Baltic Travel Agent Specialists
The island - discovered by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1494 - was settled by the Spanish early in the 16th century. The native Taino Indians, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were gradually exterminated and replaced by African slaves. England seized the island in 1655 and established a plantation economy based on sugar, cocoa, and coffee. The abolition of slavery in 1834 freed a quarter million slaves, many of whom became small farmers. Jamaica gradually obtained increasing independence from Britain, and in 1958 it joined other British Caribbean colonies in forming the Federation of the West Indies. Jamaica gained full independence when it withdrew from the Federation in 1962
Ever since Errol Flynn cavorted here with
his Hollywood pals in the 1930s and '40s, travellers have regarded Jamaica
as one of the most alluring of the Caribbean islands. Its beaches, mountains
and carnal red sunsets regularly appear in the sort of tourist brochures
that promise paradise.
Unlike other nearby islands, it caters to everyone from beach bums to
newlyweds: you can choose a private villa with your own secluded beach;
laugh your vacation away at a party-hearty resort; or throw yourself
into the thick of the island's life while experiencing the three Rs:
reggae, reefers and rum.
Jamaica is a year-round destination: winter is usually warm by day and mild to cool by night; summer months are hot. The rainy season extends from May to November, with peaks in May and June and in October and November. Rain usually falls for short periods (normally in the late afternoon), and it's quite possible to enjoy sunshine for most of your visit during these months. In Portland parish, however, it can rain for days on end
Tourism's high, or 'winter', season runs
from mid-December to mid-April, when hotel prices are highest. Many
hotels charge peak season rates during Christmas and Easter.
JAMAICA
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