Montego Bay is the beautiful, tourism capital of Jamaica and is the second largest city in the country. While it is often dubbed as the fastest growing urban centre in the Caribbean, it is still possible to wake up and hear the birds singing, or see the mist rising in the hills, or the sun setting over the water. This delicate balance is one of the many things that draws people to our shores.
Jamaica lies 550 miles south of Florida, USA. Montego Bay is located along the North West Coast of the island in the parish of St. James, in the county of Cornwall.
Montego Bay is a melting pot of people from all different nationalities and walks of life. Influences from the country’s early colonization by the Spanish and the British and the impact of the slave and sugar trade are seen in the culture, architecture and language. The name Montego Bay is said to have derived from the Spanish Bahía de Manteca (Butter Bay) as the port was used for large-scale exportation of pig’s lard while under Spanish rule. It later became a lucrative sugar port with many large sugar plantations. The famous Sam Sharpe rebellion which took place in St. James is said to have been the final catalyst for Jamaica’s Emancipation and subsequent Independence in 1962.
Post-independence, the banana trade took off and tourism essentially began as a way to use the excess capacity of the trading ships, by encouraging cruises to the island. Tourism continues to flourish to this day. Montego Bay is now home to numerous resorts, villas and attractions, a deep water port for cruise ships with a free-zone area, and is a booming commercial hub. Click the following links for more on the history of Montego Bay and the history of Jamaica.
Montego Bay, like the rest of Jamaica, has a tropical climate all year round, with slightly cooler and dryer months in the Winter and Spring seasons. The weather is influenced by North East Trade Winds, the mountainous areas of the parish’s interior and rivers that lead to the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea.
Population
The city has over 100,000 residents.
Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport is the largest airport in Jamaica by flights and passenger volume. It is ideally located in close proximity to the town’s resorts and business hubs and is approximately an hour and a half’s drive to the popular towns of Negril and Ocho Rios. With people traveling from all over the world, several airlines offer direct flights to Montego Bay, including American Airlines, Air Canada, Air Berlin and Copa. Visit the MBJ website for information on flight arrivals and departures. For your added comfort, we recommend utilising the fast track service through the airport via Club Mobay, which is a multi award-winning airport concierge and lounge service.
If you prefer travel by sea, Mobay also has a cruise ship port which can accommodate up to 4 vessels, all within easy access to local attractions and tours.
Whether you are in search of adventure, nature, history or entertainment, this city has a slew of recreational activities and attractions. Here are some of the best things to do:
Doctor’s Cave Beach, Pineapple Beach, Walter Fletcher Beach, Harmony Beach, and Tropical Beach
Snorkelling, scuba diving, parasailing, kayaking, lift E-foiling and more
Montego Bay Yacht Club, catamaran cruises and tours, sailing lessons, glass bottom boat tours and more
Half Moon Golf Course, Cinnamon Hill Golf Course, White Witch Golf Course, Tryall Golf Course
Half Moon Equestrian Centre
Chukka Tours, Island Routes, Jamaica Tour Society and more
Montego Bay Marine Park, Rocklands Bird Sanctuary, Montego bay Animal Haven, Animal Farm, Great River Rafting, Martha Brae River Rafting
Tennis Court at Montego Bay Yacht Club and Montego Bay Club
Gyms, Yoga, local runs/walks, hiking, cycling
Fern Tree Spa at Half Moon, Spa at Round Hill, TipSip Nails Bar and more
Rastafari Indigenous Village, Montego Bay Civic Centre, Rose Hall Great House, Greenwood Great House, Bellefield Great House
Saba Art Gallery, Ahhh Ras Nantango Gallery, Old Fort Craft Market and more
Harmony Beach Park and The Old Hospital Park
You can have local and international cuisine in Montego Bay. There are restaurants that serve Jamaican, Continental, Thai, Indian, Chinese, and Vegetarian food. See our recommendations here.
For a night out on the town, you’ll want to check out Pier 1, Margaritaville, Pineapple Beach, Lounge 2727 or Elevate Night Club.
From music festivals to grand balls, there are local events that everyone looks forward to each year. Read more here.
Who doesn’t love a bit of retail therapy? Be sure to check out Fairview Towne Center, Whitter Village, Mainstreet and the new Harbour City Mall. Learn more with our shopping guide.
With so much natural beauty and so many things to do, it’s easy to see why people are flocking to vacation or reside here. We have a range of all-inclusive resorts, boutique hotels, luxury villas and Airbnb’s. The housing market is also growing to meet the demand, particularly for gated communities.
Montego Bay’s Resorts include:
Round Hill Hotel
Half Moon Resort
Sandals Resorts Montego Bay
Hyatt Montego Bay
S Hotel
Breathless Montego Bay
Secrets Montego Bay
Jewel Grande Montego Bay
Zoetry
Holiday Inn
Hilton Rose Hall Resort
RIU
Deja Resort
Iberostar
For more information, check out this directory of places to stay in MoBay.
Here are some of the best places to live in Montego Bay and it’s surrounding environs:
The Tryall Club
Great River Private
Spring Gardens
Reading
Freeport
Spring Farm
Rose Hall
Learn more about these communities here.
Here are 10 reasons people love Montego Bay:
Is Montego Bay Safe?
Crime is generally localised in certain depressed areas and this is not unique to Montego Bay or Jamaica.
Apart from its vast natural beauty and diversity
Jamaica expects to welcome 3.88 million visitors for 2023. With people traveling from all over the world, several airlines offer direct flights to Montego Bay, including American Airlines, Air Canada, Air Berlin and Copa.
Jamaica expects to welcome 3.88 million visitors for 2023, which is and of itself, a testament to the fact that it is a preferred destination. There is something for just about everyone to enjoy, whether you want to stay indoors or outdoors.
Both towns are great, but there are a few notable differences. The Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay is larger than the Ian Flemming Airport in Boscobel (near Ocho Rios), which means it has the capacity for more flights and a longer runway. Montego Bay is a city, while Ocho Rios is a town, so by virtue of this it has a wider selection of options when it comes to medical care, shopping and business services.
On the other hand, Ocho Rios is closer to Jamaica’s capital city, and when traveling on the toll road, it can take less than an hour to get into Kingston, making it an attractive option for weekend getaways for those living in Kingston.
Negril has a distinct vibe. It is known for its more laid-back, hippie/bohemian lifestyle and boutique hotels. Again, it is smaller than MoBay so it is more limited in its overall offerings. It also doesn’t have an airport, which means you have to fly into MBJ airport and then drive for about an hour and a half to get to Negril.
You do not have to be a Jamaican citizen to buy property in Jamaica. You are required to have a good credit score or cash to fund the purchase, along with a local tax registration number (TRN). Learn about the TRN application process here and get tips from our real estate guide for overseas buyers.
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