Make the most of MoBay’s dreamy landscapes and rich culture with these local-approved tips.
A dreamy panorama of pearly guts beaches , luxeall - inclusive hotel , an iconic slip of eating house and clubs — it ’s no wonder Jamaica ’s Montego Bay is so beloved . nursing home to the Sangster International Airport , the busiest airport in the English - speakingCaribbean , as well as a bustlingcruise port , Montego Bay is also well know as a tourism hub .
There ’s a MoBay ( as the locals call it ) resort for every perceptiveness and budget but you ’ll never live on-key Jamaican culture there , no matter how many Red Stripe and rummy punches you wassail . The key to connecting with the veridical Jamaica is to escape the hotels . Stroll down Fort Street , dotted with pastel edifice , bustling topical anesthetic and the 18th - centuryFort Montego , fit with three governance cannons . Or opt for afood tourand taste local staples like gizzada coconut palm tarts or curry Capricorn . When explore Jamaican cuisine , why hold back at jerk volaille ? There ’s so much more that the island has to offer .
Montego Bay has its share of tourer ambuscade , but those are arguably outnumber by the local haunts and smear that make the island such an incredible cultural hub . Whether you ’re call by MoBay ’s breathtaking nature , articulatio coxae euphony scene , or flavorsome cuisine , we ’ve receive everything you necessitate to make the most of your next Jamaican risky venture .
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Your trip isn’t complete until you…
See : The glint purple and blue luminosity of Luminous Lagoon . ice-cream float along on a magic night clock time boat cruise through the microscopical organism that fill Montego Bay’sLuminous Lagoon , one of the largest of only five bioluminescent bays in the Earth .
touching : medicative herbs and local vegetables like callaloo and cassava while learning to organise traditional mantrap atRastafari Indigenous Village . search the natural modus vivendi and discover the room of animation of Jamaica ’s most famed cultural group .
Smell : The fragrance of black gladioli , orchids , and begonias atAhhh Ras Natango Botanical Garden . Tucked into the hill , the garden showcases the centre of Jamaica ’s natural smasher . Wear non - slip shoes in this cliffside Eden and make it in the morning for the best fauna sightings , specially the hummingbird , which you could fertilize with your hired hand using flyspeck digit feeder .
Doctor’s Cave Beach and Rastafari Indigenous Village|Holger Leue/The Image Bank/Getty Images. Image Courtesy Rosalind Cummings-Yeates.
Hear : The beats of the largest medicine festival in the Caribbean atReggae Sumfest . Montego Bay host an yearly celebration of Jamaica ’s signature sound every July with a who ’s who of reggae and dancehall acts . If you ca n’t make it to Sunfest , Coral Cliff and Pier One host steady bouncy reggae act .
Taste : Biteinto the flaky encrustation and flavorful filling of Jamaica ’s signature bite atJuici Patties . The savory bridge player pies are deal in a range of flavors at Jamaica ’s largest eating place string . Sure , it ’s a mountain range , but this is where locals go to savour what are take the best patties on the island .
Things to do for the outdoor adventurer
With a byname like “ the land of wood and body of water , ” you ’d expect Jamaica to issue non - stop nature activities and with an impressive array of preserve and common , and Montego Bay definitely delivers . But there ’s a lot more to the island ’s landscape than beaches . “ Jamaica has the Blue Mountains , which you’re able to hike , in improver there are rivers and stream all over the interior . you may go rafting on the Rio Grande river as well as climb Dunns River falls and YS Falls , ” says Kingston aboriginal and airline industriousness expert Kerwin McKenzie ofPassrider . “ And when you ’re hungry , you could have some mangoes , avocados ( pear ) and coconut weewee right from the trees . ”
plunge deeper into the terrain and explore mountains , lagoons , and the island ’s famous Cockpit Country .
8 am - Fortify yourself with the Hellenic Jamaican breakfast and the interior dish , ackee and saltfish atThe Pelican Grill . Head to Gloucester Avenue , also known as the Hip Strip , to chow down on the savory delight of fresh ackee ( a buttery fruit ) and saltfish ( salted cod ) , served with electrocute dumplings at this darling family - own restaurant that ’s been dish up Jamaican staple for over 50 years .
Doctor’s Cave Beach and Rastafari Indigenous Village|Holger Leue/The Image Bank/Getty Images. Image Courtesy Rosalind Cummings-Yeates.
9 am - Hop a canoe toBogue Island Lagoon . Float among the shoreline mangrove of one of Montego Bay ’s first fishing sanctuary . breather or scuba dive to catch coral reefs and rainbow - colored Pisces up close . Reserve a guide to aid you spot pelican , egrets , herons , and other birds .
11 am - Munch on some of the best jerk chicken in Jamaica atScotchie ’s . Stop by the roadside mecca of Scotchie ’s and feast on jerked volaille or porc , slowly grill over sweetwood and pimento log . Sit under the thatched ceiling , fiat sides of festival ( fried dough ) breadfruit tree , corn whisky , or rice and peas and prepare to be transported to foodie heaven .
4 pm - Absorb the serenity ofAbeokuta Paradise Nature Park . Tucked into the hill just outside of Montego Bay , this under - the - radar gem honors the ethnical connections between Nigeria and Jamaica . The former plantation teeming with lush greenery once remind the enslaved laborers of Abeokta , their home in southwesterly Nigeria . The Nigerian High Commissioner officially spread out the parking lot in 2003 and the cause showcase an ancient mineral aqueduct , Codiaeum variegatum , Alameda flowers , June plum tree trees , ruins from the Greathouse , and the oldest swimming pocket billiards in Jamaica . Take a dip in the Olympic - sized pool and then soak in the mineral springiness while enjoying the scenic views .
Ackee and saltfish|Didi Beck/iStock/Getty Images
7 premier - Take in ocean view and local menu at Peppa ’s Cool Spot . slow down with local at this low - key restaurant just above the Hip Strip . put the oxtails or groom half-pint and unwind with the sea breeze wafting over you .
9 pm - Puff and party at the 2727 Lounge . see this hot pip for sheesha , live dancer , and hot tune in the middle of the Hip Strip . Located next room access to a dispensary , the waiting area caters to a crew that enjoys smoking and getting idle .
Things to do for the beach bum
We get it . Sometimes you just want to experience the classics . And there ’s nothing more classic to a Montego Bay trip-up than loaf on a beach . Although all of these sandy strips of heaven share the same strong , crystalline water , Montego Bay beach are not one in the same . Some are geared toward music fans and partiers , some for snorkelers , and others for those of us who are just vibing . Many of Montego Bay ’s beach have been privatized by resort hotel and hotel , so these are options that are open to the populace . Some require an entering fee , but a few are free . Whatever your preferable beach vibe , Montego Bay has you covered .
9 am - Kick off the day with a homestyle breakfast atOl ’ Joe . Grab a traditional light breakfast like stamp and go ( saltfish fritters ) or cornmeal porridge at this no - frills diner so you wo n’t be too stuffed to dive into the water system .
10 am - Start pocket-sized at One Man Beach . Gear up for a day of beach traipsing by visiting the quaint One Man Beach near Gloucester Avenue . Plop on the sand and watch local kids frolic and planes zoom in from the nearby airport . This low - paint beach does n’t offer any amenity but it ’s a large place to sunbathe and make relaxed away from the multitude . Wade through the clear wave and ground yourself for the next stop .
Cockpit Country|Photo courtesy of Visit Jamaica
11:30 am - Dive into light-green and low-spirited spaces atHarmony Beach Park . Enjoy the beaut of the sea and the park at the tumid spare public access beach park in Montego Bay . Stroll through the park ’s trees and summerhouse , past the hoops court to a lovely stretch of beach . comforts include umbrellas ( necessary because there is n’t much spook on the beach ) and lounger renting as well as changing rooms , rain shower and lockers . Entertain your intimate minor at the aquamarine car park with water slides or just go for a swimming . Harmony Beach cater solid food , boozing , and ice pick vendors but there ’s also a KFC and Juici Patties across the street so you could eat a easygoing lunch on the beach .
2 pm - deform up at Tropical Bliss Beach . As soon as you step up to the entrance , you ’ll hear reggae music savage from the guts , setting the pace for this popular speckle . There ’s a $ 5 entrance fee and the upbeat ambience is deserving it . This is literally where the action is . blue jet skiing , tubing , parasailing , and meth bottom gravy holder rides bring to the party atmosphere . A eating house and bar serve up food and drinks . But even if you come for the reggae , this spot is also good for snorkeling . Local concerts , fashion shows , and saltation parties are often scheduled here but you ’ll desire to forefend the region if there ’s a cruise ship in porthole . The gang can be overpowering .
4:30 pm - Catch the sundown at the most celebrated beach in Montego Bay . Spectacular seaboard aspect and a history of healing waters are just a duet of reasons whyDoctor ’s Cave Beachis legendary . semitransparent wave and dead manicured sand make this one of the prettiest beaches in the urban center . There ’s an $ 8 entering fee , change rooms , shower , storage locker , and restaurants that usually pump pelvic girdle - shaking dancehall tunes . The crowd thin out by the evening so it ’s the perfect time to snap up a fresh coconut to sip and watch the sundown over the ocean .
Harmony Beach Park|Andrew F Gordon/Shutterstock
6 post-mortem examination - Head toPier One on the Waterfrontfor more seaside playfulness . A harbour for vivacious Jamaican entertainment , this is the spot for good intellectual nourishment and upright times . try the whole ruby snapper or grill conch while grooving to the a la mode reggae and pop hit . Pier One transforms into a nightclub on Friday and Saturday nights so organise to dance the Nox off . If you go on a Wednesday night , you ’ll be treated to a local fashion show and amateur performer .
Things to do for the film buff
8 am - Stop by the beloved local eateryIrie House Restaurant & Barfor breakfast . It ’s not a film location but this 24 - hour eating place catch the local scene with unfermented , made - to - order of magnitude dishes . Order the salt mackerel and a local succus like glum sop .
10 am - Stroll the lush scenery ofCinnamon Hill Golf Courseto relive a key scene inLive and Let Die . Roger Moore receive the elusive Baron Samedi , playact by legendary actor and choreographer Geoffrey Holder , play the flute in the center of a cemetery in this 1973 thriller . The “ memorial park ” in the plastic film was in reality Cinnamon Hill Golf Course and a falls mark off the position , just off the honey oil at hole # 15 . work a round of drinks on one of the good courses in Jamaica or tour the land of the former gelt plantation that still house an ancient aqueduct , a loot manufactory and tombstones date back to 1726 .
12 pm - cover the mystic lair ofLive and Let Die ’s Dr. Kanaga atGreen Grotto Caves . An undercover maze covered in green algae provides the ideal home for a Bond baddie and role player Yaphet Kotto made sure his grapheme reveled in the eerie backdrop . Slide on a helmet and research the cavern filled with chiropteran , rock formations and a glistening underground lake .
Sunset in Montego Bay|chad lee/500px/Getty Images
If you are a genuine James Bond oral sex and want to bear on your lot - jetting afternoon further east from MoBay proper , you may visit the exact touch where perhaps the most iconic prospect in the entire James Bond pic enfranchisement was filmed . In 1962’sDr . No , Sean Connery watches as Ursula Andress ( in her role as Honey Ryder ) rises from the ocean atLaughing Waters Beach , shake the urine from her blonde tresses and rip a tongue from her bikini when Agent 007 startles her . pose back on this secluded beach filled with rock pond and undulate palm trees and take in the striking scenery .
locate near the famous ( and exceedingly crowded ) Dunn ’s River Falls , Laughing water supply with its unaffected gold sand almost feels like an alternative universe . Jamaican travel blogger and St. Andrew native Jhunelle Jureidini documents all aspect of the island on her blogSimply Local Lifeand she list Laughing Waters as a standout experience . “ It ’s mostly very passive , sitting pretty by a private the three estates about a two - hr scenic driveway outside Montego Bay , ” she says . “ For urine lovers , it ’s the good of both worlds ; a portmanteau word of refreshing nerveless from the river and rejuvenating lovingness from the seawater . To me , laugh Waters is as beautiful as it is soothing . ”
3 necropsy - Enjoy a recent lunch at the HQ of a contemporary Jamaican sensation . Step into the vibrant world of Jamaican eight - time gold - winning Olympian Usain Bolt’sTracks & Records , a restaurant / bar / waiting room bursting with Jamaican style . savor looker like coco and cassava shrimp while the latest reggae and dancehall rhythms fill the spot . Sure , Bolt is n’t a movie star , but the track and bailiwick ikon might as well be – he ’s one of the most famous Jamaicans to ever know .
Cinnamon Hill Golf Course|Enrique Berardi/PGA TOUR/Getty Images
5 pm - View the family that Junior Bevil forebode home inCool running . Head to the undivided Tryall Club and itsThree Little Birds Villato glimpse the imposing house where Junior , played by Rawle D. Lewis , lives with his sire . If you ’re feeling spendy , you may even rent the newly renovate four - sleeping room Doroteo Arango and stay there yourself .
7 postmortem examination - revelry in an elegant dinner at theSeaside Terrace at the Round Hill Hotel Villas , the resort fix forHow Stella Got Her Groove Back . The 1998 rom - com starring Angela Bassett and Whoopi Goldberg showcased the weary execs loosen at the luxury repair and specifically cottage # 11 . test the escovitch fish with deep-fried green plantains . If you ’re lucky , you might even glimpse Donovan , the brawniness - bound beach yoga teacher who play himself in the movie and still leads classes at the refuge .
Where to stay
Half Moon Montego Bay ( $ $ $ ) This storeyed resort has hosted everyone from Queen Elizabeth II to Jennifer Hudson , but it ’s manage to hold a freshness along with its quiet luxury . Unfolding over 400 acres of tropic dish , including two sea mile of shimmery sand beach , the setting alone is worth the check . The furnishings on the prop are made from local wood and rude fibers , so a stay here feels comforting and not close . That said , the equestrian meat , secret beach , lawn tennis courts , and golf class still transmit a sure stage of exclusivity .
S Hotel ( $ $ ) The smart boutique hotel overlooking the famed Doctor ’s Cave Beach proffer appeal along with amenities like a sky deck of cards and in - room record player . All - inclusive gourmet meals and a key fix near shops and night club make this a premier spot .
Toby ’s Resort ( $ ) surround by palm trees and a tropical garden , this small family - pass hotel offer convenience and a sense of taste of local Jamaican liveliness . Located at the beginning of the Hip Strip , Toby ’s is tight to shops , beach , and eatery . The hotel provide two bars , two puddle , and an on - site eating house .
Green Grotto Caves|GummyBone/iStock/Getty Images
What to know before you go
How to get around
If you ’re in the metropolis center near the Hip Strip , you’re able to take the air to most restaurants , lodge , and shops . There ’s a public transit bus system that can take you all over MoBay and beyond but unless you ’re comfortable with traveling without a set agenda and are surefooted navigating an unfamiliar city , it ’s much easier ( if a bit more expensive ) to take taxi . seem for accredited taxicab with reddish plate and fare for vulgar name and address posted inside the car . Uber is also available in the city for a seamless experience . Renting a car is for the rightfully adventurous because dealings can be challenge and drive is on the left side of the road .
The currency
Jamaica use the Jamaican dollar but US dollars are readily accepted in Montego Bay . You ’ll get the best deal using Jamaican dollars , specially in rural areas outside of the city .
International adapters you’ll need
If you ’re locomote from the US , you wo n’t need an adapter but you may need one if you ’re coming from Europe , South America , or division of Asia .
When to plan your visit
Jamaica is bless with kooky tropical weather all yr round ranging from 80 - 90 degrees but hurricane season from June to November may bring occasional showers and the threat of storms . High time of year , from November to January and outpouring fracture ( March to April ) also has higher rate and gang .
Your Montego Bay dinner party fact
Montego Bay may now be known for beach resorts but back in the day , it was most famous for dotty pigs . When the Spanish shoot down in the area , they mention it Bahia de Manteca , which stand for “ butter bay ” because the neighborhood was far-famed for make lard , or “ hog ’s butter , ” from the ferine porkers .
Tracks & Records|Georg Ismar/picture alliance/Getty Images
S Hotel|Courtesy S Hotel
Coral reefs, Bogue Island Lagoon|Damocean/iStock/Getty Images
