Jamaica is a small Caribbean island in the West Indies. English is the official language but Jamaican Patwah is the primary spoken language. Locals refer to Jamaica as Jamrock in Patwah giving the impression the whole island is jammin' all day long. Of course, it isn't. Well, not everywhere.
As for me, my week-long vacation was all about jammin' and jerk in Jamaica! While I was there, I discovered things to do in Montego Bay that didn’t include sunbathing on the beach (nothing wrong with that, haha!). It's no secret the powdery white beaches of Jamaica attract hundreds of thousands of sunbathers each year but the island is probably mostly known internationally for its music.
Laid back reggae music was introduced to the world by Bob Marley in the 1970's. In addition to his musical ingenuity, Bob Marley also played a role in turning the spotlight on Rastafarianism (or Rastafari).
Although Jamaica is the birthplace of Rastafarianism as far back as the 1930's, it inevitably became more popular as reggae continued to climb the musical charts. It's fair to say that, contrary to common belief, only a small percentage of Jamaicans adhere to this particular way of life.
After spending a week at an all-inclusive resort in Montego Bay, I confirm that reggae is always playing somewhere. Jamaica and reggae are like two peas in a pod, one doesn't exist without the other. Reggae is all about chilling. It would be tempting to spend all your time in Jamaica feet in the sand and beer in hand but Jamaica has lots more to offer.
Read on to discover things to do outside a resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
THINGS TO DO OUTSIDE A RESORT IN MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA
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BOB MARLEY MUSEUM & MAUSOLEUM
Most hotels will offer tours to the Bob Marley Museum & Mausoleum making it an easy day trip. The museum is located in Kingston in the small, rural village of Nine Mile where Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley was born and raised. In 1975, Bob Marley bought a house in Nine Mile where he occasionally lived.
Following his untimely death in 1981, his house was converted into a museum in the mid-1980's. The museum houses some of the legendary musician's personal items, a souvenir shop, a small auditorium and, of course, his house. The mausoleums of Bob Marley, his mother and his brother are also part of the complex.
But, wait, there's more.
Some of the “shops” are simply windowless cutouts in the wall where cannabis items are sold on the ledge. Amongst the items are joints, marijuana tea and “happy” cookies. Smoking marijuana is an integral part of the Rasta community, and is tolerated by authorities.
Having said that, marijuana has been decriminalized but it's still illegal (except for medicinal purposes) to possess more than a certain amount in Jamaica. However, visitors of the Bob Marley Museum & Mausoleum can purchase cannabis products and smoke ganja without any repercussions.
It was hilarious seeing the cloud of smoke hovering over the complex, and our Rastafari guide was obviously high, haha. I don't smoke weed but visiting the Bob Marley Museum & Mausoleum was an experience I won’t soon forget!
If you decide to purchase cannabis products, don't carry it across the border as that would constitute drug trafficking!
Trip tip: The road to the Bob Marley Museum & Mausoleum is very winding and bumpy so make sure to bring some anti-nausea medication (or ginger which is known as a natural remedy).
DUNN’S RIVER FALLS
Dunn's River Falls is one of the most popular day excursions offered by tour operators in Jamaica. The falls are located in the lush Jamaican jungle where I'm sure it used to be hard to access but, given its popularity, the site has been efficiently set up to receive thousands of tourists each year. Dunn's River Falls are a series of natural rock terraces which visitors form a beeline by holding hands.
The falls are truly a natural wonder but I was surprised that climbing was allowed. The sharp rocks were very slippery and were hard to see in the knee-deep, foamy water. A few people, including my friend, fell hard on the rocks and hurt themselves. Experienced guides directed where to step but I didn't always feel confident.
Halfway up the waterfalls, visitors have the choice to stop climbing or continue going up. A lot of people got scared and decided to stop. Lucky for me, I made it to the top without injury.
What to bring when climbing Dunn’s River Falls:
- Water shoes to avoid slipping on the sharp rocks
- A waterproof cell phone case
- A towel
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JIMMY BUFFETT’S MARGARITAVILLE
A vacation to Montego Bay wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Jimmy Buffett’s legendary Margaritaville! This funky bar is located along the Hip Strip, and is a popular hangout for vacationers in Jamaica. The vibe is laidback, the drinks are refreshing and the view is awesome!
MONTEGO BAY’S HIP STRIP
In the center of the resort area of Montego Bay is the Hip Strip, a stretch of road lined with coffee shops, restaurants, bars (including Margaritaville) and souvenir shops selling clothing and, of course, Jamaican rum. Tourists and locals alike head to the Hip Strip to take in Montego Bay’s nightlife.
Read also: Pura Vida Road Trip in Costa Rica
SHOPPING FOR SOUVENIRS AND HANDICRAFTS
If you want to bring back hand-crafted items from your travels, then head to the Old Fort Craft & Heritage Market in Montego Bay. Take note that not everything here is handmade but it's definitely a good place to get all your souvenir shopping done. Bargaining is expected, and is part of the fun of shopping in Jamaica!
WHERE TO EAT THE BEST JERK IN JAMAICA
Jerk is a Jamaican cooking style using jerk spices to marinate or dry-cook meats such as chicken or pork. Jerk can be found anywhere and everywhere: at street stalls, in restaurants, and I'm sure every resort has a jerk hut on their premises.
Just before going to Jamaica I had seen a travel show where the host had eaten at Scotchie’s. They claimed to make "the best jerk in Jamaica". Of course, I had to try it! I didn't know where it was but, as luck would have it, we passed it on the way from the airport to the hotel so I figured it wasn't very far.
On my second to last day, I finally decided to go. Jamaica has a bad reputation in terms of violence so to be more safe than sorry, I asked the guard at our hotel if it was okay for me to walk alone to Scotchie's about 10 minutes from the resort. He looked at me nonchalantly and said there really was no danger and to enjoy the jerk. I was a little apprehensive but off I went!
Scotchie's was on the same busy, four-lane road as the resort I was staying at. I didn't get honked at or cat-called and nobody paid any attention to the white girl walking alone in Jamaica. However, I did meet an elderly Jamaican man who kindly wished me happy travels.
Once at Scotchie's, I placed my order of jerk chicken and asked if I could visit the kitchen. Without hesitation, one of the friendly cooks took me round to the back to show me the rustic cooking installations. It was as authentic as it gets! I returned to my table and I ate my mouth-watering jerk chicken with satisfaction.
SUNSPREE INN MONTEGO BAY
My friend and I chose this hotel for its great value price-wise but, unfortunately, the beach wasn't the most inviting. It was mainly small bays with hardly any sand. The water was very, very shallow making it impossible to swim. Dipping was the only option to escape the heat and sun. But how could I possibly usher the slightest complaint?
I was in Jamaica - everything was Irie, mon!
TRAVEL RESOURCES
- Book flights to Jamaica via Skyscanner
- Compare hotel prices in Jamaica on Booking.com & Agoda
- Check hostel prices on HostelWorld
- Stay connected using an Airalo E-sim for Jamaica
- Search for tours & excursions in Jamaica
- Shop for affordable travel insurance with SafetWing
- Save on conversion fees while traveling with Wise
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I’m the founder and creator of Life Untraveled. I quit my corporate job, sold everything I owned and have been traveling full-time since 2018. I hope to inspire you to travel differently on a budget.
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[…] playing loudly everywhere and Rastafarians hanging out at every street corner. The tri-colors of Jamaica could also be seen on shop signs and t-shirts. Puerto Viejo is the very definition of laid back […]