Montego Bay

Montego Bay, or rather MoBay as the locals call it, is the second largest city in Jamaica. It might be the capital of St James Parish, but it is without a doubt the tourist capital of the country. The bulk of the international flights go through there. Jamaica has long been heralded as one of the liveliest tourist hot spots in the world.

The weather is of course tropical, which means days are balmy and humid with a refreshing breeze that rolls in from the ocean. Be aware of the fact that Jamaica lies in the hurricane belts, and the highest risk month is November.

Consult the Jamaican Office of Disaster Preparedness online for more in depth information. Summer months on the island are lazy, and things move along really slowly, so be patient, relax, and adjust yourself to the pace.

Christopher Columbus dubbed Montego as “el Golfo de Buen Tiempo”; the Fair Weather Bay, but the name was later changed by the Spaniards. Spanish settlements hunted the herds of wild hogs that roamed the surrounding hills, and swiftly started exporting lard. Montego is derived from the Spanish “manteca” which literally means lard. Sadly many of the buildings of old have been destroyed by plantation fires or hurricanes, so a lot of the early history perished along with it.

Today golf resorts stand proudly in the stead of sugar plantations, and in the port, it all about rum and reggae. Locals are a lively bunch, and need no excuse to dance and party, and will take to the streets in doing so. In spite of its large commercial sector, Montego Bay still tries to stay true to its roots.

For 4 nights a year, For 4 nights a year, the bay becomes home to the Reggae Sumfest, which keeps locals and visitors alike reveling in the streets until the music stops. The winter equivalent Jazz festival is another cause of great jubilation and letting your hair down.

Jamaican food is very flavorful and tasty, mixed a unique blend of Caribbean and Continental dishes. Seafood if bountiful, but if you fancy yourself a landlubber, there is of course meaty selections of chicken, beef and lamb. You are guaranteed of new culinary experiences, since many of the ingredients cannot be found elsewhere. Take a traditional breakfast of Ackee and salt fish, for instance. Ackee is cooked and tastes strangely enough like eggs. Ackee is also highly poisonous unless it is ripe, so you might not want to try and cook this yourself.

Montego is great starting point for your Jamaican getaway, and is regarded as the stately Grande dame of the country. It is the perfect middle ground; not as questionable as some of the other districts, but not as overcrowded and over flooded with tourists during the high season. Here you will find a series of deluxe hotels, counting the Ritz Carlton among them. However, if you are seeking the authentic thrills of a traditional Jamaican experience, some of the smaller towns and villages will pose a better offer.

The currency is in Jamaican Dollars, but US Dollars are accepted at main centers. Taxis will also accept US Dollars, but you will need local currency to pay for buss fair. Unfortunately, like most other major world cities, there is a seedy side in the darker underbellies. Violence and shootings are common in certain areas, even in Montego Bay. Travelers are advised to completely avoid high risk areas like Flankers, Canterbury, Norwood, Rose Heights and Hart Street.  In case of emergencies, the Jamaican number to phone is 119.