Thank you for visiting our guide on Montego Bay, Jamaica. Below is a brief history of Montego Bay, followed by descriptions of tours, spas, shopping, restaurants, annual events, and nightlife. Once you are finished reading, be sure to visit our main page for information on other towns in Jamaica, pictures of Jamaica, facts about Jamaica, and other Jamaican links to help you plan your Jamaican vacation.
Montego Bay has a number of unique attractions to enjoy. Dhana Car Rental and Tours, Ltd. can help you experience these sites by renting a car. Click to reserve online now or call toll free for more information: 1-866-276-1884 in North America or (876) 953-9555 in Jamaica. We offer rates as low as US$175 per week, plus taxes and insurance. Click here to find out why Dhana's rates are so low.
The name Montego Bay is believed to be derived from the Spanish name Manteca Bahia or "Bay of Lard," so called because of the lard-making industry made possible by the hunting of wild boars in the surrounding hills.
Montego Bay is Jamaica's second city in size and importance, but it is the island's tourism capital and arguably one of the premier Caribbean resort destinations. The beautiful seaside city has long been the playground of the world's rich and famous. Easily accessible, Montego Bay boasts a first-class international airport as well as a modern port visited by many cruise lines.
The award-winning Sangster International Airport is a major hub for the Caribbean with direct and charter flights from over 60 major gateways and cities across North America, Europe, and South America. The IAM Private Jet Centre is also located in Jamaica's second city, complete with its own fast-track Immigration and Customs processing and even meeting rooms for on-the-go business travellers to Jamaica.
This Jamaican resort city boasts a wide selection of accommodation options including older well-established 5-star luxury resorts, newer all-inclusive hotels, intimate bed and breakfast inns, and private villas. This is complemented by a wealth of transportation facilities and options, plus an unmatched array of amenities and attractions—making Montego Bay a vibrant holiday centre.
City streets are crowded, colourful, and lively. Country folk flock in to visit markets, shops, and banks. Guests from hotels and cruise ships make their way to in-bond shops and Crafts Markets. Architecture is a mixture of last-century "gingerbread" wooden houses interspersed with modern buildings.
Sam Sharpe Square, a pleasant cobblestoned hub of activity, marks the centre of the town, where stands the Cage—formerly a jail for runaway slaves—and the ruins of the Courthouse, built in 1804 and destroyed by fire some 20 years ago. On the western side of the harbour, Montego Freeport has been developed on what were once the mangrove swamps of the Bogue Islands. Here are the deep-water piers which serve as cruise-ship ports of call, and the Montego Bay Free Zone, employing a great number of Montegonians in manufacturing. Jamaica Digiport International, a hi-tech telecommunications centre, is also at Montego Freeport.
Montego Bay's original claim to resort fame was the renowned white-sand Doctor's Cave Beach, which attracted celebrities and socialites from all over the world. The beach is said to be fed by healing mineral springs and it boasts the clearest of waters.
In recent years, other beach clubs have been developed in the area, each with its own special character. The Aquasol Beach Park is closest to town on Gloucester Avenue; Cornwall Beach is just a little beyond Doctor's Cave; Tropical Beach and Rose Hall Beach lie further out of town.
Montego Bay has a variety of attractions to enjoy. Rent a car from Dhana Car Rental and Tours, Ltd. to explore these sites on your own schedule. Reserve online now or call 1-866-276-1884 (North America) or (876) 953-9555 (Jamaica).
Montego Bay offers plenty for photographers, adventurers, or those curious about exploring beyond the beach. Rent a car or arrange a tour, and with a copy of Focus on Jamaica in hand, set out to discover this exotic land. One visit to Jamaica is never enough!
Part of the pleasure of a vacation is buying souvenirs or simply splurging on something you have always wanted. Jamaica offers plenty of temptations. City Centre Plaza in Montego Bay is devoted almost entirely to in-bond stores, but you’ll find others in the Holiday Village, the Half Moon Shopping Village, and in larger hotels. Be sure to bargain in these shops—it is expected.
Other popular shopping experiences include the Shoppes at Rose Hall and the Witter Village, both located on Jamaica's Elegant Corridor. There, you will find duty-free shopping, specialty boutiques, entertainment, and dining. The main Crafts Market is on Harbour Street in town, with two smaller ones in the hotel area.
A visit to Lester Art Gallery in the hills above Reading can be a tour in itself. The gallery is devoted to works of the late Polish sea captain and painter Michael Leszczynski (aka “Lester”), famous for his Jamaica period. The gallery is located at his former home and studio, which he built in the 1950s on a cliffside at the village of Belmont. The house has stunning views. In the same area are Rocklands Bird Sanctuary and Mountain Valley River Rafting.
Whatever your culinary preference, Montego Bay has it. From authentic Jamaican fare to cuisine from around the globe (Italian, Indian, Mediterranean, French, and Asian), you’ll find menus for every budget. Many restaurants provide complimentary pickup from your hotel when you call to make a reservation, so indulge in the flavors and spices of the island!
Lucea (pronounced "Lucy") is a coastal town west of Montego Bay and about halfway to Negril. Here, the ruins of a 17th-century fort make a pleasant sightseeing trip.
At Rock, near Falmouth, lies the Luminous Lagoon, one of Jamaica’s natural wonders. After dark, you can take a boat ride from Glistening Waters Marina, where the water shimmers when disturbed, thanks to tiny organisms that glow. (876-954-3229)
Deep Sea Fishing Trips can also be arranged on fully equipped fishing boats from most local marinas.
For those of you unfamiliar with the major towns of Jamaica, we have included the following road maps and a set of road signs with major hotels/villa noted so that you can plan your trip in Jamaica accordingly. You can zoom in or out and scroll around as needed.
