If you’re searching for a fantastic travel bargain, consider all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica with meals, drinks, entertainment, and tips included for one flat fee. Jamaica is a sovereign nation of about 145 miles long and 50 kilometers wide that is part of the Greater Antilles islands. The island was first inhabited by the Taino Indians, who named it I Xaymaca I, or “Island of Springs.” When Christopher Columbus arrived in 1494, he discovered over two hundred Taino villages governed by local rulers. He promptly declared the island a Spanish colony after finding more than 200 villages ruled by native Tain.
The original Spanish colony in Jamaica was called Sevilla, which was established near St. Ann’s Bay but had to be abandoned due to frequent pirate raids in 1554. In 1655, Admiral William Penn led the English army into battle and vanquished the Spaniards, making Jamaica a Crown Colony. Jamaica gained independence in 1962, and it is a member of the British Commonwealth to this day. Jamaica became a major sugar-producing country under British domination, with over two centuries of industry. The island was divided into two parts, with the blacks becoming a majority in one. In 1655, English crews attacked and burned settlements on the islands of St Kitts and Nevis, killing all those who could not flee. The Jamaican island’s original inhabitants were Arawak-speaking people from South America; they arrived there between 200 BC. When slavery was abolished in 1807, the British imported Chinese and Indian indentured laborers to augment the labor pool. These Asian workers’ descendants still reside on the island of Jamaica and have influenced its culture and cuisine.
Best Jamaica Resorts to Stay
The black cliffs south of the settlement are known as Negril, which comes from the Spanish term for black and refers to the village’s dark cliffs. Many people choose to visit Negril on Jamaica’s southwestern coast because it was rated one of the world’s ten best beaches by several travel publications. Negril also sits in a spectacular natural environment, with the Royal Palm Reserve on the Negril River providing preserved wetlands that aid in the formation of coral sand on the beachfront. Snorkelers and scuba divers from all around the globe flock to the Negril Marine Park, which has an amazing variety of coral reef habitats. West End Road is dotted with decommissioned lighthouses, which are now tourist attractions. The great sunsets and cliff divers are worth seeing.
Another wonderful scuba diving and water activities location in Ocho Rios on Jamaica’s northern coast, which has become a popular tourist destination. Originally a fishing village, Ocho Rios has now become the second most popular holiday resort in Jamaica. It is about an hour and 45 minutes drive from the Montego Bay International Airport. Ocho Rios hotels, aside from being luxury resorts, are located near the magnificent Dunn’s River Falls, where water rushes down a 695-foot drop into the sea. Visitors can climb the 60-foot cascades, which are fed by springs in the hillside beyond. Another popular activity is Dolphin Cove, where visitors can swim with and interact with real dolphins. Besides the local entertainment industry, nearby Margaritaville has raucous clubs and world-class gourmet cuisine.