Guide to Jamaica

Name: Jamaica
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, 90 miles south of Cuba
Population: 2.7 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Kingston
Area: 10,991 sq km (4,243 sq miles)
Major language: English and patois English
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 74 years (men), 78 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Jamaican dollar = 100 cents
Currency:  Jamaican dollars or foreign currency may be taken out of the country up to US$10,000 without declaring it. Purchases may be made in Jamaican currency, except at in-bond stores, where duty-free purchases may be made in US currency, travellers cheques or credit cards.
Credit Cards: Major credit cards are accepted islandwide. Gasoline is usually paid with cash.
Main exports: Bauxite, alumina, sugar, bananas, rum, reggae music
GNI per capita: US $2,980 (World Bank, 2005)
Internet domain: .jm
International dialling code: + 1876
Time Zone : Eastern Time Zone (UTC/GMT -6 Hours) and does NOT observe Daylight Savings Time
Driving: Drive on left
Temperature: Averages 27 degrees Celsius. Hottest months are May to September. Winter season is December to March.
Entry Requirements: A valid passport is required for British citizens, USA, and Canada. For others a Visa may be required.
Tipping: Most hotels have a service charge of 10%-15%. The same amount is expected to be left as a tip at restaurants.
Water: All drinking water in Jamaica is purified and filtered.

Notes: Jamaica, the third largest island in the Caribbean, is divided into three counties, Cornwall, Middlesex and Surrey. These counties are further subdivided into parishes with Kingston, the smallest of the fourteen parishes, as home to the capital city.

Highlights
Kingston
Montego Bay
Negril
Ocho Rios
Port Antonio
South Coast
Blue Mountains

11 October 2007