Jamaica is an exciting, vibrant country with extremely welcoming people. With its cliffs, lots of reggae, and crystal-clear waters, Negril has a particularly blessed location on the western tip of the country, making the town a painting every day at sunset.
Beyond the coast, you’ll find grandiose mountains and forests, which are the backdrop to a culture full of personality, a portrait of the country’s history.
Jamaica Central America
OVERVIEW
- Capital: Kingston
- Language: English and Jamaican English (also known as Jamaican Patois)
- Currency: Jamaican dollar
- Travel visa: there is no visa requirement for tourists
- Travel insurance: not compulsory but recommended
- Vaccination: Yellow Fever at least 10 days before travel and international vaccination certificate
- Covid-19 vaccineOnly tourists with two doses of the vaccine can enter the country.
Vaccines accepted: Moderna, Janssen, AstraZeneca, Covishield, Covaxin, Pfizer - When to go: the country is warm and sunny all year round, with no clearly defined seasons.
The high season is between December and April, when the weather is warm and rain-free.
The hurricane season, on the other hand, takes place between June and October, with September being the month with the highest probability of a natural event. - General Security: Jamaica in the tourist areas is one way and Jamaica in the local areas is quite another.
The country has a high crime rate, with many robberies and gang fights.
Theft is the most common crime suffered by tourists.
Always be careful with your belongings, don’t fiddle with money and valuable items in public.
Avoid going too far out of the tourist areas without a local and walking alone on the streets at night. - Safety for women: traveling alone in Jamaica requires a lot of caution.
Harassment and rape crimes are not uncommon.
Avoid walking alone on the streets outside the most touristy areas, both during the day and at night, and be very careful with your belongings. - Marijuana: although it is part of Rastafarian culture, marijuana is not legalized in the country, only decriminalized.
You won’t find coffee shops in Jamaica, but it’s easy to find places that sell ganja, especially in tourist areas.
If you intend to buy it, first ask people who work in your hotel/hostel and who seem trustworthy. - Transportation: Urban transportation in Jamaica is very poor.
You usually have to hire a cab, tour or driver to get to the tourist sites if you haven’t rented a car. - Traveling by Car: If you plan to drive there, remember that the country follows the left-hand drive system.
Also bear in mind that Jamaican roads are not in the best condition and that drivers can be reckless when driving. - Socket type: Generally 110V, although there are other voltages too, so check before plugging in your appliance.
Sockets are type A and B (two holes, square).
