Jamaica

English: Seven mile beach, Negril, Jamaica (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: A picture of a typical fishermen house on the bank of the White River in Ocho Rios, St. Ann's Bay Parish, Jamaica. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bob Marley's hometown (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Jamaica is an island smack dab in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. With a tropical climate, beautiful blue oceans and a multitude of outdoor activities to enjoy, there are so many reasons to come to Jamaica. Except for a short hurricane season, the weather in Jamaica is beautiful year round. This makes the island very appealing for people wanting to enjoy some of the local activities like kayaking, fishing, snorkeling, mountain biking, and swimming with dolphins.

To fully experience Jamaican culture you must try the food. It is a combination of Caribbean dishes mixed with local dishes. Even though most Jamaican food has a reputation for being spicy, locals tend to favor a more versatile food assortment. The national dish is Ackee and Saltfish, and must be tried by anyone looking for that unique Jamaican experience. It is made with the local fruit called Ackee, which resembles scrambled eggs and has a unique taste of its own, in addition to dried codfish mixed with tomatoes and onions. You probably won’t get a chance to try this food anywhere else, so take advantage of it while you can.

Besides the beautiful beaches, there are many other things to see in Jamaica. Don’t miss the Shaw Park Botanical Gardens, a 25-acre collection of exotic Caribbean flora located in Ocho Rios. For some historical perspective on Jamaica, visit Columbus Park, a park honoring the 1494 arrival of Christopher Columbus. And if you’re a fan of Reggae and Bob Marley, visit Nine Mile, a quaint little village in the beautiful mountains of St Ann, Jamaica, where Bob grew up and developed the inspiration for his music.

So for that beautiful, relaxed, sun drenched vacation on white sandy beaches, visit Jamaica.

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The top 3 Surfing Beaches in Jamaica

Jamaica may be known as one of the world’s most relaxed islands, but this doesn’t mean you can’t get active here if you want to. The beaches are equally ideal for trying out sports like surfing as they are for soaking up the sunshine and enjoying a cool cocktail.

Surfing  in Jamaica

Whether you’ve organised your break way in advance or are planning to arrange a last minute Jamaican escape, you’re bound to be looking forward to hitting that powder sand and deep blue surf. Hire a board during your getaway and you can practise surfing at many of the beaches that dot the island. To find out more about three of the best, read on.

Boston Bay Beach

Arguably the most famous beach in Jamaica at which to ride the waves is Boston Bay Beach in Port Antonio. The exclusive resort is known as the first home of Jamaican surfing and boasts the biggest waves to be found around the island.

The pretty cove is very clean and it’s best to visit between December and March if you want to enjoy perfect surfing conditions. Face north-easterly if you want to experience the biggest swells.

Beginners and intermediate surfers are well catered for here, but seasoned sportsmen and women might want to travel further afield in search of more challenging spots after visiting Boston Bay.

After a few hours on the waves, head on to the shore and sample the area’s famous jerk chicken at the vending stands nearby.

Long Bay

The eastern side of Jamaica is the best location for surfing, and if you’re staying in this area for your holiday it’s worth paying a visit to Long Bay. The resort is known for its reliable surf, although you’ll need to be aware of the area’s forceful undertow.

A relaxed spot, Long Bay has a quaint charm and offers some striking landscapes as a backdrop to your surfing break. There are also plenty of chances to buy some souvenirs from the beach vendors who line the beach.

Swell and wind directions are north-easterly and the optimum tide position can be found mid tide, while rising tide offers the best movement. On a normal day, the main take-off zone is next to the large boulder, and you might catch some rip currents here.

Makka

If you’re staying in or around Kingston for your Jamaican break, head out to Yallahs for at least one day, as the area is home to one of the island’s most consistent waves – Makka. You’ll find this popular surfing spot along the coastline between Yallahs and Morant Point and it has great potential for advanced surfers.

There are all kinds of spots to ride the waves, including a rivermouth break and numerous left-hand point breaks. Some can be ridden from two feet upwards, while others – such as the surf breaking off a massive headland – can only really be ridden when five feet or larger.

It’s wise to be aware that many of the headlands here give way to the vast Caribbean Sea, and you don’t want to end up in open ocean, especially because both the swell and wind patterns can change significantly in a short time here. Beginners will be out of their depth so it’s best to let the experts tackle this area.

To find out about some of Jamaica’s other great surfing spots, click here.

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