Jamaica Travel Guide

JAMAICA SUSTAINABLE

B U S I N E S S

M A G A Z I N E

TRAVEL GUIDE

WHERE TO FIND THE

PULSE OF LIFE

A GUIDE TO TRAVELING IN JAMAICA. IMPORTANT INFORMATION. WHERE TO STAY. WHAT TO DO & SEE. PLUS MUCH MORE. URECON / LOGSTOR

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TRAVEL GUIDE: JAMAICA

TRAVEL TO

JAMAICA

THE LAND OF WOOD AND WATER 2 | URECON / LOGSTOR

From coral-lined sandy beaches to lush rainforest, from lively, bustling cities to tranquil mountainside waterfalls and peaceful fishing villages, Jamaica condenses a stunning diversity of natural and man-made environments into an island spanning a little over 4,000 square miles.

Snorkelling and scuba diving in the crystal clear ocean, horseback riding on white beaches, rafting on the Blue Lagoon, zip lining through the rainforest canopy, or hiking in the Blue and John Crow Mountains – tourists can explore Jamaica ten different ways and still leave half its natural treasures unseen.

Yet the extraordinary Jamaican environment is only one reason the ‘Land of Wood and Water’ keeps so many visitors coming back.

Jamaica’s most-prized attraction may be its people. Local populations around the main resort centers are enthusiastic participants in the tourist trade, and tourists traveling across the island will find a warm welcome everywhere, from tiny villages to the two large cities of Kingston and Montego Bay. For the sustainability-minded tourist, Jamaica offers a wide range of environmentallyfriendly and community-oriented experiences, along with a healthy splash of pure,

luxurious pleasures. Over the course of this travel guide, we have put together some of our top picks for sustainable activities in Jamaica, from eco-adventures to cultural experiences and festivals.

Whether you’re backpacking between national parks on a year out, taking a few days to explore after attending a conference, or treating yourself one of Jamaica’s many exemplary all-inclusive resorts, if you want a unique, only-in-Jamaica experience – while at the same time ensuring you’re contributing to community growth, not climate change – there’s something in here for you.

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TRAVEL GUIDE: JAMAICA

WELCOME TO Welcome to this special Jamaica Travel Guide, a partnership between the Jamaica Tourist Board and Sustainable Business Magazine.

The Jamaica Tourist Board is a fully-financed government agency under the Ministry of Tourism, charged with marketing the tourism product so that Jamaica is known as the most complete, unique, and diverse warm weather destination in the world.

Over the next three to five years, we plan to expand our room inventory by 15,000 rooms. We also recently created an institute called the Jamaica Center for Tourism Innovation, where we’re training and certifying the people who work in the industry.

We’re now looking at new markets in places like India, China, Japan, Eastern Europe, and Northern Africa, to drive more visitors to Jamaica from new places.

Within the tourism industry in Jamaica, people are becoming increasingly awakened to the need to focus on the environment in a way that ensures we can remain sustainable into the future. There are ongoing efforts across the industry to remove plastic products like straws, cups, and bags, and replace them with paper products.

Earlier this year, the World Travel and Tourism Council announced that Jamaica has moved our retention of tourist dollars from 30% to 40.8%, which makes us second in the Caribbean. This demonstrates our successful efforts to bring visitors out into our communities to experience Jamaica in an authentic way.

The most important factor for tourism in Jamaica is our wider Jamaican community.

Our people are our number one asset, and the businesspeople in these communities are contributing to the retention of the tourism dollar in our society, so all Jamaicans can benefit from visitors to the country. Our rate of return visitors is 42%, which is one of the highest in the world. We attribute this to the wonderful people of the industry.

We hope your readers find this Jamaica Travel Guide useful, and we look forward to welcoming them to Jamaica soon. www.visitjamaica.com

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WE HAVE IDENTIFIED FIVE PILLARS OF OUR TOURISM PRODUCT: GASTRONOMY 80% of tourists travel for food experience SHOPPING We are integrating the work of entrepreneurs, who are Jamaicans making Jamaican products.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS We have a plethora of spa and treatment centers across Jamaica, as well as natural extracts to make nutraceuticals.

KNOWLEDGE TOURISM We host numerous large meetings, conventions, and exhibitions, which also enables us to cultivate knowledge among local Jamaicans.

SPORTS AND CULTURE We’re well-known around the world for our sporting icons and our music.

By embracing these five pillars, we can provide leadership for the industry across the region.

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TRAVEL GUIDE: JAMAICA

WHERE TO FIND THE

PULSE OF LIFE

KEY REGIONS Negril South Coast Montego Bay Ochos Rios Kingston Port Antonio

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JAMAICA KEY FACTS

Capital: Kingston Population:

2.9 million

Language(s):

English, Jamaican Patois

Currency:

Jamaican dollar (J$) - approx. J$135 to US$1

Time zone:

Eastern Standard Time (no DST)

Dialling code:

+1 876

Major resort areas: Kingston, Montego Bay,

Negril, Ochos Rios,

Port Antonio, South Coast Tourist season:

December – April

Annual visitors:

4.3 million

Annual tourism earnings:

US$3.3 billion

Avg. temperature: 81-86 °F (day),

68-73 °F (night) Highest point:

Blue Mountain Peak (7402 feet)

Horse Riding

Port Royal

Turtle Cove

Blue Mountain

Rum Tour

Devon House

Bike Hire

Hotel Mockingbird Hill

Bird Watching

Scuba Diving

Jazz Festival

Shopping

Waterfall

Crocodile Safari

Literary Festival

Beach

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TRAVEL GUIDE: JAMAICA KINGSTON DEVON HOUSE Eat ice cream at Devon House - Built in 1881 by George Stiebel, Jamaica’s first black millionaire, Devon House is a striking example of Caribbean-Georgian architecture.

Guided tours are available on weekdays and by reservation on the weekend. You’ll also want to stop at the on-site I Scream parlor, named by National Geographic the fourthbest place in the world to have ice cream.

LIFE YARD Take a tour of the murals at Life Yard – A Rastafarian community-based organization in downtown Kingston, Life Yard run a number of youth projects in the local community.

Contact Life Yard in advance to set up a tour of the extraordinary murals, and then eat vegetarian food at the café, much of which is grown in the permaculture urban farm.

ALSO IN KINGSTON • Support the Jamaica National Heritage Trust with a visit to Port Royal • Admire the work of Jamaican artists at the National Gallery • Visit the Botanical Gardens to see indigenous Jamaican plants

WHAT TO DO IN...

MONTEGO BAY HARBOR STREET CRAFT MARKET Shop at the Harbor Street Craft Market – Take a break from the beach and go shopping at this craft market, where local vendors sell a wide-variety of locally-produced products, from spice mixes to wood carvings made from indigenous cedar and mahogany. You’ll get some great souvenirs at reasonable prices, and you’ll also be participating in a Travel Foundation program to drive more footfall to the craft markets to stimulate local, sustainable economic growth.

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JAMAICAN WILDERNESS Explore Cockpit Country – Traveling as part of an adventurous group? Get in touch with the Jamaican Caves Organisation (JCO), the only non-profit on Jamaica dedicated to caves research and protection, to arrange a trek through the tropical rainforest of Cockpit Country. You’ll see some remarkable nature in person, and the JCO will re-invest the proceeds in important research.

ALSO IN MONTEGO BAY • Visit the Rastafari Indigenous Village • Go to Reggae Sumfest (12-18 July 2020)

Unlimited-Luxury.

LIMI TED WASTE!

Embarking in community sustainability projects to aid in the development of our society by engaging in charitable donations in the form of cash or kind and time to schools, churches and other organizations in need.

RECYCLING AND WASTE MANAGEMENT MEASURES: Diversion from Landfill: • Used oil from the kitchen areas are collected by Green Fuel, local recycling company. Green Fuel converts the oil into feedstock.

Updated March, 2018

The hotel deposits an average of 2000 litres of oil fortnightly.

Initiated November, 2012 .

• Solid Waste Recycling Programme with Jamaica Recyclables: Cardboard, plastic bottles and paper recycling with the aid of a baler machine. Initiated May 2013.

• Departments recycle paper (printing on both sides of each sheet of paper) for other office duties and it is also used in composting. Office paper is also shredded and removed to the compost.

• Composting of vegetables and fruits peelings from our pantry, which is used as fertilizer for the property’s plants.

• The hotel has constructed two compost sites on property that produce a yield of 4200 kg of organic waste every three months; utilized as fertilizers around the property. Initiated October, 2012.

• Fruits and vegetable peelings from pantry are donated to local pig farmers.

• Recycling used toners and inks with INET who reuses electronic waste.

Initiated September, 2013.

• Nature Walks are led by a Landscaping employee daily at 10:00 am. Meeting place Coco Cafe.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND MANAGEMENT • A number of beach cleanup projects are carried out on property and off property, 2013 – ongoing.

• Labour Day Project ongoing,"Team Up to Clean Up" - Shoreline and Mangrove clean- up of the Freeport environment.

Over 70 employees were involved.

Over 5000 lbs. of garbage removed.

• The hotel is a proud sponsor and participant of International Coastal Clean Up Day. Coastline clean- up and shore line clean- ups completed yearly. September 2013 – ongoing. Proud sponsors and participants of World Wetlands day (Mangrove Tree Planting). February, 2014- ongoing.

Updated March, 2018

• Coral Reef Tour with our partners, the Montego Bay Marine Park, 2017- ongoing We are very proud to have recently been certified by NEPCON Rainforest Alliance a global recognition.

For making reservations email : reservations.sesmb@secretsresorts.com www.secretsresorts.com/en_us/resorts/jamaica/st-james-montego-bay.html?_ga=1.73733841.217457812.1483726345 www.secretsresorts.com/en_us/resorts/jamaica/wild-orchid-montego-bay.html?_ga=1.73733841.217457812.1483726345

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TRAVEL GUIDE: JAMAICA

PORT ANTONIO HOTEL MOCKINGBIRD HILL Visit Hotel Mockingbird Hill - An awardwinning 10-room ‘eco-boutique’ hotel, Hotel Mockingbird Hill uses solar water heating, renewable energy, runs a carbon offset program, and works with local communities to source everything from organic food for the Mille Fleurs restaurant to stationary and toiletries. If you want to enjoy Jamaican luxury and nature, you can’t do better.

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BLUE MOUNTAIN COFFEE Enjoy Blue Mountain Coffee – Jamaica’s most famous beverage (with the possible exception of Red Stripe), Blue Mountain Coffee is known for its lack of bitterness. Tour a small-scale coffee plantation and enjoy a cup of the local brew while enjoying the misty landscape – and don’t forget to buy some beans to take home.

ALSO IN PORT ANTONIO • Give the driving a rest and go cycling • Camp out in the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park • Visit the Reach Falls

YO U R HOME I N J AMAIC A info@hotelmockingbirdhill.com www.hotelmockingbirdhill.com

OCHOS RIOS SEE THE TURTLES See the turtle releasing – Mel Tennant and his team have been working to help protect the local sea turtle population at Gibraltar Beach, working with the Oracabessa Fish Sanctuary. Visitors can watch the turtle releasing between September and November, and guests at Island Outpost Goldeneye and Jamaica Inn can even help with the releasing.

STUSH IN THE BUSH Eat at Stush in the Bush – Call ahead to arrange an organic farm-to-table vegetarian meal at pioneering restaurant Stush in the Bush, based in the small inland community of Free Hill. Run by wife-and-husband team Lisa and Christopher Binns, food is seasonal and plucked from the ground feet away.

ALSO IN OCHOS RIOS • Visit Dunn’s River Falls and Mystic Mountain • Listen to music at the Ochos Rios Jazz Festival (June 2020) • Take a bicycle tour

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TRAVEL GUIDE: JAMAICA

NEGRIL

SOUTH COAST

OPEN AIR MASSAGE Get an open-air massage – In between long days of lying on the beach, why not go to one of Negril’s many small spas and wellness centers and destress to the sound of the sea? You’ll get an excellent massage at a reasonable price, and you’ll also be supporting local businesses.

TREASURE BEACH Enjoy “a slice of Jamaican life” on Treasure Beach – Less-explored by tourists, the South Coast still has beautiful beaches, great food, and friendly people. Stay at Treasure Beach and enjoy a slower pace of life, centered on the famous Jakes hotel.

SUSTAINABLE FOOD Eat sustainable seafood – Negril is overflowing with small seafood restaurants selling locally-caught fish and seafood. If possible, order the lionfish – it’s an invasive predator with no predators of its own, which local fisherman are catching to encourage the growth of other species. Best served jerked!

ALSO IN NEGRIL • Go for a horseback ride ‘n’ swim • Listen to local live music • Explore Seven Mile Beach

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CROCODILE SAFARI Go on a crocodile safari or go birdwatching – Wildlife small and large abounds in the South Coast region, which is highly different in character to the north.

Go to the Black River and arrange a crocodile safari, or go with a guide to see a wide variety of local birds.

ALSO ON THE SOUTH COAST • Go to the Calabash International Literary Festival (May 29-31) • Visit the Accompong Maroon Village • Take the Appleton Rum Factory tour

2019

2019

Caribbean's Leading Independent Car Rental Company

Jamaica's Leading Car Rental Company

Proud winners at the World Travel Awards for ‘Jamaica’s Leading Car Rental Company’ & ‘Caribbean’s Leading Independent Car Rental Company’

ISLAND PEOPLE TAKE BETTER CARE OF YOU More Choices. Best Rates!

Sedans • SUVs • Minivans • Pickups

WE OFFER GREAT DEALS ON DAY TRIPS Private Transfers • Customized Tours • VIP Chauffeur Service

Head Office & Reservations Centre, 17 Antigua Avenue, Kingston 10, Jamaica W.I. Tel: 876-926-8861 / 876-929-5875 Email. icar@cwjamaica.com www.islandcarrentals.com

AFTER 38 YEARS OF ROMANCE WE KNOW A THING OR TWO

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Each of our 15 idyllic destinations across six islands make reconnection simply effortless – from lavish, top-tier suites to optional Red Lane® Spa treatments and 5-Star Global Gourmet™ to premium liquors and Robert Mondavi Twin Oaks® wines. It’s all here at the World’s Only 5-Star Luxury Included® Resorts.

BOOK YOUR GETAWAY TODAY 1-800-SANDALS | SANDALS.COM Sandals® is a registered trademark. Unique Vacations, Inc. is an affiliate of Unique Travel Corp., the worldwide representative of Sandals Resorts. 6052/0919

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TRAVEL GUIDE: JAMAICA

SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL TO JAMAICA If you plan to be one of the more than 4 million people who are expected to visit Jamaica in 2020, odds are good you’ll arrive in one of two ways – on a plane, or on a cruise ship. We’ve got tips for how you can reduce the footprint of your journey and offset your emissions.

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FLYING Approximately 2% of global climate emissions come from the aviation sector, and flying to a vacation destination is one of the most carbon-intensive activities you’ll probably do in 2020. A return flight from Toronto to Kingston emits approximately 1 ton of CO2 per traveller.

To reduce your overall emissions, first, spend a little extra on a direct flight. You’ll have a shorter overall journey, and, as takeoff and landing are the biggest consumers of fuel for a flight, you’ll significantly reduce your carbon emissions. You can also reduce your overall emissions by flying with a more efficient airline, which you can check by looking at the latest atmosfair Airline Index (AAI) at https://www.atmosfair.de/en/

From North America, Air Canada offer the most efficient flights to Montego Bay from a variety of Canadian airports. From the United States, efficient choices are more limited, but both Delta and United place in Category D in the AAI rankings for longhaul flights, the highest rankings for any American carriers flying directly to Jamaica.

If possible, avoid taking a short-haul flight beforehand – if your direct flight is from a distant airport, try taking trains and buses to get there.

If you’re flying from Europe, take the Eurostar to London Gatwick, where highest-rated Tui Airways operate a charter flight directly to Montego Bay. Tui Airways use the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which is about 20% more fuel efficient on long-haul

flights than older aircraft. Alternatively, KLM, ranked by AAI in Category C, are also more efficient than most airlines.

Some airlines will offer you the option to pay a little extra to offset your carbon emissions. The quality of the provider-offered carbon offsets varies, and there isn’t always a guarantee that the projects being funded are sufficient to compensate for the vast carbon emissions of air travel. Look for reputable external certifications from specialist organizations like Gold Standard. Air Canada’s partnership with Less Emissions and KLM’s CO2ZERO service are both certified.

If your carrier doesn’t offer a certified offset program, you can go to a external provider – we recommend Terrapass in North America and Atmosfair in Europe.

CRUISE It’s a common misapprehension that cruise ships are a greener way to travel than flying.

A five-night Western Caribbean cruise on a 4000-capacity vessel emits over 1 ton of CO2 per passenger – not including any flights to and from departure and arrival ports. What’s more, older cruise ships often release waste, sewage, and fuel-contaminated water directly into the ocean. When booking a cruise stopping in Jamaica, research the specific ship you’ll be taking, use the myclimate.org calculator to estimate your emissions per passenger, then use a reputable offset program – and don’t forget to offset any connecting flights. It’s also worth aiming to book a cruise which stops for a longer period of time in Jamaica, to ensure that some of your tourist dollars are going into the local communities. c

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TRAVEL GUIDE: JAMAICA

TOP PICKS SBM TOP PICKS RESTAURANTS

SBM TOP PICKS EXPERIENCES

The Houseboat Grill, Montego Bay T. +1 876 979-8845 www.thehouseboatgrill.com

Appleton Estate Rum Experience T. +1 876 963-9215 www.appletonestate.com

Jack Sprat, Treasure Beach T. +1 876 965-3583 jakeshotel.com

Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour T. +1 876 974-7075 www.bmtoursja.com

Mille Fleurs, Port Antonio T. +1 876 993-7267 www.hotelmockingbirdhill.com/ restaurant-mille-fleurs

Devon House Mansion Tour T. +1 876 926-0815 www.devonhouseja.com/ mansion-tours

Stush in the Bush, St. Ann T. +1 876 562-9760 stushinthebush.com

Rastafari Indigenous Village Tour T. +1 876 285-4750 rastavillage.com

Sweet Spice, Negril T. +1 876 957-4621 sweetspicerestaurant. restaurantsnapshot.com

Reggae Horseback Riding T. +1 877 248-1479 www.reggaehorsebackriding.com

SBM TOP PICKS TOURS & TRANSPORT

SBM TOP PICKS HOTELS & RESORTS

Byron’s Jamaica Tours T. +1 876 556-9321 www.byronsjamaicatours.com

Hotel Mockingbird Hill T. +1 876 619-1215 www.hotelmockingbirdhill.com

Crisnic Tours T. +1 876 462-3310 criscoore556@gmail.com

Sandals Montego Bay T. +1 888 726-3257 www.sandals.com/montego-bay

Island Car Rentals T. +1 876 929-5875 www.islandcarrentals.com

Secrets Montego Bay T. +1 855 739-6860 www.secretsresorts.com

Damion Jamaica Tours is a transfer and tour company that believes in offering the best, reliable, safe and affordable transportation in Jamaica. Whether you are looking for airport transfers, half or full day tours, laying on the beach or shopping for souvenirs, look no further. At Damion Jamaica Tours we take pride in helping to create lasting memories enjoying the warm island breeze, beautiful white sands and breath taking views while sipping on an ice cold Red Stripe, fruity rum punch, refreshing soft drink or a hydrating bottle of WATA. All our vehicles are clean, spacious, safe and air conditioned.

Melia, Montego Bay. Experience the perfect blend of colonial style and the Caribbean Sea breeze at the Melia Braco Village, just 45 minutes from the Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay. Featuring a private beach, beautiful sea view rooms, two swimming pools overlooking the sea, four bars, six restaurants offering a wide variety of national and international cuisine, free internet access throughout the hotel, Kids’ Club for fun and a Spa & Wellness Center for unwinding. Beachside parties and weddings, Caribbean cocktails and local cuisine, such as the famous Jerk Chicken, are just some of the things you can enjoy when you stay with us.

Damion Jamaica Tours T. +1 876 879-9421 damionjamaicatours.com

T. 876-618-6068 E. reservations.melia.jamaica@melia.com www.melia.com/en/hotels/jamaica

Amity Tours and Transfers is one of Jamaica’s top transportation provider. Our team offers a wide range of tour services, excursions and airport transfers to and from various hotels around the Island. Not only do we provide exceptional service, we also provide a cultural experience unlike any other. With affordable packages for every budget, booking with Amity Tours and Transfers will surely enhance your vacation experience.

Xtabi Resort, Negril. Meeting Place of the Gods. The name is as exotic as the quaint cottages and octagon shaped bungalows spilling across the countryside and perched atop rocky terraces overlooking a turquoise sea. No highrise buildings, nothing taller then a palm tree. Swim in a tropical lagoon or sip a cool island drink while you watch a Negril sunset bursting in technicolor display.

T. (876) 464-3162 or (876) 451-9459 amitytoursandtransfer1@gmail.com www.amitytoursandtransfer.com

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T. 876 957-0121 / 876 957-0524 www.xtabinegril.com

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JAMAICA T R A V E L

G U I D E

SBM Media Ltd, T: +44 (0)1603 516519 info@sustainablebusinessmagazine.net www.sustainablebusinessmagazine.net

SUSTAINABLE

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