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!

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 (at times, politically-charged) 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 was 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 can safely say that reggae is, indeed, heard everywhere. Jamaica and reggae are like two peas in a pod - one doesn't exist without the other. Reggae is all about chilling. Truthfully, 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 during an all-inclusive vacation in Jamaica.

THINGS TO DO DURING AN ALL-INCLUSIVE VACATION IN JAMAICA

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. Nine Miles is where he lived in a house he purchased in 1975.

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 where Bob Marley, his mother and his brother all rest in peace are also here.

But, wait, there's more.

Some of the shops are simple openings cut out in the walls where you can purchase various items made with cannabis ranging from joints, a cup of tea or even cookies. All you need to do is go up to the window and place your order. Although marijuana has been decriminalized, it's still illegal (except for medicinal marijuana) to possess more than a certain amount.  Authorities are mostly tolerate towards the Rasta community whose religious practices and beliefs revolve around smoking marijuana.

That being said, visitors can purchase cannabis products and even smoke ganja without any repercussions while visiting the Bob Marley Museum & Mausoleum. The whole place was covered in hazy smoke and the carefree Rasta guide who was giving us the tour was obviously high. I don't smoke weed but the whole experience and tour were interesting/amusing, nonetheless.

If you do decide to purchase cannabis products, make sure you don't carry it in your luggage on your way back home as that would constitute drug trafficking!

Trip tip: The scenery along the way to the museum is beautiful but the mountainous road is winding and bumpy so make sure to bring some anti-nausea medication (or ginger 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.

The falls are truly a natural wonder but I was really surprised that climbing was actually allowed. The sharp-edged limestone rocks were very slippery and could hardly be seen in the knee-deep, foamy water making the climb rather treacherous. Dunn's River Falls are a series of natural rock terraces and to go up, visitors form a beeline by holding hands.

A few people, including my friend, fell hard on the rocks and hurt themselves. Experienced guides helped people in putting their feet on the safest rocks to make the climb easier but I didn't always feel confident. Halfway up visitors can choose to stop climbing - a lot of people got scared and decided to exit at this point. Lucky for me, I made it to the top without injury.

Trip tip: You absolutely need to wear water shoes to avoid slipping on the rocks. Water shoes can be rented on site. Climbing camera or cell phone in hand is very risky - for you and your camera! I suggest you buy a cheap disposable waterproof camera instead. Guides will gladly take pictures of you while climbing the falls.

MONTEGO BAY’S HIP STRIP

In the center of the resort area of Montego Bay is the Hip Strip - a stretch of road specifically geared towards tourists but still keeping in line with Jamrock's vibe. You'll find lots of coffee shops, restaurants and bars (including Margaritaville) and many shops selling souvenirs, clothing and, of course, Jamaican rum. The Hip Strip is where tourists and locals get to mingle at night dancing to reggae and international beats.

Read also: Pura Vida Road Trip in Costa Rica

SHOPPING FOR SOUVENIRS AND HANDICRAFTS

If you like to bring back hand-crafted items from your travels, then head to the Old Fort Craft & Heritage Market in Montego Bay. The market is made up of several colorful bungalows and is quite enjoyable despite being aimed at tourists. Not everything here is handmade but it's definitely a good place to get all your souvenir shopping done.

As is usually the case when shopping abroad at local markets, bargaining is expected. Be nice & have fun!

BEST JERK IN JAMAICA

Before you get offended, let me explain: jerk is Jamaica's staple cooking style using jerk spices to marinate or dry-cook meats traditionally chicken or pork. Jerk can be found anywhere and everywhere - at street stalls, in restaurants and I'm sure every self-respecting 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" so, 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. I did, though, cross paths with 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.

On my way back to my hotel, I stopped at a strip mall where I had a revealing conversation with one of the shop girls. The conversation went something like this:

Shop Girl: "Are you walking alone?"

Me: "Yes".

Shop Girl: "Aren't you afraid?"

Me: "Should I be?"

Shop Girl: "No, but most tourists are."

Honestly, my short walk alone to and from Scotchie's hadn't given me any reason to be afraid but, unfortunately, safety has become an issue in Jamaica especially for locals. Rest-assured, going on vacation to a resort in Jamaica and joining tours is completely safe. However, violent crimes among rival gangs is real and certain areas in Jamaica should be avoided.

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! 

Have you been to Jamaica? Did you visit any of the popular tourist attractions mentioned in this post?