This summer, I was fortunate enough to take a trip to Jamaica. It is truly one of the greatest sights in the world. It has beautiful white sand beaches and lush green rain forests, and if you look to the sky you can see giant green mountains filling up the horizon line. I stayed at the Sunset Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios for five days, and had an incredible time. I wish I could have stayed longer, but I definitely made the most of my short trip. To get the most out of your Jamaican experience, I recommend you do and see these four things.
1. Stay at an all-inclusive resort
In terms of value, there is no beating an all-inclusive. If you stay at a regular hotel or resort, you will be responsible for paying for all of your meals, drinks and activities. At an all-inclusive you can leave your wallet at home, and what’s not to love about free drinks at the bar all night, every night? You will also be much safer at an all-inclusive resort. Jamaica has a reputation for not being the safest country for tourists. The security in large resorts is taken very seriously, and through these resorts you can book activities and tours comfortably, with confidence that the resort is taking care of you.
2. Leave your all-inclusive resort
If you book with your resort, you can get a personable Jamaican local to be your driver and guide through the country. Taking a tour with a local is the best way to get can authentic cultural experience, and see the country through their perspective. Throughout the tour, my guide told personal stories about what it was like to struggle and grow up in Jamaica. Most of Jamaica is very poor, and he explained that the wealthy Jamaicans had their homes at the top of the mountain, so that they could have the best view possible. One day he hopes to live in one of the large houses that overlook Jamaica’s coastal towns and resorts. There is just no better way to experience Jamaica’s culture and beauty, than through someone who truly knows and loves.
3. Go to Mystic Mountain
Mystic Mountain is one of the newest and most exciting attractions in Jamaica. It’s also one of the most surreal sights imaginable, as you are transported to an amusement park on the top of a rain forest. The trip to the summit includes a ski lift they call the “Sky Explorer” that takes you soaring above the rainforest, with an unrivaled view of the ocean. From here you can zip-line through the trees, stop in a small museum, and even race through the mountain on a bobsled. You control the bobsled’s acceleration, and it can reach exhilarating speeds as you rush past the beautiful scenery. This is a truly one of a kind experience, and something I strongly recommend you check out before leaving Jamaica.
4. Experience Jamaica’s local cuisine
The best way to eat authentic Jamaican cuisine is to go outside your resort and find it. If you get a driver, they will know the best places to stop for delicious and cultural food experiences. Be sure to try one of Jamaica’s most famous dishes, the beef patty. I visited Juici Patty, which is a large chain of restaurants that specializes in this delicious treat. When I asked my driver for the best beef patties in Jamaica, he immediately thought of Juici Patty. The food didn’t disappoint, and I can see why it’s basically Jamaica’s equivalent of McDonald’s. During our tour through the mountains our driver took us to a spice trader named Dennis. As we exited the cab we were warmly greeted with a smile and a fresh Mango. After the Mango I was handed a strange green fruit called Cherimoya that I had never seen before, it was so fresh and sweet that it tasted like candy. After trying several more kinds of fresh fruit I bought several bags of homemade spices. In the future when I use the spices, I will think of Dennis and how proud he was of his food, and it will bring a smile to my face.
This is just my list of things to see, I implore you to visits this stunning country and compile a list of sights of your own.
