Caribbean and Central America Travel

Home to red sunsets, reggae and Bob Marley, Jamaica is the place for tourists who just want to relax and lay back during the day, and party all night.

Though it was Christopher Columbus who first claimed the island for Spain, it was the Arawak Indians from South America who were the first settlers. In 1655, the British, led by Admiral William Penn, seized the colony from the Spaniards. Under the British rule, Jamaica became the one of the leading sugar exporter in the world, owing to the huge amount of African slaves working the plantations.

Jamaica was able to gain its independence from the Britain in 1947, and became fully independent when it broke free from the short-lived Federation of the West Indies in 1962. Though it’s now free from the United Kingdom, Jamaica still remains one of the most populous English-speaking country in the Americas.

Everyday seems like a perfect day for a party in Jamaica. With major events schedule almost every month, Jamaica is a year-round destination. For those who loves to dance and those who love to party, Carnival is the perfect time to visit the island. Held a week after Easter, Jamaica’s Carnival is a festival of sounds and rhythm with reggae, calypso and dancehall soca.

Christmas in Jamaica is celebrated through the Jonkanoo, a traditional festival that have party-goers parading and partying in the streets in masquerade. Lovers of reggae and island beats will surely enjoy the Reggae Sunsplash and Reggae Sumfest, held during the months of July and August. Yachting enthusiasts can join in the annual Pineapple Cup in February, and for cricket fans, April is an excellent time to visit as the West Indies team takes on international challengers.

Jamaica enjoys the best of tropical weathers. Just hot enough during the summer days, and pleasantly cool during the nights. Rainfall is scattered, specially during the rainy season from May to November, but it only lasts about an hour or so, leaving you with plenty of time to enjoy the sunshine, and everything Jamaica has to offer.

This entry was posted on Monday, June 18th, 2007 at 5:29 pm and is filed under Caribbean, Jamaica. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.