgian design on the island.
Appleton Estate is the oldest and most famous of all of Jamaica's sugar estates. It is nestled in the fertile Nassau Valley on either side of the Black River in the Southwest of Jamaica. The origins of Appleton Estate date back to 1655 when the English captured Jamaica from the Spaniards. Frances Dickinson, whose grandsons Caleb and Ezekiel were the earliest known owners of the Appleton Estate, took part in that conquest of Jamaica, and it is believed that Appleton Estate was part of the land grant that Dickinson received as reward for his services.
One of the town’s original buildings, Number One Market Street, was once the townhouse of land baron Edward Barrett, the owner of Greenwood. He was the town’s founding father and was in part responsible for laying out the plan of Falmouth. Situated on Duke Street, the Falmouth Parish Anglican Church, built in 1795, is the oldest building in Falmouth. The courthouse dates from 1926 but is a replica of the original 1815 structure, which was destroyed by fire. The current building is an accurate reproduction except for its roofline and windows.
Port City- Ocho Rios - A rambling resort on Jamaica’s north coast, Ocho Rios has long been one of the island’s most popular vacation spots. The town has a coast that is lined with pristine white beaches and lush green hills. The town itself contains only one historic site: The Ocho Rios Fort. Built in 1777 to defend the town against seafaring invaders, the fort is today used as a slaughterhouse. Small cannons that were once part of the fort’s defenses still remain.
Fern Gully is a lush spot located a couple of miles south of town. The road follows a dry river bed that was planted with ferns in the late 19th century. The gully is a protected preserve; photographs are permitted, but touching or harming the ferns in any way is prohibited. Jamaica boasts more varieties of ferns than any other location in the world--more than 550 native species. Famed British playwright Noël Coward made his home at a modest but elegant estate called Firefly, located about 17 miles east of Ocho Rios, between Oracabessa and Port Maria in the parish of St. Mary. This tiny cottage, perched on a cliff, can’t be compared with the island’s grand estates, but it is filled with personal touches.
Deeded to the nation in 1973 and now owned by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust, the estate was leased to Island Communications, which financed its restoration. The house is open to the public as a tourist attraction and museum. The capital of St. Mary Parish, Port Maria, has several historic buildings worth visiting, including the courthouse, built in 1820. The Presbyterian church was built around 1830, the Anglican church in 1861. All three structures are typical examples of 19th-century island architecture. Also in the area is the Llanrumney Estate, one of many properties owned by the privateer Henry Morgan, who served as lieutenant-governor.
Just west of downtown Ocho Rios, you’ll discover
one of Jamaica’s most famous waterfalls--Dunn’s
River Falls. The cool mountain waters plunge 600 feet
to smooth limestone beds, then stream under the roadway
before mingling with the turquoise Caribbean Sea. Whether
you climb the falls or swim in the chilly eddies on
the ocean side, you’re sure to remember this place.
Drax Hall, located west of Dunn’s River Falls,
was once a popular location for movie-makers. Its cool,
hidden coves and dramatic shoreline were used as a backdrop
for many stars of yesteryear.
Farther west
lies St. Ann’s Bay, where Columbus, along with
a crew of over 100, was marooned for one year and five
days. His stay was not very pleasant--not only was Columbus
ill and bedridden, but food was hard to come by and
50 of his crew mutinied. The mutineers were eventually
pardoned by the Admiral. Three years after Columbus’
death in 1506, his son, Diego, sent a governor to St.
Ann’s Bay to establish Sevilla la Nueva (New Seville),
the first Spanish capital on Jamaica. While the town
lasted only 25 years, the region has yielded several
important archaeological finds such as carvings, inscriptions
and remnants of buildings and fortifications that relate
to the early Spanish colonial period. The bay area was
also the birthplace of Jamaican National Hero Marcus
Garvey, regarded today as the father of black liberation.
His statue now stands on the grounds of the parish library.
Port
City- Montego Bay - Doctor’s Cave
Beach, once the private property of a certain Dr. McCatty,
an advocate of the value of sea bathing, is one of the
most popular of Montego Bay’s many lovely beaches.
Fresh mineral water combines with the gentle surf to
provide some of Jamaica’s most inviting swimming.
Walter Fletcher Beach, a public
beach, is located to the west of Doctor’s Beach.
The adjacent Cornwall Beach also features the typical
fine white sand that makes the area’s shores so
appealing.
Port
City- Ocho Rios
- Ocho Rios has five spectacular beaches with
cool, clear waters that are ideal for swimming and water
sports. Mallard’s Beach, adjacent to the Jamaica
Grande Hotel, is one of the most popular. Shaw Park
Beach, at the Shaw Park Beach Hotel, is the most secluded.
Other area beaches are Turtle Beach, adjacent to Turtle
Beach Towers; Urban Development Commission Beach, next
to Ocean Village Shopping Centre; and Dunn’s River
Beach, below Dunn’s River Falls.Dunn’s
River Beach is always hopping, since the falls are one
of Ocho Rios’ major tourist attractions.
Port City- Montego Bay - Because of its superb offshore reef, Montego Bay serves as a focal point for divers. During the summer months, visibility averages 150 feet; in the winter, visibility is 40 to 50 feet or more. Some of MoBay’s underwater highlights include the Canyon and Chimney, a 70-foot fish-feeding station that literally teems with hungry fish; Point Reef, a wall dive running from about 65 to 300 feet with growing black coral and gorgonians; and Old Airport Reef, a shallow 25- to 35-foot dive with tunnels and coral heads coming within two feet of the surface. In addition, you might want to check out Widowmaker’s Cave, which is a good beginners’ dive despite its intimidating name.
Deep-sea
fishing is another sport enjoyed in Jamaica’s waters,
where dolphin, blue marlin, amberjack and snapper are
found in abundance. River rafting
is the ultimate relaxation. Two of Jamaica’s rivers
are located in the area--the Great River, just nine
miles from Montego Bay, and the Martha Brae, the largest
river in the parish of Trelawny. River rafting is an
exercise in delight, as you sit on a bamboo raft while
a skilled guide poles the raft along a river overgrown
with tropical vines and inhabited by colorful birds
and butterflies.
Port
City- Ocho Rios - Several top-quality
dive spots are located off the coast of Ocho Rios. The
most popular destination is Top of the Mountain, a large
coral growth that contains the area’s most famous
underwater resident--a docile moray eel who usually
can be found near the cave opening 80 feet below the
surface. Devil’s Reef is a gentle slope descending
to 100 feet, where you’ll find huge sponges attached
to high-profile coral heads.
Schools of spadefish and triggerfish frequent the lower reaches of the reef. A 25-minute boat ride out to Sans Souci will reward you with sights of spectacular archways and caverns. If you want to see numerous species of tropical fish, Prospect Reef is just the ticket. This shallow 50-foot dive will please both beginners and experts. Windsurfing, sailing and other water sports are all available near the major resorts. And don’t forget fishing; some of the island’s best is found in the waters off Ocho Rios.
Ocho Rios has two championship golf courses. The hilly course at Sandals (par 71, 6,200 yards) is open to the public and offers sweeping panoramas of the Caribbean Sea. The course at Runaway Bay (par 72, 6,884 yards) was designed for the thinking golfer--its hazards will test your shot-making ability. The northeast trade winds and mountain breezes keep the temperature pleasant year round. The average temperature is 82 degrees F (27 degrees C), and the average annual rainfall is 78 inches (198 cm).
Dining
out is one of the highlights of your Jamaican cruise.
Whether it is at your hotel, just around the corner,
or a drive into Montego Bay, you will be captivated
by the Jamaican cuisine. Dishes like jerked pork, curried
goat, pumpkin soup, and spiny lobster are all delicious
and affordable. At least one of your party should have
lobster for dinner every night. It will never prepared
the same way twice.
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