Jamaica Travel and Tourism

At 145 miles in length, Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean. While the climate is mostly tropical - think white sand beaches and reggae music – the central mountainous region is more temperate and has rainforests, allowing for crops like coffee beans to be grown.

The Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site. Claiming 4.5 percent of Jamaica’s total land area, it is significant not only for it sheer size, but also because it’s a refuge for Jamaican wildlife, especially birds, and provides much of the country with fresh water. It’s also home to some uniquely Jamaican species such as endemic orchids, butterflies, and the Jamaican Boa. The world-famous Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is also grown in the range’s lush forests.

Jamaica is famous for its beaches, for good reason; the island has miles of stunning coastline. The coral reefs off of Runaway Bay and Ocho Rios offer spectacular opportunities for scuba diving, as well as breathtaking stretches of white sand beaches. The Montego Bay Marine Park is a great place to learn about the amazing diversity of life that exists under the ocean.

Hikers will want to head inland to Jamaica’s rugged Cockpit Country, a Key Biodiversity Area that provides pristine habitat for countless bird, butterfly, and invertebrate species. This region also has a rich cultural history – during Jamaica’s colonial period, the indigenous Maroon Indians and escaped African slaves hid out here to escape enslavement by the British.

The official language is English, though many Jamaicans speak a dialect known as Jamaican patois. Both airports in Jamaica, Norman Manley International in Kingston and Donald Sangster in Montego Bay, service international flights.

Sustainable Lodging in Jamaica

Jamaica is known for its large expansive all-inclusive resorts, but Jamaica has a number of smaller hotels, lodges, and resorts.

SustainableTrip.org features businesses in Jamaica that are certified by the EarthCheck and Green Globe programs.

Find your next Sustainable Trip to Jamaica.

Learn more about ecotourism and sustainable tourism in Jamaica on the Rainforest Alliance’s Eco-Index Web site.