Jamaicans Define Enthusiasm ... The Spirit The Island Is In Every Interactionwww.visitjamaica.com

Jamaica

4-5

It would be a shame to travel to the heart of this complex culture without having at least one typical island meal.

6-7

Each day will give you the opportunity to get acquaint-ed with the top golf courses, which truly are once in a lifetime experience. Like any island nation, Jamaicans love their water sports and there are plenty of opportunities for visitors to get in on the fun.

8-9

Good shopping choices includes: Jamaican crafts which range from artwork to batik fabrics to baskets

www.visitjamaica.com

Contents

Overviewamaica is the third-largest island in the Caribbean; studded with sensuous beaches, skyscraping mountains and lush landscapes, it’s a vacation destination for those in search of pure relaxation. But if you want to see the real Jamaica, throw away your guidebook,

and take a few tips from us. These are Jamaica’s best-kept secrets.

Hidden Pirate HistoryA visit to Port Royal will open a treasure chest of the island’s hidden history. The city was a refuge and port for many of the real pirates of the Caribbe-an. Legendary men like Henry Morgan and Blackbeard made

frequent stops at the city that used to be known as the “wickedest city on Earth.”...Another region of the island with a mysteri-ous attraction is the small village of Bath. With the help of a local guide, you can find one of the island’s oldest and most cherished secrets: natural healing springs. According to legend, a runaway slave discovered the Bath springs in 1690. The sulfur in the water is said to have therapeutic and restorative powers. The Bath Fountain Hotel is located on-site and features water pumped straight from the spring.

All-Inclusive ResortsWith stunning vistas at every turn, finding a beautiful place to stay in Jamaica isn’t a challenge. However, for the discerning traveler with a taste for luxury and a desire for ambi-ence, there’s only one choice - the all-inclusive resort. These resorts take the worry out of travel and won’t break the bank; all the food, drinks and entertainment are available for one fixed price.

Eat, Drink & Be MerryIt’s no secret that jerk sauce is a culinary staple in Jamaica, but finding the best jerk the island has to offer can be a bit over-whelming. Jerk originated on the east-ern-most part of the island near Boston Bay, and now the best can be found in a cluster of stands near Boston Bay Beach.

J

Side dishes rely heavily on big flavored veg-gies. Callaloo is a leafy green similar to collard greens or spinach. It’s often served with pickled mackerel and cod fish or boiled green bananas. Fried plantains and rice stewed with beans are other classic sides.Despite the warm weather, locals dig hearty hot soups. Pepperpot soup is packed with leafy green callaloo while creamy pumpkin soup has a more delicate taste. Brown chicken stew, conch stew and oxtail soup all offer homey goodness. Finally, no culinary tour of Jamaica is complete without a Red Stripe or coconut water.

Dining

The best way to experience true Jamaican cuisine is to get out from your resort and dine with the locals. Here are some of the best spots around the island for classic Jamaican fare.Jamaican cuisine is a melting pot reflecting the various cultures that have influenced the island over the years. But even with all this fusion, there are many local ingredients that stand out in dishes, most notably the hot and spicy Scotch bonnet peppers that are key to any good “jerk.” Jerk pork or chicken is Jamai-ca’s national dish. Pork or chicken is seasoned with Scotch Bonnet peppers along with thyme, onions and scallions. Then the meat is wrapped in pimento leaves and cooked slowly for 6-8 hours. Traditional jerk is cooked in a pit with hot coals, however most places take an easier route and prepare the meat on a pimento wood rack over hot coals on a grill or in an oven.Aside from flavorful jerk chicken or pork, menus at local Jamaican restaurants are domi-nated by hearty meals that draw on local in-gredients. Aside from flavorful jerk chicken or pork, menus at local Jamaican restaurants are dominated by hearty meals that draw on local ingredients. Fish, including red snapper and lobster, are prepared in a variety of ways. Es-coveitch fish, or fried fish served with a sauce made of vinegar, onions and hot peppers, is a local hit.

The Palms Restaurant

Riu Montego Bay

The Caves Negril

Spend the evening enjoying fine din-ing at Three Palms Restaurant. With

stunning views of the golf course, this exceptional eatery offers an ideal setting to enjoy an intimate meal for two, or a special occasion with the entire family. Sample from a menu offering delicious items innovatively created by Executive Chef Michael Dannecker. Delight in a dining experience sure to become an affair to remember.

The hotel offers high quality ser-vice guaranteed by RIU, as our All

Inclusive, in which the client’s comfort and enjoyment are the most important. Therefore you will have the chance to eat at the buffet restaurant a variety of delicious dishes, and taste the best cui-sine that our chefs prepare at the theme restaurants.

This is wholesome home cook-ing at its very finest! A variety of

sumptuous dishes prepared using fresh local produce are served up daily, from authentic Jamaican ‘Jerk’ barbeques to magnificent candlelit 5-course af-fairs. Dine in an oceanfront gazebo, at a hand-crafted stone table under the stars at the cliff ’s edge, or reserve a private cave dinner *, strewn with fresh bou-gainvillea petals and lit by candlelight….

Sports

Jamaica, largely depending on where you stay. Water sports are the main activity at Jamaica’s hotels and resorts, with most having their own pools, beaches and equipment. The best beach-es for swimming and sunbathing are situated along the northern coast. Surfing is also best in this area, specifically east ofPort Antonio, at Boston Bay. Many hotels and resorts also have small sailing craft and windsurfing boards for hire. There’s no reason for the kids to be bored on a Jamaican holiday, or to be limited by what is typically offered to youngsters at resorts, such as water sports, games and crafts.

Scuba diving enthusiasts can dive in Jamaican waters and enjoy the varied and colorful ma-rine life without straying too far from shore. Visitors can also take cruises on the clear waters of the island and jump into the sea for swimming or snorkeling. In addition to diving or sailing, visitors can enjoy sporting activities during their visit to Jamaica, such as scuba diving, water skiing, parachute skiing while being towed from a boat, fishing and trips on clear bottomed boats.Jamaica’s landscape offers the opportunity to enjoy a pleasant ride through the countryside while the visitor gets a little closer to typical Jamaican culture, by visiting villages and sugar cane plantations. The island features 12 stunning golf courses where sport fans can practice their best shots. Surrounded by spectacular scenery, the fields have a wide variety of game obstacles. Those who prefer to discover the landscape of the island on foot have numerous sites to visit: the Blue Mountain Peak, 2256 ms high, is a challenge for any hiker. Visitors can enjoy bird watching during this adventure. The island has more than 200 native species, including at least 25 endemic ones.

SportsChukka Cove Adventure Tours

Dolphin Cove Ocho Rios

Sandals Golf and Country Club

Experience this extensive adven-ture and extreme canopy tour in-

volving numerous zip lines at dizzying heights. The first zip line left a platform at a height of 14 feet and, hundreds of yards later, arrived at a platform 100 feet high in a tree. Also, ATV, dune buggy, and 4×4 tours explore not only the lush rainforest and stunning trails but also the beloved communities in the area.

This magnificent property has a natural cove which is surrounded

by 5 acres of lush tropical rain forest. Visitors have the opportunity to interact and “Swim With” dolphins, enjoying the thrill and love of these amazing lovable animals. Visitors can also swim, hold, feed, and learn about the evolutionary secrets of the Caribbean sharks. Visitors can capture their dream of being a dol-phin trainer by taking the challenge of being “Sea Keeper” for the day.

Give yourself the perfect golf vaca-tion, with rolling fairways lined by

sweeping views of the sea and moun-tains. This magnificent 18-hole course rises 700 feet above sea level in the lush hills of Ocho Rios, with a practice range, putting and chipping greens, pro shop, restaurant and snack shack.

ShoppingDon’t miss the opportunity to get into the shopping groove at one of the many shop-ping malls around the island. In Montego Bay, you can go wild at The Shoppes at Rose Hall, Whitter Village or Fairview Shopping Cen-tre. Ocho Rios boasts a great variety of shops at the trendy Island Village and several other duty free plazas like the TajMahal, while Negril offers great shopping at the Time Square Pla-za. Explore these favorite shopping spots and you are guaranteed to find a unique piece of Jamaica to take home, whether you are look-ing for watches, jewelry, perfume or souvenirs. This ‘must-visit’ attraction for duty-free luxury goods and gift shopping is the latest addition to Montego Bay’s ‘Elegant Corridor’, show-casing 30 of the island’s top retailers, designer boutiques and souvenir stores in a landscaped, open-air plaza. Jamaica’s most exclusive du-ty-free retailers, including Bijoux, Jewels & Time, The Royal Shop, Jewels in Paradise, Casa de Oro, Tropicana, Colours, Swiss Stores, Chulani Jewelers and Golden Nugget, offer the latest in fashionable jewelry and luxury goods at this prime location.

Additional shops include designer boutiques such as Déjà Vu, Sheenaz, Island Leisure, Flights of Fantasy, Cool Gear, Jammin’ Jamai-ca, the Shade Shack and Shady Daze. Jamaican souvenirs can be found at Casa de Xaymaca

and Tina’s Arts and Crafts, while Rose Hall Ci-gar Club, Coffee and Spice and Booze and Bites offer premium coffee, cigar and alcohol brands.

In addition to great shopping, The Shoppes at Rose Hall plaza allows visitors to enjoy Blue Mountain Coffee specialties and light fare at ‘Café Blue’, or relax in gourmet splendor at the vibrantly colorful Habibi Latino, a Middle Eastern restaurant located next to the signature waterwheel.

Conveniently located across from the Rose Hall Great House, and minutes away from Solís The Palmyra Resort & Spa, Rose Hall Resort & Spa A Hilton Resort, Ritz-Carlton andHalf Moon hotels. Transportation arrangements can be made through your hotel’s concierge desk. Call 953-3245 or e-mail srhja@cwjamaica.com.

Shopping in Negril

Island Village Shopping Centre

The Royal Shop on the Tahjmahal

The Negril Craft Market is conve-niently located within walking distance of many resorts in the area of the south-ern tip of Seven Mile Beach. Visit us for high quality, hand-crafted items from local artisans. Hand made by the shop owners, you won’t find these items any-where else in the world All hand crafted in Negril by local artisans. The many shops in our market have a wide variety of items made by local artisans.

The Island Village plaza is a versa-tile shopping centre, themed on an

idealised version of a Caribbean village. Although Island village does not strict-ly resemble the “real Jamaica” it does a good job of providing visitors with the kind of sanitised, picturesque environ-ment that some visitors may be expect-ing to find in the Caribbean. The plaza is a made up of several two story buildings, built around a central green with a stage and attractive water feature.

The Royal Shop carries exclusive collections of jewelry and watches as

well as more than 100 different lines of cosmetics and fragrances. Also available at the Royal Shop are Montblanc pens, Judith Leiber jewel bags, Montblanc cuff links, and other gifts.

Additional locations in Montego Bay and Ocho Rios

Designed by Mikiko Mcleodmikikomcleod@gmail.com

909-991-6450