MAIN Travel Caribbean Jamaica

"Waah gwan?" say Jamaicans. It's the lilting patois of the island meaning, "What's up?"

What's up in Jamaica is a thriving tourist scene promising a laid back lifestyle, parties til dawn, and spectacular natural beauty. In short, Jamaica has offered visitors such a famous slice of paradise - and for so long - that it has almost become synonymous with "Caribbean getaway."

The home of singer Bob Marley (don't miss a visit to the Bob Marley museum in Kingston), reggae, Blue Mountain coffee, and world renowned Jamaican rum, Jamaica offers something for everyone beginning with its white sand beaches, mountain waterfalls, and stunning sunsets.

Newlyweds find it a romantic paradise. Meanwhile, kids and families will discover a playland of water sports and scenic wonders. The two main tourist resorts for fun in the sun are Negril, boasting one of the longest beaches (at 7 miles) on the island, along with world famous Montego Bay, better known by the locals as Mo' Bay.

Top Jamaica tourist attractions include Doctors Cave Beach on Montego Bay (left) Dunns River
Falls near Ocho Rios (middle) , and Negril's Seven Mile Beach, the longest beach on the island (right).

Also don't miss a tour of Jamaica's famous crystal waters of the Blue Lagoon made famous in the 1980s by the film of the same name starring Brooke Shields.

Finally, a must for any tourist visiting Jamaica is a climb up Dunns River Falls, arguably THE most visited attraction in all of the Caribbean. (Jamaica travel tip: plan your visit to Dunns River Falls in the morning or late afternoon and avoid the crowds.)

Have fun!

DID YOU KNOW? Jamaica Travel Fun Facts

And .... ACTION!

• Jamaica is for the birds! You can pet ostriches in Cashoo Ostrich Park or feed hummingbirds from your hand Rocklands Bird Sancturary in Montego Bay.

• A scenic film location, Jamaica has been the backdrop for such Hollywood movies as Cocktail, Dr. No, How Stellas Got Her Groove Back, and Pirates of the Caribbean.

• Approximately 30,000 tourists a year visit the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston. Bob Marley's birthplace and burial place can also be visited in the hills above Ocho Rios in the town of St. Ann.

• Due to its stunning beauty, Jamaica is the second most popular Caribbean destination after the Dominican Republic.

More about Jamaica tourist attractions around the Web:

Visit Jamaica - The official site offering online package booking and travel guides to Kingston, Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio and the South Coast, with information on major attractions, shopping, hotels & restaurants, lessons in Jamaican patois and slang, practical travel tips and advice on getting around.

Jamaica Tourism - Trip Advisor - Member reviews of top hotels, bars, restaurants and places to go and see, related photos and insider tips about what to avoid.

The Official Visitors Guide to Montego Bay - Like it says, with the grand tour of top attractions, maps, photos, hotel & restaurant guides, sailing & diving tours, news & event calendar, related resources.