The island's physical attractions include jungle mountaintops, clear waterfalls, and unforgettable beaches, and its tourist areas are grouped around the northern and western coastlines of Jamaica.

Ocho Rios is a major cruise port, resort center, and the home of Dunns River Falls, probably the most photographed spot in the nation.

Montego Bay (or MoBay, as it's affectionately known), destination of most tourist flights, is a sprawling blend of opulent beach resorts and commerce. At the island's western tip lies Negril, once a sleepy hangout for bohemian travelers, and though now bigger and glitzier, still a haven for the hip and the hedonistic.

In addition to these pleasure capitals, Jamaica has a real capital in Kingston. For all its congestion - and for all the disparity between city life and the bikinis and parasails to the north - Kingston is the true heart and head of the island. This is where politics, literature, music, and art wrestle for acceptance in the largest (800,000 people) English-speaking city south of Miami. Visit our things to do page for a sampling of what Jamaica has to offer.

The reggae rhythms and lyrics for which Marley is known provide a peek at Jamaican culture, but music is just one aspect of this rich island. Travelers here find a multitude of melodies - the sizzle of jerk pork on a roadside grill, the lap of waves on a sandy beach, the call of the magnificent doctor bird flitting through the trees, and the quiet whistle of a breeze through the Blue Mountains.