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The heart of Jamaica – Kingston – beats to the rhythm of a sound that’s born and bred here: reggae. And its most iconic figure, Bob Marley, lived in the city for most of his adult life. Fans of the beloved singer will undoubtedly make the Bob Marley Museum their first stop after coming off a flight to Kingston. Although the museum is one of its main draws there’s much more to see in the capital, and especially, in the outskirts.
A short ferry ride from Kingston is the small fishing village of Port Royal in the south, once an important trading centre and a playground for pirates. To the west is historic Spanish Town, the capital of Jamaica until 1872. Spanish and British influences can be seen throughout the city from the Georgian houses in the old Town Square to the Spanish church turned English cathedral – San Jago de la Vega.
The Blue Mountains just north of the city is where the famous coffee is cultivated. The area provides a good escape from the city, and travellers booking flights to Kingston can add a few days to their itinerary to explore the trails, rivers and waterfalls of the stunning mountain chain.
An annual average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius makes Jamaica a year-round vacation island. Winters are warm with cool trade winds, cool evenings, and the least amount of rain. Summer is considerably hotter and September and October can be very humid. September is the peak month for hurricanes, although they rarely hit Jamaica. Temperatures don’t get quite as high in the upper mountains, which get about 762 centimetres of rain a year. The western coast gets about 76cm of rain a year. The south coast and Kingston have moderate rain throughout the year with a bit more in summer than in winter.
As long as you don’t walk around at night, it’s great to explore downtown Kingston by foot. Taxis are great for short distances, but it’s better to hire a car and driver for the day. Make sure you take only Public Passenger Vehicle (PPV) taxis, which can be identified by their red PPV plates. Either hail or call ahead for a cab. Drivers are required to have their fares posted. Make sure you agree on a fare before you get in the cab, and be aware that fares will be more expensive between midnight and 5am. Your hotel can help you arrange a moped and motorcycle rental if you prefer to get around on your own. You can rent a car to get around, but the cost can be high. You’ll usually get your best rate when you book your Kingston flight. It might be less expensive to hire a car and driver, instead of renting your own car, and you’ll be able to avoid dealing with local drivers.