Jamaica Travel Guide

Except for Canada, citizens of Commonwealth countries require a passport valid for at least 6 months, a return ticket, and sufficient funds. Canadian citizens require a passport or a birth certificate and ID card. No visa is required except for citizens of Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sierra Leone.

Money

The currency of Jamaica is the Jamaican dollar, denoted by the symbol "$" (or J$, JA$) (ISO code: JMD). It comes in notes of J$50, 100, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000. Coins in circulation are J$20, 10, and 5 (with smaller coins being almost worthless). Two series of banknotes are in circulation in Jamaica, the paper issues and the new polymer issues that includes the $2000 note.

By train

Jamaica has about 250 route miles of railways, of which 77 are in service to Windalco to handle privately operated bauxite (aluminium ore) trains. Passenger and public freight service ceased in 1992, but increasing road congestion and poor highway conditions have caused the government to re-examine the commercial feasibility of rail operations. A passenger train was designed for citizens (mostly for children on the Government's Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education Progamme) in 2022.

Jamaicans mainly speak Jamaican Creole, also known locally as Patois (pronounced "patwa"). Its pronunciation and vocabulary are significantly different from English, despite it being based on English. Despite not being official, much of the population uses slang such as "Everyting is irie" to mean "Everything is all right."

Beware of rapists at resorts, as advised by travel advisories. Jamaica has the 2nd highest murder rate in the world. As in any other country, should any emergency situation arise, after calling 119 for the police or 110 for the fire brigade or ambulance, you might want to contact your government's embassy or consulate. Governments usually advise travellers staying in Jamaica for an extended period of time to notify their embassy or consulate so they can be contacted in the case of emergency.

Medical facilities on the island are not always up to par with European or American health care standards. Falling ill can sometimes result in major medical fees. Therefore, buy travel insurance, as this will ensure peace of mind in emergency situations.

By phone

Jamaica has two mobile network operators, Digicel and Flow (formerly Lime). Jamaican numbers are based off the North American Numbering Plan and consist of an area code followed by 7 digits. The calling code is +1 (876) then follows the numbers, e.g +1 (876) ***-****.

Jamaicans are known for their warmth, laid-back attitude to life, and generosity. It is customary to greet people, including complete strangers, wherever you may go. A simple Hello or Good morning would do just fine.