Where to Visit: Reggae Beach, Jamaica

Located on the border of St. Ann and St. Mary, about 10 minutes east of the vibrant Ocho Rios, nestled in lush tropical greenery is the 1/4 mile stretch of white sand known as Reggae Beach. A famous Jamaican landmark, this breathtaking picture-perfect spot is a tiny slice of heaven. Lounge chairs are lined along the seashore, some grouped amongst shady random clusters of hundred year old almond and palm trees, while others are arranged closer to the waters edge. If you’re looking for a beach that doesn’t get crowded then this is the place to be.

( via )

Enjoy soft reggae music and great Jamaican hospitality as you cool out under a palm tree with a fresh fruit cocktail from the “Village Beach Bar”. Or try some succulent Jamaican-style fish, lobster, conch or spicy jerk chicken from the grill. Capture a golden tan while drifting peacefully across turquoise waters on a lie-low float. From waving fan coral to colorful clownfish and graceful rays, you’ll find plenty to look at while snorkeling the bay’s reefs. Kayak the coastline or hike the natural trails or experience a seaside massage. Try the seasonally fresh native fruits like Mangos, guineps, guava, ortanique, sugar cane, pineapple, papaya or naseberry. Challenge a friend to backgammon, checkers, or join a domino game. Reggae Beach has it all.

read more!

April 20, 2011 at 3:04 pm | Ocho Rios, Weddings & Honeymoons, What to Do, Where to Visit | No comment

Where to Visit: Bob Marley Museum, Jamaica

The King of Reggae music and still to this day the most influential musician to come out of Jamaica is the legend, Bob Marley and a trip to Kingston is not complete without a visit to Bob Marley Museum. The museum is located on the site of the legendary musician’s home, which he purchased in 1975. This house, featuring 19th-century architecture, was Marley’s home until his death in 1981. It was converted into a museum six years later by his wife, Mrs Rita Marley.

The main museum displays the life and achievements of this phenomenal musician through artifacts, memorabilia, numerous writings, photographs and other head-turning mementos. The property also features a well-equipped 80-seat theatre, a photographic gallery, and a gift shop selling T-shirts, posters and CDs and other Bob Marley memorabilia as well as items from Jamaica. You can also tickle your palate with sumptuous meals from the Legend Cafe. The venue allows you to see every aspect of the life of the legend.

read more!

March 29, 2011 at 3:21 pm | Kingston, What to Do, Where to Visit | No comment

The “Pon Di Road” Recap & The 10 Most Viewed Webisodes of the Season!

Our favourite travel couple Calee and Stephen have come to the end of their Jamaican adventure (for now). For months we’ve watched them experience everything from climbing the cascading Dunn’s River Falls in Ocho Rios, to tubing on the White River, swimming with the dolphins at Dolphin Cove, parasailing at Cosmo’s Beach in Negril, touring the haunted rooms of the Rose Hall Great House in Montego Bay, riding in an aerial canopy tour and taking a bobsled coaster ride through a tropical rainforest at Mystic Mountain and so much more. Watch now, as they relive their amazing journey in the “Pon Di Road Recap”:

Don’t worry if you’ve missed out on any of the action, the entire season of “Pon Di Road” is still available for your viewing pleasure on our My Jamaica YouTube Channel and as a special treat we’ve decided to share with you the 10 most viewed webisodes of the season:

read more!

January 6, 2011 at 2:31 pm | JTB TV | No comment

Vacation Themes: Family: Coyaba River Gardens & Mahoe Falls

Just 1 1/4 miles outside of the bustle of central Ocho Rios, Jamaica, on the hill overlooking the Bay is a place literally called ‘heaven’; Coyaba River Gardens and Mahoe Falls. Named after the Arawak word for paradise, these spectacular tropical gardens feature a beautiful limestone waterfall, panoramic views of the coast, exquisite Jamaican/Spanish architecture, guided tours, a natural aquarium, and a museum of island history to boot! With so much to offer there’s no wonder it’s such a great setting for everything from a quiet picnic for two (or twenty) to a blissful wedding ceremony surrounded by the natural beauty of Jamaica’s interior.

( via )

You can choose to keep yourselves busy climbing waterfalls, or take an interactive, expertly guided walk through time with the kids in a museum displaying pre-Columbian Arawak and Spanish artifacts. Built on the grounds of a historic farm (the Shaw Park Plantation) that dates back to the earliest days of Britain’s colonial age in Jamaica the gardens are also home to an aquarium with visibility to koi carp, mullet, snappers and turtles swimming in their natural habitat. There’s even a wide spot in the stream that visitors can use as a “swimming hole” if they’re so inclined. It’s perfect for anyone who appreciates flora, fauna and natural beauty combined with the serenity of a genuine water garden. A wonderful place for a family vacation, the change in seasons are marked only by newly flowering plants and trees and the proud peacocks strutting around will only add to your child’s delight.

read more!

November 23, 2010 at 6:40 pm | Vacation Themes, What to Do, Where to Visit | No comment

Where to Visit: Montego Bay: Montego Bay Marine Park

Montego Bay is already well renowned for its beaches, its beach bars, gourmet restaurants and the nightlife on its ‘Hip Strip’. Environmentalists, scuba diving and snorkeling fanatics also know Montego Bay is home to Jamaica’s first national park, the Montego Bay Marine Park which is famous for its wall dives and home to several dive sites. It’s main attractions are a wealth of sponges in a rainbow of colors, dozens of tropical fish and amazing coral reefs. Divers and snorkelers can experience a variety of exciting visual experiences including, wrecks, walls, reefs, tunnels, and underwater sea creatures. Depths vary from waist deep to a ledge at 30 ft to vertical drops of 100 ft.

( via )

Located on the north coast of Jamaica it encompasses the entirety of Montego Bay’s seafront (15.3 square kilometres) and contains three major ecosystems, seagrass bed, mangroves and coral reefs. The eastern boundary of the park is Tropical Beach (adjacent to the Sangster International Airport). The western boundary is Rum Bottle Bay, a small point close to the Great River. Its diverse environment, includes mangrove forests and islands, white sand beaches, river estuaries, seagrass beds and corals, not to mention all the wildlife that dwell therein. Non-motorized watersports such as diving, snorkelling and glass bottom boat tours are permitted and experienced dive teams are available to guide you through your underwater adventure.

read more!

October 18, 2010 at 3:35 pm | What to Do, Where to Visit | No comment

What to Do: Black River Safari Cruise

Jamaica’s South Coast is a vast and beautifully exotic territory yet relatively untouched by industrialization and is a side of the island worlds apart from the more popular sand sun and sea of the beaches of the North Coast. It is this very diversity that makes it so appealing to eco-tourists and nature enthusiasts the world over. Enter the Black River Safari, the perfect way to soak up the ecological wonderland that is Jamaica’s South Coast.

Set amidst massive banks that serve as a habitat for much of the South Coast’s wildlife the Black River is Jamaica’s longest river. Its name refers to the darkness of the river bed that has been lined with thick layers of decomposing vegetation. The Safari Cruise offers visitors the chance to discover the beauty of the South Coast with a 1/12 hour boat tour up the river and through the Black River lower morass, Jamaica’s largest wetland area. All this while searching for native crocodiles and experiencing the magic of the island’s wildlife.

read more

September 23, 2010 at 8:58 pm | What to Do, Where to Visit | No comment