MONTEGO BAY
City guide
S
oft sandy beaches, endless sunshine, spicy plates of jerk, plus rum, reggae and friendly
Jamaica’s second city is a popular stop on Caribbean cruise itineraries, bringing together the perfect blend of city buzz and bea h hills finds Kaye Holland
locals – there’s a lot to love about the city affectionately known as Mo Bay.
Add to this world-class championship golf courses,
well-preserved plantation houses that tell the story of Jamaica’s troubled history of colonisation and slavery, and mesmerising waterfalls, and you have a Jamaican port city that rewards a pre or post-cruise stay. With the Caribbean island set to take centre stage this summer as it marks 60 years of independence on August 6 – with a host of fetes and festivals for its annual carnival to mark this milestone – here’s your expert guide to Montego Bay. Get ready to soak up the good vibes…
What to see
While it’s tempting to spend your time slumbering
If it’s the three Ss – sun, sand and sea – that you’re
in the sun, rum punch in hand with reggae music
after, Mo Bay won’t disappoint. Stake your spot at
permeating the air, there’s more to Mo Bay than
Doctor’s Cave, aka Montego Bay’s most famous beach.
beaches and Bob Marley.
Founded as a bathing club in 1906, Doctor’s Cave
When you’re ‘done’ at Doctor’s Cave, wander along
owes its name to English osteopath Sir Herbert Barker,
adjacent Gloucester Avenue snapping up souvenirs.
who wrote an article espousing the virtues of the
Must-buys include Blue Mountain coffee, woodwork,
water’s healing properties. Following the publication
Wray & Nephew white rum, and Jamaican soaps.
of Barker’s piece, people flocked to Doctor’s Cave
Bottom row, from left: Rose Hall; rum shack, Ocho Rios; White Witch Golf Club; S Hotel
From there, make for National Museum West
in their droves to experience the supposedly
which, as the name suggests, tells the history of western
therapeutic mineral effects.
Jamaica. There’s a separate room dedicated to the rise of the Rastafarian movement, which began in Jamaica during the 1930s following a prophecy made by black political leader Marcus Garvey. However, for a proper introduction into the island’s famous religion, head to the Rastafari Indigenous Village. Here you can connect with Rastas and learn more about their culture and way of life.
Where to eat Jamaican cuisine is a feast for the senses, and no visit to the Caribbean’s liveliest island is complete without
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