Jamaica is divided into 3 counties and 14 parishes.
'''Cornwall County''':
'''Middlesex County''':
'''Surrey County''':
Jamaica's resources include coffee, papaya, bauxite, gypsum, limestone, sugar cane, and weed.
Jamaica has about 250 route miles of railroad, of which 77 are currently active to handle privately operated bauxite (aluminum ore) trains. Passenger and public freight service ceased in 1992, but increasing road congestion and poor highway conditions have caused the government to re-examine the commercial feasibility of rail operations.
Driving as a tourist in Jamaica is an adventure in and of itself. Jamaican roads are not renowned for their upkeep nor are their drivers renowned for their caution. Roads in and around major cities are generally overcongested, and rural roads are dangerous, especially in inclement weather. Alert and courteous driving is advised at all times. There are very few north-south routes as well, so travel from the north to the south can involve treks on mountain roads. These trips can induce nausea in the more weak of stomach, so it is advisable that if you suffer from motion sickness to bring dramamine or similar medication. Roads can be very narrow, and be especially alert when going around bends. Jamaican drivers do not slow down because of these twists and turns, so beware.
Jamaica, as a former British colony, '''drives on the left'''. Make note of this when driving, especially when turning, crossing the street, and yielding right of way.
There are relatively few stoplights. These only are generally found in major city centers, such as Montego Bay, Kingston, Spanish Town and Ocho Rios.
Renting a car is easily done, and it is advised to go through a major international car rental company such as Hertz or Avis. Do your research before renting and driving.
Don't be afraid to take Jamaican local buses—they're cheap and they'll save you the headache of negotiating with tourist taxis. Be prepared to offer a tip to the luggage handlers that load your luggage into the bus. The ride is very different from what you are probably used to. Many resorts offer excursions by bus. Check with the resort's office that is in charge of planning day trips for more information. Excursions by bus from Ocho Rios to Kingston and Blue mountain, can turn into a long bus ride without many stops. A visit to Kingston might consist of a stop at a shopping center for lunch, a visit to Bob Marley's home and a 2 minute stop in the Beverly Hills of Jamaica. The guided tour at the Blue Mountain coffee factory can be interesting and informative.
Route taxis are often packed with people, but they are friendly folk and glad to have you with them. Route taxis are the primary mode of transportation for Jamaicans and serve the purpose that a bus system would in a large metropolitan city. This is how people get to work, kids get to school, etc.
Route taxis generally run between specific places, but if you're in the central taxi hub for a town you'll be able to find taxis going in any of the directions you need to go. Route taxis don't run very far, so if you need to get half way across the island you'll need to take it in stages. If worst comes to worst, just keep repeating your final destination to all the people who ask where you're going and they'll put you in the right car and send you on your way. You may have to wait until the taxi has enough passengers to make the trip worthwhile for the driver, and many route taxis travel with far more people in them than a Westerner would ever guess was possible. If you have luggage with you, you may have to pay an extra fare for your luggage since you're taking up space that would otherwise be sold to another passenger.
Jamaicans drive on the left side of the road, and the highways are pretty crazy by US standards. There is plenty of passing on blind corners and communication with the horn. Jamaican cars will have better functioning horns than seat belts.
Most Jamaicans speak Jamaican Creole, also known locally as Patois (Patwa). Jamaican pronunciation and vocabulary are significantly different from English, despite heavy usage of English words or derivatives. Because of this the language is almost completely unintelligible to a native speaker of English. The good news is that Jamaican Creole is almost exclusively used when Jamaicans speak between one another. In all other cases (especially around tourists) '''English''' is used.
Although all Jamaicans can speak English, Westerners may have trouble understanding them. It's English, but a heavily accented version. Even the billboards use the Jamaican phoenetic slang, like "Ebery 'ting is ah right" to mean "Everything is alright." Some Jamaicans speak a little bit of the other popular languages, like Spanish.
You may hear some Jamaicans say "Waah gwan?", "Waah appen?" or "what tah gwan", which is the patois variation of "What's up?" or "What's going on?". More formal greetings are usually "Good morning", or "Good evening".
The US dollar is widely accepted in places most tourists visit. Indeed, all hotels, most restaurants, most shops, and almost all attractions in major cities will accept the US dollar. However, be aware that some places accept the dollar at a reduced rate (although it still may be a better rate than exchanging money beforehand). While it is possible for someone visiting only touristy places or for a few hours to not see the Jamaican currency at all, be advised that US dollars won't be accepted at a lot of "local" shops on the outskirts of cities and in rural areas.
Always stay up-to-date on the exchange rate and carry a calculator. It's easy to assume everything will be inexpensive when US$1 is worth almost JA$90 as of early 2009, but you'll want to avoid paying US$9 for a bottle of imported shampoo.
Buy products made on the island. They are cheaper and you are supporting the local economy.
Prices are usually higher in tourist areas like Negril and Ocho Rios. Shops in "tourist traps" usually have higher prices than native ones, and you'll see the same items on offer in them.
Jamaican food is a mixture of Caribbean dishes with local dishes. Although Jamaican food gets a reputation for being spicy, local trends lean towards more versatile food variety. Some of the Caribbean dishes that you'll see in other countries around the region are '''rice and peas''' (which is cooked with coconut milk) and patties (which are called empanadas in spanish speaking countries). The national dish is '''Ackee and saltfish''', and MUST be tried by anyone visiting the island. It is made with the local fruit called Ackee, which looks like scrambled eggs, but has a unique taste of its own and dried codfish mixed with onions and tomatoes. You probably won't get a chance to try this food anywhere else, and if you really want to say that you did something uniquely Jamaican, then this is your chance. Freshly picked and prepared ackee is 100 times better than tinned ackee, but must be harvested only when the ackee fruits have ripened and their pods opened naturally on the large evergreen tree on which they grow: unripe ackee contains a potent toxin (hypoglycin A) which causes vomiting and hypoglycemia . Another local food is called '''bammy''', which was actually invented by the Arawak (Taino) Indians. It is a flat floury cassava pancake normally eaten during breakfast hours that kind of tastes like corn bread. There is also hard-dough bread (locally called hard dough bread), which comes in both sliced and unsliced varieties. Try toasting it, for when it is toasted, it tastes better than most bread you'll ever eat. If you are looking for dishes with more meat in them, you can try the jerk flavoured foods. The most popular is '''jerk chicken''', although jerk pork and jerk conch are also common. The '''jerk seasoning''' is a spice that is spread on the meat on the grill like barbeque sauce. Keep in mind that most Jamaicans eat their food well done, so expect the food to be a bit drier than you are accustomed to. There are also '''curries''' such as curried chicken and curried goat which are very popular in Jamaica.
You may even want to pick up a piece of '''sugar cane''', slice off some pieces and suck on them.
Fruit and vegetables in Jamaica are plentiful. Many of the local varieties are unknown to visitors. Locally grown fruits and vegetables are inexpensive. Visitors may well find that imported produce tends to be more expensive than in their home country. Grapes in particular tend to be very expensive on the island.
It is recommended to sample the local fruit and vegetables. If unfamiliar with a particular fruit it can pay to ask a local about which parts can be eaten. Local and imported fruits are available from road-side vendors. If the fruit is to be eaten immediately the vendors can generally wash the fruit for you on request.
Finally, there is the category of '''"ital" food'''. Ital food is completely vegetarian and generally consists of a vegetable stew. Ital food is not generally on the printed menus in the upscale tourist restaurants and can only be found by going to smaller places (often just somebody's house.) Rastafarians are often vegetarians and eat (and serve) ital food.
Would you believe that almost 50% of all marriages in Jamaica are done by tourists/visitors-categorized as "hotel marriages"? Jamaica is fast becoming a hotbed for international travellers to exchange their wedding vows.
Over the past several decades, with the rapid growth of the tourism industry, "hotel marriages" have become a significant contributor to the total number of marriages occurring in the island. Hotel marriages are any marriage occurring in the island, performed by a certified marriage officer of the island and taking place under the auspices of a hotel, villa, lodge, cottage or any other property designated to the purpose of tourist accommodation.
''The following is what you need to know or provide for your marriage in Jamaica:''
1)Proof of citizenship - certified copy of Birth Certificate, which includes father_fs name.
2)Parental consent (written) if under 18 years of age.
3)Proof of divorce (if applicable) - original Certificate of Divorce.
4)Certified copy of Death Certificate for widow or widower.
5)French Canadians need a notarized translated English copy of all documents and a photocopy of the original French documents.
6)Blood tests are not required by law.
7)Italian Nationals celebrating their marriage in Jamaica must notify their Embassy to be legalized and translated.
Jamaica's climate is tropical, supporting diverse ecosystems with a wealth of plants and animals.
Jamaica's plant life has changed considerably over the centuries. When the Spanish came here in 1494- except for small agricultural clearings- the country was deeply forested, but the European settlers cut down the great timber trees for building purposes and cleared the plains, savannas, and mountain slopes for cultivation. Many new plants were introduced including sugarcane, bananas, and citrus trees.
In the areas of heavy rainfall are stands of bamboo, ferns, ebony, mahogany, and rosewood. Cactus and similar dry-area plants are found along the south and southwest coastal area. Parts of the west and southwest consist of large grasslands, with scattered stands of trees.
The Jamaican animal life, typical of the caribbean, includes a highly diversified bird life. Parrots, hummingbird, cuckoos, and green todies for example. The wild hog is one of the few native mammals in Jamaica, but there are many reptiles and lizards. Birds are abundant.
Jamaican waters contain considerable resources of fresh-and saltwater fish. The chief varieties of saltwater fish are kingfish, jack, mackerel, whiting, bonito, and tuna. Freshwater varieties include snook, jewfish, gray and black snapper, and mullet.
Among the variety of terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems are dry and wet limestone forests, rainforest, riparian woodland, wetlands, caves, rivers, seagrass beds and coral reefs.
The biodiversity is indicated by a number five (5) ranking amongst countries worldwide of the endemic plants and animals in jamaica.
The authorities had recognized the tremendous significance and potential of this aspect of their heritage and designated some of the more 'fertile' areas 'protected'. Among the island's protected areas are the Cockpit Country, Hellshire Hills, and Litchfield forest reserves. In 1992, Jamaica's first marine park, covering nearly 6 square miles (about 15 square km), was established in Montego Bay.
The following year Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park was created on roughly 300 square miles (780 square km) of wilderness that supports thousands of tree and fern species, rare animals, and insects, such as the Homerus swallowtail, the Western Hemisphere's largest butterfly.
Jamaica has the '''3rd''' highest murder rate in the world. As in any foreign country, should any emergency situation arise, especially at the domestic level, it is advised to immediately '''contact your government's embassy''' or consulate. Governments usually advise travelers staying in the country for an extended period of time to notify their embassy or consulate so they can be contacted in the case of emergency.
If you are approached by a Jamaican looking to sell you drugs or anything else that you are not interested in buying, the conversation will most likely go like this: "Is this your first time on The Island?" Respond: "No, I've been here many times before." (whether true or not they will think of you as less likely to be a sucker). Next they will ask "Where are you staying?" Respond with a vague answer: For instance, if you are approached on Seven Mile Beach, respond by saying "Down the street". If asked "Which resort?", respond with another vague answer. They will see that your are not stupid nor ready to be taken advantage of. They will appear to be engaging in friendly conversation, but once you are marked a sucker (i.e. "Its my first time here" "I'm staying at Negril Gardens"), you will be harassed. If you are further pushed to buy drugs or something else, calmly tell them: "I've been to this Island many times before, please don't waste your time trying to sell me something. I'm not interested." They should leave you alone, they may even say "Respect" and pound your fist.
The restrictions against '''homosexuals''' in Jamaica are far-reaching, and not only from a legal perspective, from which anal sex may be punished with up to 10 years. It is advisable to not display affection to people of the same sex in public - Jamaica is a nation notorious for its persistent intolerance of homosexuality and homosexuals, gay bashings are not uncommon (particularly in popular reggae and dancehall music in Jamaica) and victims would be met with indifference by the authorities. Therefore, Jamaica is not a suitable destination for LGBT individuals unless you are willing to conceal your sexuality.
'''Marijuana''', although cheap, plentiful and powerful, '''is illegal''' on the island.
If in need of police, dial '''119''' - just don't expect them to show up on the spot.
Also, it is best to avoid certain parts of the island at night. Drugs and alcohol are prevalent, and rural areas are especially dangerous. Armed men may pose a threat to women in some areas. Inner-city parts of the island such as Spanish Town and some neighborhoods in Kingston (Trench Town, etc.) should be avoided even during the day.
September, October, and November have a lower number of tourists due to being hurricane season. As a result, the police are encouraged to take their vacation during this time. This reduction in police force can cause areas like Montego Bay's hip strip to be less safe than normal.
The '''water quality''' is generally good and safe to drink. If staying in the island's two major cities, Kingston and Montego Bay, the water is of the quality you would most likely find in your home country. However, Jamaicans generally boil their water, and it is likely best to follow the Jamaican people's example. Water service in rural areas can sometimes go out for several hours at a time. Individuals in rural areas have their own water tanks, which catch water when it rains, so be ready to draw from a tank instead of turning a pipe. Bottled water such as Wata (a local brand), Aquafina and Deer Park are widely available.
Be cautious of the water quality at public swimming beaches, such as "Walter Fletcher Beach" in Montego Bay, which some locals call "dump-up beach", situated near the north gully. Large amounts of solid and human waste flush down the gully during storm events. The water flowing down Dunn's River Falls has also been said to contain high amounts of coliform bacteria, indicating fecal contamination.
The country's adult HIV/AIDS prevalence is nearly at '''1.6%'''. This is '''>2.5''' times higher than the USA and '''16''' times higher than the UK. Practice safe sex and avoid risky intravenous drug use.
Malaria can be a risk, mostly near the Kingston area. The island had been malaria free for years, until incidents popped in recent years.
Rumors have been heard of people suffering from symptoms similar to Dengue fever after visiting the cockpit country, but confirmed reports may not exist.
Chances are, you will be approached at one point or another during your travels in Jamaica for money. Do not feel pressured into giving money. A strong "I'm alright" and walking away is usually the best advice for instances such as this. This also applies in the infamous '''straw markets'''. Note that the European method of just walking away does not work well. You will generally need to engage with someone in order to get away from them.
That being said, if you befriend or encounter one of the many wonderful Jamaican people and you wish to give a friendly gift, that is perfectly acceptable and welcome. Just exercise common sense when it comes to money.
Cultural respect is far more important. You are guests on their island. Please know also that when speaking to the elderly you should say, "Yes ma'am." or "Yes, sir". Good manners should be displayed at all times. Respect the environment and the people. It is a simple rule of thumb that should always be applied when traveling abroad. Don't expect that everyone will respect you, however.