Jamaica lies south of Cuba in the western half of the Caribbean. Jamaica is the perfect place for a vacation wedding or a Jamaican honeymoon. It was for several centuries under British rule and has maintained close ties with the United Kingdom since independence in 1962. Jamaica is among the most distinctive of Caribbean isles, primarily as the birthplace of Rastafarianism, which suffuses the culture, as does the music of the island's most famous native son Bob Marley.



Jamaica prides itself on being a perfect wedding and honeymoon destination. Many resorts specialize in this market. Some, such as SuperClubs and Sandals (both known for their all-inclusive, couples-only resorts) even offer free wedding packages. The all-inclusive concept was born in Jamaica and no other destination has so successfully matured and marketed the concept.

There are many all-inclusive resorts, which are run to very high standards. However, my favourite romantic retreats lie at the other end of the spectrum, in small boutique hotels offering a combination of ultra-chic ambience and intimacy that is synonymous with romance. Again, Jamaica excels, with local entrepreneur Chris Blackwell's Island Outpost group having conceived some of the most welcoming and delightful boutique hotels in the world. They draw notables from Naomi Campbell to Pierce Brosnan, but fortunately most are surprisingly affordable.

Weather wise, there are only two seasons: wet (May-Nov) and dry (Dec-April). The best time to visit is during dry season, when rainfall is at a minimum and most of the island basks in sunshine.

In summer, prolonged afternoon showers or heavy downpours are typical island wide. Several days or even weeks of unbroken rain are also possible in summer, however, especially in the northeast, although this varies year to year. Summer and fall are also hurricane season, although the chance of a hurricane actually striking the island is relatively slim.

Though rimmed by coastal plains and fine sandy beaches, Jamaica is predominantly mountainous. In the east, the Blue Mountains (known for the world-famous coffee grown here) rise to 7,402 feet. Despite its relatively small size, the isle boasts several distinct climates: the mountainous northeast, centered on the old banana-shipping port of Port Antonio, receives copious rainfall and is exceedingly lush, whereas the relatively flat south-central coast, centered on Treasure Beach, lies in a rain shadow and the predominant vegetation is cactus and thorn scrub.

Jamaica is remarkably well developed in terms of activities. Visitors can choose from jet skiing, scuba diving, and sunset boat trips to mountain biking, crocodile safaris, and horseback rides.

Flight service to Jamaica which is well served by both scheduled and charter service varies according to season, although there is daily service from throughout Canada and the USA year-round. The best airfare deals are off-season, in summer.