Why go en Jamaïque?
The good reasons to go en Jamaïque
Dream beaches
Jamaica is famous for its beaches, coconut palms, white sand and turquoise lagoon.
A delicious Creole cuisine
The famous chicken or pork jerk, made in Jamaica, is full of spicy flavours.
Reggae, a rich history
Reggae is heard everywhere, and the bass of sound system dance halls resonates in the evenings.
Picturesque villages
You will be struck by the beauty of the fishing villages as well as the mountain hamlets.
The Blue Mountains
These jungle-covered mountains rise to 2,200 meters in the center of the island, a protected Eden.
Fun and cool people
Yamon, One love, from the moment you arrive, you'll be charmed by an authentic Jamaican vibe.
Beautiful waterfalls
Dunn's River Falls, YS Falls, Blue Hole... waterfalls with clear blue-green water.
Jamaican rafting
On a bamboo raft, you can float down the Rio Grande or other magnificent rivers.
The party in Kingston
The capital is not touristy, but known for its museums, bars and parties.
Nature attractions
Numerous amusement parks and family-friendly beaches.
Good to know when visiting Jamaïque
Timetable
In Kingston, where the majority of museums are located, opening times vary from place to place (check before you go), but few are open on Saturdays and even fewer on Sundays. They close early, between 4pm and 6pm.
For natural sites, generally located in the island's mountainous foothills, in the jungle, such as rivers, waterfalls (like Dunn's River Falls, YS Falls, etc.), or the Blue Hole, bear in mind that it gets dark suddenly at 6pm - you're in the tropics! So if you want to see the clear blue water of the waterfalls and the river under the sun, arrive between 10am and 2pm, even if the sites are often open until 4pm.
To be booked
Jamaica's biggest musical event is the Reggae Sumfest, held every year in Montego Bay in July. You'll need to reserve your place well in advance.
Budget & Tips
Visits are expensive in Jamaica, and almost all museums are privately owned. The Institute of Jamaica, with its fine museum collections, remains very affordable, while other tours generally cost US$25 per adult, and the guided tour is often included. Amusement park tours are usually between US$50 and US$150 per person (swimming with dolphins, zip-lining, Jamaican rafting, etc.).
Guided tours
Visits to museums and plantations are often guided, and a tip is expected at the end of the tour. To discover an authentic Jamaica, receptive agencies (such as the French-Jamaican Latitude Jamaica) also suggest getting off the beaten track to meet the locals.
Smokers
You can smoke in Jamaica, not indoors but almost anywhere outdoors, but often only ganja. Strange as it may seem, tobacco is frowned upon, but ganja is no problem! Even if, in theory, tourists are supposed to have a prescription to be allowed to consume it (which can be filled in a minute in shops that sell it), the police aren't there to check that the law is being respected and that tourists are carrying their prescriptions. They have - it has to be said - other things to do in the difficult ghettos, given the country's crime rate, and this is also a clear intention: ganja is a business that is now also part of the island's tourist attractions.
Tourist traps
Hustlers wait for tourists in the very touristy areas of Ocho Rios in Negril. From car washes to drug sales, a tour of the city or neighborhood or simply the shakedown of a coin or a cigarette, the list of services they offer and activities they engage in is endless.
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Discover Jamaïque
Jamaica is a truly exotic destination, as exotic as it gets, but little-known to most French people. We know little (if anything) about its history... Try naming the national heroes of Independence, the leaders of slave rebellions or local pirates, it's hard! Discover a magnificent Caribbean island with a varied geography and wild Blue Mountains teeming with spectacular flora and fauna. What are the current environmental issues facing the island today? Discover its inhabitants, their way of life, the history of reggae and Jamaican music, religions, local films and the great cultural diversity of this mixed island, where West Africa is omnipresent in the traditions and history of this country where 90% of the population is black, mostly descended from slaves, and where 10% of the population is Rasta.
