Geographical position: Jamaica is located in the center of the Caribbean Sea, 145 km south of Cuba. The island is one of the three largest Caribbean islands.
Jamaica is divided into three geographical zones: the flat coast surrounding the island, turns into rocky limestone plateaus and then mountainous terrain in the center of the island.
The maximum height of the mountain peaks above sea level is 2147 m. Most resorts are located on the coast of the island. The capital of the country is Kingston.
Climate of Jamaica: Tropical, warm. The rainiest months are May and October, but short-term rains are possible throughout the year.
Temperatures during the day range from 25 ° C to 32 ° C. In the central part of the island, in the mountainous area, it can be somewhat cooler.
Political status: Part of the Commonwealth. The head of state is the Queen of Great Britain, represented by the Governor General. Legislative body - bicameral parliament (Senate and House of Representatives).
Capital: Kingston is the main port and commercial and industrial center of the country.
Population: Most of the island's population of two and a half million people are of African descent, but the ancestors of modern Jamaicans were immigrants from Europe, China, India and the Middle East, who entered into mixed marriages.
Language: The official state language of Jamaica is English, but the vocabulary of Jamaicans is rich in words from various African languages. The Chinese and Indians living on the island also speak the Jamaican dialect of English, but in everyday life they also speak their native language.
Religion: About 30% of Jamaicans are Protestant Christians, 25% are Baptists. A small number of islanders consider themselves Methodists, and very few are Presbyterians and Catholics. In addition, some African cults are widespread (for example, the cult of Obeah).
Money: The national currency of Jamaica is the Jamaican, the US dollar is almost on equal terms with it. Many tourist centers and shops accept traveler's checks (it is also recommended to buy them in American currency) or credit cards of the leading world systems: Visa, American Express and some others. Banknotes in denominations of 2, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 Jamaican dollars, coins of 5, 10, 20, 25, 50 cents and 1.5 dollars are in circulation. At the same time, coins of two main series (80s and 90s) and a large number of jubilee coins are in circulation. For example, the old 5-cent coin is twice as big as the modern 5-dollar coin. Some of the coins are not the traditional round shape, but heptagonal. They are minted with images of animals, birds and fish. Currency exchange: The official rate is not maintained everywhere. The most favorable exchange rate is in banks and exchange offices. Exchange offices accept US dollars, British pounds sterling and German marks. In banks this list is more diverse, and in the head office of the Bank of Jamaica (the country's central bank) you can exchange not only the main currencies of the world, but also the most exotic currencies of African and Middle Eastern countries. Unfortunately, the Russian ruble is not on this list yet.
Cuisine: From simple and spicy to the most exquisite! The local cuisine is a colorful mix of local products, spices and seasonings. Some of these mixtures are called "crazy". The food is cooked for hours on low, smoking stoves standing outside in front of houses. Jamaica also has wonderful restaurants for vegetarians, lovers of Italian and other cuisine. On the island you can get your fill of real exotic fruits, such as star apple, papaya, avocado, sweet and sour sop, guava oranges. Pineapples, mangoes and bananas grow in great abundance on the island. In addition to the well-known fruits and berries, it is interesting to try something more exotic: oranic (a hybrid of orange and tangerine), ugli (a hybrid of grapefruit and tangerine), breadfruit and much more. Tips: As a rule, all tips are already included in the cost of your stay, so any monetary rewards are not accepted at Jamaican resorts. In restaurants where the cost of services is not included in the bill, tips are given (10-15%). National drink: Where else can you find such high-quality rum in such quantities and for such a paltry price (a liter bottle is $4) as on this Caribbean island? But enjoying rum in Jamaica is only half the battle. Every true connoisseur of rum is simply obliged to visit the factory where they brew, filter and bottle this mind-blowing drink. There are now only two large rum factories in Jamaica equipped with modern technology. But there is absolutely no need for a tourist to look into a modern factory. Nickel, automation and strict control over every spilled drop reign there. But on the island there are about a dozen antediluvian factories where rum is produced according to grandfather's recipes. This is where a real booze lover, and at the same time a history lover, will have a field day. Guests are always welcome at such factories. Without any formalities, they will be given white overalls and taken around the workshops to learn the intricacies of distillation technology. The introductory lecture for tourists will be given by the factory engineer-technologist. He will also show how sugar cane juice is boiled, delivered directly from the plantations in galvanized fifty-liter tanks. Then he will take the guests to a huge vat where the wort obtained from cane syrup ferments. A large distillation apparatus is installed here, through the coil of which raw rum flows and drains into the containers provided. It cannot be drunk yet - it must be filtered. But after filtration, almost ready light rum is obtained. To make it dark brown, it is aged for a month or two in oak barrels. For tourists who want to thoroughly understand the difference between light and dark rum, in the factory garden, under the palm trees, the workers will set a Jamaican table: lots of fruits and juices, flatbreads and fried meat. Having paid about $20 per person, guests can eat all this wealth and wash it down with rum - fresh or aged. You can go to the warehouse for rum yourself. There, armed with a glass, guests, under the guidance of an experienced taster, will choose the barrel in which the rum will please them most in taste, color and smell.
Transport: Left-hand traffic. Car rental - from 25 years.
Sights of Jamaica: According to the results of annual sociological studies, Jamaica has repeatedly been recognized as the best tourist area in the Caribbean. Resort areas - Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Mandeville, Runaway Bay, Kingston. The most famous cultural attractions are Spanish Town, the Rodney Memorial, the Queen's House (former governor's residence), and St. Catherine's Cathedral (17th century).
Holidays:
1 and 2 January,
1 March,
Good Friday,
Easter Monday,
23 May,
7 August,
16 October,
25 and 26 December.
