Best activities and festivals in Jamaica

Aside from the sun, sand and sea, Jamaica promises an exciting cultural experience for the visitors. If you are planning a visit to the island, you can make the most of your visit by staying in affordable Jamaica rentals comprising private Jamaica villas, cottages and apartments that give you a first hand perspective of the local way of life and the island’s famed hospitality.

Coming back to the cultural activities, here are some that you can enjoy.

The island’s cultural scene is incomplete without Bob Marley, the pioneer of reggae. So if you are a fan of Bob Marley, you can visit his house in Kingston which has been converted into a museum. A guided tour takes you through the property which houses an interesting collection of memorabilia and mementoes.

You can also take a bus tour to the Bob Marley Mausoleum which starts from Ocho Rios. The tour takes you to the village of Nine Mile where the legend was born and where he is now buried. The house belonged to his grandparents. En route to the house, you can enjoy reggae and rum.

Jamaica’s most famous fast food is the Jerked meat, extensively sold all over the island and the beaches. It is on Boston Beach in Port Antonio, where the meat achieved its cult status. However, the jerk seasoning comes from Walkers Wood, a village community which is the heart of this industry. You can enjoy a tour of the spice garden and the factory where you can see the spices being mixed together.

Then there are some country-style tours that you can enjoy. These tours are based in the hill town of Mandeville and provide you the perfect opportunity to meet the locals and explore the beautiful countryside. These tours can be customized to your liking so depending on your tastes you can enjoy music, culture, or food related tours.

The Maroons, the descendents of the slaves who were brought to the island during the sugar plantation era, played an important role in the fight against the colonial rule. You can learn more about them in the Accompong Maroon settlement tours that take you to the very heart of the extraordinary Cockpit country, which is famous for its rugged landscape. You can see the cave where the treaty with the British was signed in 1738 and visit the Presbyterian church, which is the oldest building in Accompong.

These are just some of the cultural activities that you can enjoy on the island. However, there is much more on offer from visiting Great Estate Houses and plantations to enjoying the lively music scene in Kingston and Montego Bay. If you are staying in Jamaica rentals, the staff would be able to guide you on what to enjoy. Otherwise information is widely available on the internet and on tourist brochures.