Jamaica - Overview

Jamaica... the fairest isle of the Caribbean, is a nature lover's dream, a cultural haven, a sun seeker's paradise and an artist's delight.

To see why, take a raft ride on Montego Bay's Martha Brae River or the Rio Grande in Port Antonio, where legendary Hollywood lover Errol Flynn made Jamaica his lifelong mistress. Then climb famous Dunn's River Falls in Ocho Rios, and cool your heels in swirling waters as refreshing as the local Red Stripe beers served at Rick's Café in Negril, where native cliff divers plunge hundreds of feet straight into the Caribbean. Let your body sway to the reggae rhythms of Carnival in Kingston, where everybody's feeling all right. And try to catch a glimpse of Annie Palmer's ghost -- the legendary White Witch of the 18th century Rose Hall. Even though she's been dead for over 200 years, she's feeling all right, too.

Jamaica is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean. And why not, with its abundance of beautiful mountain scenery, long stretches of white sand beaches, pulsating rhythms of the Reggae beat. Jamaica is a tropical playground where the fun seems to never end. A country is not complete without mention of its people, and in Jamaica, the people are what makes it special. A colorful culture makes for a lively atmosphere where the majority of the population is of African descent, but you will notice European, Arabic, Chinese, and East Indian ancestry as well. It is the third largest of the Caribbean islands measuring 146 miles long and up to 51 miles wide. The highest peak is Blue Mt. Peak at 7,402 feet above sea level and the spoken language is English.