Sights of Montego Bay - what to see. A complete guide to iconic places. Virtual tours Montego Bay Jamaica vacation

I noticed that recently quite a lot of Russian tourists are choosing cruises to the Caribbean.
There are many airliners that go to Jamaica, but the most popular among ours are:
- liners MSC Opera And MSC Armonia, stopping at the port of Montego Bay, starting from Cuba;
- liner MSC Divina, starting in Miami and stopping in Ocho Rios, Jamaica;
- liners Oasis of the seas(which is considered the largest cruise ship in the world) and Harmony of the seas, staying in Falmouth;
- liner Carnival Breeze, also stopping in Montego Bay.

Cruise ships stay in Jamaica for one day. Each liner has its own layover time. This can be from 8 to 19, and from 10 to 17. What can cruisers see in one day?

Port of arrival Montego Bay. Perhaps the most convenient place to anchor a cruise ship, because it is from here that there is a huge selection of attractions.
1. Hummingbird Sanctuary and Negril Beach.
This excursion begins with a short stop in the center of Montego Bay: to see the historical monuments and life of the city.

The hummingbird sanctuary is about 20 minutes' drive from the city. This is the unique place where the pennant-tailed hummingbird - the national symbol of Jamaica - flies into your arms.

For those who haven't seen it yet:

Negril is famous for its 7 miles of white sand beach that doesn't get hot in the sun. We arrive at the famous Margaritaville, where you can lie on the beach, swim, drink a cocktail and have a good rest.

And before returning to the ship, we also stop at the no less famous Rick's Cafe, jump from the cliffs into the sea (or watch others jump) and enjoy the atmosphere.

A plus is a visit to souvenir shops (optional) and lunch at a restaurant (several to choose from).

2. You can do exactly the same excursion as described above, but replace any one of the three points with snorkeling.

Then in Negril we get into a boat, sail to the coral reefs, everyone is given masks and fins, and off we go - watch the fish and other marine life!

3. You can also replace any one of the three points with Blue Hole Negril.
This is a hole in the ground with a mineral lake where you can jump.

4. Tour of Montego Bay.
Of course, a hummingbird sanctuary.

Plus the fish market - look at the life of fishermen and pelicans.

Plus Montego Bay beach.

And a bonus - airplanes. Amazing sight!

Plus - souvenir shops (optional), lunch in a restaurant, coffee shop.

5. Dunn's River Falls.
Those same famous waterfalls that almost everyone wants to visit.

Their only drawback is that almost everyone goes there.

In addition to the waterfalls, we stop at Columbus Park - the place where Columbus first landed in Jamaica.

And on a nice wild beach.

6. Blue Hole Falls.
Everything is the same as in the previous paragraph, only the waterfalls are different. You can also bungee jump there.

7. Nine Mile Village, where Bob Marley was born and buried.
We take the previous point, replace the waterfall with a village - and here it is, an excursion! It's just a long drive, Bob Marley lived in the mountains after all (not to be confused with the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston).

Pelican Bar. Famous place, bar in the middle of the sea. Beautiful and interesting.

And that is not all! You can also go rafting, zip-line (cable car), swimming with dolphins, horse riding and much more. If there is a desire, as they say, we will build a route.

You can read more about the attractions of Jamaica under the “excursions” tag.

This is how it turned out to be a long post. And next time it will be much shorter about excursions from cruise ships stopping in Falmouth and Ocho Rios.

It is the second largest city on the island, located in the heart of the Caribbean. The length of its beaches with divine landscapes is about 20 km. Moreover, they are all considered incredibly clean - this is one of the reasons why Mo Bay attracts tourists from all over the world.

Attractions Montego Bay, Jamaica

First of all, tourists inspect the plantation mansions, which are still preserved in their original form. One of the most popular among them is, which was built at the end of the 18th century by a British slave owner. It is worth noting that previously the area of ​​the holdings covered about 3,000 hectares. Today the building has been completely restored. You can admire its beauty not only from the street, but also by going inside, where there is a small bar on the ground floor. And if you want to not only walk the corridors of Rose Hall, but also learn its history, then welcome to the tour. It will cost you $18.

Greenwood Great House is another equally famous plantation mansion that once belonged to a wealthy landowner. It is worth mentioning that this building houses the oldest library, the collection of rare books of which will be the envy of every connoisseur of antiques. Also inside you can see interior exhibitions, unique musical instruments and even Chinese porcelain dishes.

An equally interesting attraction of Mo Bay is Sam Sharpe Square, where there are monuments to the island’s independence fighter, Sam Sharpe, and his followers. On the square there is also a small stone prison, where Sam once sat, arrested for his love of freedom. Today the prison is not functioning.

It is worth visiting the Jamaican beach, Doctor's Cave Beach Club, beloved by tourists in Montego Bay. Locals and visitors adore it for its crystal clear water and snow-white sand. Interestingly, in 1880, Doctor Cave and his friends founded a small swimming club here, which Over time it turned into a real resort.

The best hotels in the city have long been recognized as Deja Resort All Inclusive ($150 per night), The Wexford Hotel ($70) and Royal Decameron Montego Beach Resort ($180). If you want to save on an overnight stay, then consider the following options: Jamaica Stay ($40), Coral Garden Symbol House ($48), and Norman's Court Resort & Sky Restaurant Club ($51).

Gourmet restaurants will feed their visitors incredibly delicious food, however, the prices here will be appropriate, but it is definitely worth it.

The most popular activity was a trip to Dunn's River Falls, which included bamboo rafting. The rafting takes place along the Marta Brae River, which will take you to a small settlement called Ocho Rios. Here you can explore local attractions, you can get acquainted with the life of the indigenous people and visit several local shops. After this, the path will lead to the waterfalls, which are considered the most beautiful in Jamaica. The magnificent silvery cascades are more like the rushing springs of thermal waters that can be seen in caves. The waterfalls are surrounded on all sides by tropical gardens, thickets of orchids, lilies and ferns. You can walk through palm groves and see huge breadfruit trees.

No less popular is rafting on the Black River, which will lead to an ancient estate, not far from which there is a rum factory called Appleton Rum Factory. The excursion program includes a tour of the factory and mansion, as well as a tasting of local rum. It is worth noting that the rafting takes place in very picturesque places, so you can fully appreciate the splendor of the local nature. Copyright www.site

After seeing all the sights of Montego Bay, you can go on an excursion to neighboring Kingston. On the way to the city you will pass through banana plantations, small settlements and mountain ranges. The excursion includes a visit to the city of Port Antonio, which was once a real pirate base. There are a lot of attractions waiting for you in Kingston, so all you have to do is choose an excursion to your liking and hit the road.

The city has preserved many beautiful historical buildings, including luxurious mansions of planters. One of the most beautiful is the Rose Hall mansion; it was built for one of the wealthy British slave traders at the end of the 18th century. Initially, the area of ​​his estate was about 3,000 hectares; a complete reconstruction of the historical building was recently completed. Today, interesting excursions are held around it, during which you can explore all the hidden corners of the mansion, and there is also a popular bar on the ground floor of the historical building.

An equally interesting historical monument is the ancient mansion Greenwood Great House. Once upon a time it also belonged to a wealthy landowner, and after his death a library was opened in the mansion; now it is the oldest library in the city. Some of the books stored in it are priceless museum exhibits; in addition to ancient books, in the library you can see beautiful antique furniture, musical instruments, and other antiques.

A popular walking spot among locals and city visitors is Sam Sharp Square, which received its name in honor of the famous independence fighter. Today, the main decoration of the square is the monument to Sam Sharp, and here you can also see a small stone building that used to house a prison. Despite the fact that the prison has not been functioning for a long time, it was decided not to destroy the historical building.

The most significant religious landmark in the city is St. James Church. It is no coincidence that it is considered one of the most beautiful churches on the island; it was built in the best traditions of the Georgian style. The beautiful church has managed to preserve its original appearance; interesting religious artifacts are kept within its walls.

The historic Town House mansion today houses one of the most popular hotels; the history of this building is very fascinating. Initially it belonged to the family of a wealthy businessman, and later a local priest lived in the building. The most mysterious period in the history of the villa is associated with the times when the Masons settled in it. It is believed that it was they who subsequently opened the first hotel there. Today, all history buffs strive to spend at least one day in this unusual hotel, shrouded in historical charm.

Our two cruise routes intersect in this piece of paradise: November 2, 2011, when we, having said goodbye to the deep autumn of New York, had just touched the eternal summer of the Caribbean islands, and November 7, on the third day of the cruise around the Caribbean islands.

Of the natural attractions of Jamaica, the most famous are the beaches of Montego Bay, as well as sea gardens with oyster banks. As a result of annual sociological surveys, Jamaica has repeatedly been the best tourist area in the Caribbean. Resort areas in Jamaica include Negril, Montego Bay, Port Antonio, Ocho Rios, Kingston, Rannaway Bay, and Mandeville.

Travelers to Montego Bay can expect a wide choice of restaurants, as well as a lively nightlife, magnificent sandy beaches and shopping, a place for deep-sea diving, an underwater park, as well as 5 eighteen-hole golf courses, a nature reserve, and ancient plantation houses.

Negril has a luxurious beach, as well as a sandbank with crystal clear water, a picturesque fishing village, the mysterious Yas Falls, and the very colorful town of Appleton, where the world-famous Jamaican rum is produced.

The resort of Ocho Rios, which consists of a chain of beaches, headlands, bays, fishing villages, small seaside ancient towns, which are bordered by huge majestic mountains, this resort is located in the heart of the northern coast of Jamaica. A center for water sports, golf and tennis, Chakka Cove has some of the best equestrian facilities in the Caribbean.

Open-air markets and boutiques offer tourists a variety of wood sculptures, semi-precious stones, embossing, exotic spices and sauces, and reggae cassettes and recordings. Be sure to purchase the famous Blue Mountain Coffee. As well as excellent Jamaican rum from the Myers and Appleton brands.

The most famous of Jamaica's cultural attractions are Spanish Town, the Royal House, the Rodney Memorial, and St. Catherine's Cathedral.

Jamaica has been inhabited by Indians from time immemorial. The Spaniards settled here in 1550, at the same time the intensive extermination of the local population began. The Spaniards renamed the bay, calling it the Bay of Lard, since there were a huge number of pigs here. The Spaniards made their own business out of this; they exported pigs, lard, and leather to their colonies. The name of the city comes from the word “Mantega”, which means lard or lard. With the advent of the reign of the British (1655), the name of the city changed to English and became “Montego Bay”, and the Jamaicans affectionately called their city Mo-Wow or Mobay.

The city of Montego Bay is one of the major cities on the island of Jamaica. It is located in the parish of St. James at the mouth of the Montego River, on the shore of the bay, on the edge of the coastal strip fenced off from the rest of the island by mountains, on the so-called Jamaican Riviera. It is said that Christopher Columbus named this place “Fair Weather Bay.” This amazing quaint city is considered the tourist capital of Jamaica. This is a city with a well-developed tourist infrastructure. Montego Bay is a small city - you can get anywhere on foot.

Traditional business card:

Beautiful and majestic cruise ships and cargo ships call at the port of Montego Bay every day. Nearby there is a free economic zone where production of clothing for export is located, mainly to the USA and Canada. Sangster International Airport - MBJ is located on the shores of the Caribbean Sea. Its runways start from the very edge of the water and when landing a plane it seems that it is landing directly on the water.

Montego Bay consists of three main parts. Actually the city itself with its colorful and lively streets. Shops, markets and banks are located here. The architecture of Montego Bay is a mixture of colonial-style houses from the last century, interspersed with modern buildings. The second part is given over to hotel areas and stretches along the coast through the entire city. The third part consists of villas and hotels located on the mountain slopes in the vicinity of the city. Near Mongego Bay are historic plantation homes. Tropical crops are cultivated on plantations now, as in the distant past.

In the heart of the tourist capital is the cobblestone Sam Sharpe Square. The square is named after Baptist deacon Sam Sharp of the 1834 Christmas Riot fame. On the square there are the ruins of a prison building built in 1804. The prison was originally intended to housefugitive slaves and was useduntil 1906. After all, the Spaniards, having almost completely exterminated the local population, began to import slaves from Africa. There is a memorial in honor of national hero Sam Sharpe, and statues of slaves.

Harbor Street is home to the largest, but far from the only, market in Montego Bay. Montego Bay markets attract shoppers with an abundance of vegetables and fruits, various seafood, andoffer a huge selectionwide variety of goods andsouvenir products. For shopping lovers, this is a real paradise!

The Havens Art Gallery in Montego Bay is dedicated primarily to the works of Polish captain and artist Michael Leszczynski. The gallery is located in his former home and studio on a picturesque hillside in the village of Belmot, a suburb of Montego Bay. The Indian Art Gallery introduces the culture of the indigenous people of Jamaica.

The Greenwood-Grkey-House Museum presents a wonderful collection of antique furniture, musical instruments, and cards.

The main attractions for tourists in Jamaica are water activities. The dazzling white sandy beach of Walter Fletcher with its Marine Park offers entertainment for every taste. Here you can engage in water sports, ride glass-bottomed boats, jet skis, as well as play beach volleyball or tennis, and jump on trampolines. And, of course, just sunbathe under the gentle Caribbean sun, imagining yourself as a pirate, or a captive of pirates. After all, Jamaica has long been a haven for Sea Wolves.

And one more entertainment that is not found anywhere in any park in the world. In the nature reserve, tourists will be able to hand-feed exotic birds - hummingbirds. Beautiful wildlife with magnificent waterfalls and evergreen forests, azure sea and dazzling white sand. You can get acquainted with the flora of the island not only in the park, but also in the botanical garden.

Mo Bay Underwater Park - Andersey A submarine on which anyone can dive six feet underwater and sit comfortably in a chair and watch the underwater world of the Caribbean Sea. And this is a whole fabulous underwater kingdom decorated with exotic vegetation and hundreds of thousands of different species of fish and turtles.

For lovers of outdoor activities, Montego Bay organizes excursions along the rivers Martha - Brae and Breck - River. Traveling on thirty-foot bamboo rafts along the river will reveal secret, enchanting corners of nature. The river is very calm, and therefore sailing on a raft under the guidance of a captain will allow you to enjoy the beauty of the landscape. You can take a canoe ride along the river, feeling like a real Indian. And also in the summer, visit the Reggae Festival, which brings together many performers of fiery musical rhythms in the mountains.

And finally, an absolutely amazing and unique place: this Glistening Waters or glowing lagoon. In the evening it looks simply amazing! Unforgettably! Millions of tiny luminous organisms permeate the lagoon with a magical shimmering light. Leaving an incomparable impression!

In addition, in Montego Bay you can enjoy playing golf to your heart's content, as there are Tryall golf club, which is spread over 2,200 acres of land on the shores of the bluest Caribbean Sea and has five 18-hole golf courses.

Ancient plantations with houses of that time, active and given over to museums, will tell about the past of the city and all of Jamaica. Belvedere one of the first sugar cane plantations in Jamaica, a now defunct plantation, is open to the public so that everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of rivers and waterfalls, exotic plants and animals.

To the east of the city of Montego Bay, is farmhouse Rose Hall Great House, built in 1770. By visiting it, you can hear stories from residents about the White Witch of Rose Hall, who, according to legend, killed her three husbands and terrorized all the slaves she owned.

Bob Marley Theater, in which a documentary film with his participation is shown every hour for all fans of his music, and those who did not have the pleasure of attending his concert. Bob Marley is an outstanding historical figure, performer of many popular reggae songs.

The store adjacent to the theater has the world's largest selection of Bob Marley T-shirts.

Sunset in Montego Bay is symbolic and signifies not the end of the day, but the beginning of a pulsating tropical night. At night, restaurants, bars and clubs come alive. Nightclubs and restaurants offer a variety of entertainment seven nights a week with live jazz music, fashion shows, cabarets.

The cuisine, like everything in Jamaica, is filled with exoticism, it combines the traditions of Spanish, English, African, Indian and Chinese cuisine: the main dish is seafood, chicken and goat meat are the basis for meat dishes, apparently all the pork was exported by the Spaniards. In a variety of varieties, rice seasoned with local herbs. Desserts and pastries are very interesting - after all, they add a variety of tropical fruits and coconut, and guava, and pineapple, and mango. Jamaican rum is an ancient pirate drink. Only here you can be offered pies filled with dried shrimp, salted mackerel, which is prepared according to a special recipe in coconut milk, as well as banana-coconut pudding.

Well, what would you do without tender and flavorful grilled meat? Can't do without him!

In the fall, Jamaica hosts a variety of festivals. The entire month of September in Montego Bay is dedicated to the Rums of the Caribbean festival. It is dedicated, as the name implies, to the ancient traditions of producing the famous Jamaican rum and to the pirates who made this drink legendary - “I-go-go, and a bottle of rum!” At the festival fair you will be able to try a variety of types of rum and products made from it.

Cable & Wireless Golf Academy Kingston hosts a Wine and Food Festival. His sponsor is a charity fighting heart disease in Jamaica. Festival guests will be offered a variety of wines and dishes made from heart-healthy foods.

This airport is located 3 km east of Montego Bay, on the north-west coast of the island - at the center of the country's main tourism areas. There are many hotel and resort complexes in the immediate vicinity. The airport is a short drive from the cruise ports of Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, again ensuring a regular influx of tourists.

The airport was built in 1947 and received the name Montego Bay, and over time it began to be called in honor of Donald Sangster, Prime Minister of Jamaica.

There is one two-level terminal for domestic flights, and two more international terminals. Sangster International Airport serves about 3.7 million passengers annually as of 2011.

Passengers are provided with standard airport services such as parking, duty-free shops, a medical center, several ATMs and a cafe.

Old town of Montego Bay

Montego Bay is considered the second largest city in Jamaica and a popular holiday destination for the rich and famous from around the world. There are buildings from the colonial past here - old prisons, churches and cathedrals, mansions and museums.

Almost in the center of the famous resort there are ancient windmills and mansions that have survived to this day. One of the most famous houses is Rose Hall, which was built at the end of the 18th century by a British slave owner. The Greenwood mansion, which belonged to the largest landowner of the same period, also deserves great attention. Visitors will be able to get acquainted with an amazing collection of rare books, see antique furniture, Chinese porcelain and musical instruments.

Some of the most famous buildings in Old Town are the 1806 Cage Prison, the Blue Hole Museum, and St. James Church, built in 1778. Currently, the center of Montego Bay has preserved only a few original buildings from past centuries; the remaining parts have been captured by tourism and civilization.

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Beaches of Montego Bay

Montego Bay Resort is a quiet and peaceful place, the hallmark of which is its amazing sandy beaches of Doctor's Cave and Walter Fletcher, both of which are easily accessible on foot from the center.

Owned by a private club, the magnificent Doctor's Cave Beach is famous throughout the world. It is distinguished by turquoise water, a strip of white sand up to 200 meters wide, modernly equipped changing rooms and showers, bars and restaurants along the entire coast, which serve national Jamaican cuisine. The beach has all the conditions for water sports and diving, and there are swimming pools with mineral water.

The dazzling white sand of Walter Fletcher Beach has calmer waters. Here is the Marine Park, offering entertainment for every taste. In the park you can ride glass-bottom boats, jet skis, play beach volleyball or tennis, and jump on trampolines. And, of course, just sunbathe under the gentle sun of Jamaica.

The most popular attractions in Montego Bay with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in Montego Bay on our website.