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Montego Bay is the tourist capital of Jamaica and one of only two cities on the island, the other being Kingston. Montego Bay is located on the north-western shores of the island and has a wonderful coast and great beaches. The great thing about Jamaica is that the weather rarely dips below 80 degrees and it is sunny more than it is not. So make sure to bring a swimsuit! The atmosphere here is relaxed and easy going. You will hear the phrase “Relax man” a lot and “Irie”, which means great or cool. Everything is very easy going, so enjoy your stay, catch some sun, and relax man.

Montego Bay Pictures

Things to do in Montego Bay

What’s not to do in Montego Bay? One of the first things you should do is to sign up for a tour and there are a lot of them. Croydon Plantation takes visitors on a farm truck ride around the property to look at pineapple trees, banana trees, and sugar cane being grown. Then, there is a tasting at the end of the tour. There are also bus tours, which takes you around the island to experience the real Jamaica. You’ll get to see how the locals really live and maybe even see where the first James Bond movie was filmed. Then there’s equestrian ride guides where nautical experts take you scuba diving in the tropical waters. A great tour is guides take you to walk up an actual waterfall. The best beaches are Doctor’s Cave Beach, Cornwall Beach, Walter Fletcher Beach, and Dolphin Cove. AguaSol Theme park is another beach that also acts as an amusement park, with go-kart racing, tennis, water sports, and live entertainment.

Nightlife in Montego Bay

The nice thing about Montego Bay is that the drinks are very cheap. A humorous thing to take note of too is that most bars are located directly next to a church with not much around them either. The best places to find nightlife is around the nicer hotels. The local bars may be a little sketchy, but you can try them too. Rum is a jamaican staple, so get ready to party. Glouster Ave and the Pier have a nice selection of bars. And also many restaurants transform into bars after hours. Since the laws here aren’t too strict, you can easily float from one bar to the next without showing ID. Just be careful not to leave your drink unattended.

Dining in Montego Bay

Glouster Ave is where you will find the best dining, as well as other things. When in Jamaica you must try jerk chicken. It’s the opitomy of Caribbean food. “Jerk” seasoning is used in many meat and seafood dishes here as well. Other typical Caribbean food includes heavy portions of rice. Green paw paw is what locals call papaya and don’t be surprised to see this dish on many dessert menus. Pier One, which is right on the waterfront, has the best fresh seafood dining on the whole island. You choose your seafood live and then it is cooked to your specifications. Locals rave about ‘Pork Pit’ on Glouster Ave, which is claimed to have the best jerk chicken.

Shopping in Montego Bay

The Taj Mahal’s Duty Free Stores is what many tourists think of when they want to find typical Jamaican trinkets and souvenirs. Lots of spring breakers hoard these stores for anything Jamaican themed trinkets to bring back with them. Many items you will find in the shops include mugs, T-Shirts, Jamaican coffee, coffee flavored liquor, Jamaican flags, rasta caps, and Bob Marley paraphernalia. In fact, don’t be surprised to see Bob Marley’s face on a lot of items such as Jamaican flags and T-Shirts. But be cautious of the aggressive vendors in Montego Bay. Another thing to take not of is that in Jamaica many of the duty-free stores have free sampling of Jamaican liquors. However they then expect you to buy a bottle. Old Fort Craft Park has a nice selection of local crafters and their products if you’re interested in more traditionally Jamaican items.

Montego Bay travel tips

• Locals sell marijuana to travelers, and may make a hissing noise to catch your attention. So be aware.
• Taxis are the best way to get around Montego Bay, besides some of the shopping streets.
• Locals are known to pick-pocket. Keep your wallet in your front pocket and your purse at your side.