 |
Montego Bay Jamaica
|
One of the major reasons for this is that Montego Bay, Jamaica has the largest International airport in Jamaica, the Sir Donald Sangster International Airport, and this serves as a tourist entry point for charters from all over the world. Montego Bay is a laso a year round cruise ship destination point!
The name "Montego Bay" originated from the Spanish word manteca or lard. During the Spanish period this was a port where lard, leather, and beef were exported, hence Montego Bay Jamaica got its name from this.
Montego Bay Jamaica was a colony of Spain from 1511 until 1655. From the mid-17th century till 1834 and then again almost into the 20th century, Montego Bay, Jamaica was primarily a sugar port. Unfortunately, the main square of the town was renamed in the honor of Samuel Sharpe who was hanged there in 1832. Though Montego Bay was proclaimed a city by act of parliament, it did not get any form of autonomy. It still continues to be a part of St. James parish.
Montego Bay is not a very densely populated city which makes it a popular destination for tourists. Various airlines like Air Jamaica, several American and British airlines operate into Montego Bay, Jamaica. Recently there have been flights launched from Germany and Canada with flights to Toronto and Montreal. Locations like New York City, Boston, Washington D.C., and Chicago can be reached in less than four hours.
Things to do in Montego Bay Jamaica
Montego Bay Jamaica is very popular for its beaches and sight seeing. The city also has one of the best duty free shopping and cruise line terminal at it's Free Port. This port is made on a lovely man-made peninsula which juts in to the bay.
Get an idea, from this tourist beach slide show of Montego Bay. It's about three minutes long. Turn up the sound and listen to the "Montego Bay" song!
A very popular (and often crowded) tourist spot here is the sheltered Doctor's Cave Beach. The clear turquoise waters of the beaches make it one of the most popular beaches in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The bay here is surrounded by low mountains which make the view breath taking.
There are several American and European restaurants here along with great shopping opportunities. The coastland has numerous tourist resorts and occupies the grounds of an old sugar cane plantations. Many of the original buildings and mill-works are still there, the most famous one being the White Witch's Rose Hall and Tryall. Both these places now have world-class golf courses.
There are various kinds of beach activities which the tourists can indulge like scuba diving, water skiing, etc. There are various cruises which depart and return to this port and you can also enjoy a short sea cruise, along with your stay.
The city can be divided in to roughly three parts. The first part is the main city itself. The second is the popular hotels area which runs past the city from Doctor's Cave Beach and out to the Dead End Bar. And the third part is the outer hotels and villas on the beach side. The tourists normally choose the last two as popular lodging destinations.
Visitors can shop at St. James and Fantasy in the hotel area, Montego Bay Plaza and Bay West Plaza on the waterfront and Montego Freeport Shopping Centre to the west.
Besides being on of the top five beaches in the world, this high end resort filled city, has much to offer and is fast becoming the second capital of Jamaica.
Return to Major Centres from Montego Bay Jamaica
Return to Home Page from Montego Bay Jamaica
