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Rightly famous for its beaches and music, beautiful, brash Jamaica is much more besides. There's certainly plenty of white sand, turquoise sea and swaying palm trees, but there are also spectacular mountains and rivers, tumbling waterfalls and cactus-strewn savannah plains. Far more than just a resort, the island also boasts vibrant towns and cities such as sprawling Kingston, which inspired the music of Bob Marley and countless other home-grown reggae superstars.
Jamaica is a country with a swagger in its step – proud of its history, sporting success and musical genius – but also with a weight upon its shoulders. The island faces the familiar problems of a developing country, including dramatic inequality of wealth and social tensions that occasionally spill over into localized violence and worldwide headlines. As a result Jamaicans are as renowned for being as sharp, sassy and straight-talking as they are laid-back and hip. People don't beat around the bush here, and this can sometimes make them appear rude or uncompromising. Particularly around the big resorts, this directness sometimes is taken to extremes at times, with approaches from vendors and hustlers extremely frequent.
But there's absolutely no reason to be put off. As a foreign visitor, the chances of encountering any trouble are minuscule, and the Jamaican authorities have spent millions making sure the island treats its tourists right. As the birthplace of the "all-inclusive" hotel, Jamaica is well suited to those travellers who want to head straight from plane to beach, never leaving their hotel compound. But to get any sense of the country at all, you'll need to do some exploring. It's undoubtedly worth it, as this is an island packed with first-class attractions, oozing with character and rich with a musical and cultural heritage; if you're a reggae fan, you're in heaven.
| Jamaica highlights |
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Jamaican nightlife
Whether it's reggae icons singing out under the stars or dancehall queens winding and grinding to ragga, Jamaican nightlife is unmissable.
Climbing Blue Mountain Peak
The superb panoramic views from the top stretch from Jamaica's south coast to the north.
West End sunset, Negril
With a string of excellent bars to choose from, Jamaica's extreme western tip is the best place to watch the sun go down with a cocktail in hand.
Hellshire beach on Sundays
Best visited on Sundays, when the beach comes alive with booming sound systems, dancing and sizzling grills.
Frenchman's Cove and Blue Lagoon, Portland
Take in the cove's soft white sand, warm waters and fabulous reef or dip into the nearby lagoon.
Treasure Beach
Supremely laid-back yet stylish south coast bay, from where you can take a boat ride to the sublime Floyd's Pelican Bar.
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