Just looking at a backdrop of clear skies and vibrant waters that range from emerald to turquoise, it should come as no surprise that this is one of the most popular wedding destinations in the world. Really, who wouldn’t want to start a life together in an atmosphere that is almost fairy-tale like?
History
Although Montego Bay isn’t known for its history the way that Kingston is, there is still a lot to learn about this picture-perfect city. The Spanish began settling here around 1510, calling the area Bahia de Mantega due to the mass amount of pig lard they were exporting to the West Indies and South American colonies.
Montego Bay was a very small town through the beginning of the 18th century and taxes were not even required to be paid here until 1788. This of course had something to do with Captain Jonathan Barnett who subdivided his sugar cane fields back in 1720, creating Barnett Town, Charles Town and Sam Sharpe Square. This resulted in ultra fast expansion of this tiny town along with its commercial waterfront.
The coast became protected from Spanish and French forces and pirates with the development of many forts. Today, Montego Bay finds itself distinctively divided into three parts being the hotel area, the city itself and the outlying villas and resorts that perch along the hillside and beach.
Things to Do and See
- Dolphin Cove – Located at Halfmoon, you can be a dolphin trainer and play with these brilliant mammals. They have many different programs available.
- MoBay Underseas Tour – You haven’t experienced marine life like this before. You go into the hull of the Coral See vessel that is air conditioned and offers panoramic views of all that there is to be found in the Montego Bay Marine Park.
- Canopy Tour – Need an adrenaline fix? Several platforms are mounted to the tops of trees in the rainforest that you’ll use to zip line through the canopy and even over the Great River as you travel from one platform to another.
- Irwin Park Gardens – You can walk one tour and then ride through the farm on a jitney pulled by a tractor. You’ll see gorgeous native plants and fruit trees like avocado, coconut and banana. Then you’ll move onto the animal area and pass by waterfalls to arrive at your lunch destination.
- Jungle River Tubing – You’re assigned your tube at the edge of the water and your adventure begins. Attentive guides will point out native wildlife and trees as you rush through the Great River’s rapids.
- Rose Hall Great House – Annie Palmer, also known as the White Witch lived here more than a century ago. She turned this magnificent 6,400-acre plantation into a death chamber not only for slaves who she tortured but to her three husbands who she killed as well.
- Rocky Point Stables – You must experience Jamaica on horseback! They offer a variety of equestrian activities that include adventurous trails as well as beach rides.
- Bellefield Great House – This estate is Jamaica’s oldest sugar plantation. The Kerr-Jerret family built the mill and estate in 1794 and played a key role in developing the city.
- Rockland’s Bird Sanctuary – You can literally feed some of these colorful species by hand here. It’s a long and bumpy trip to get there but once the first hummingbird stops to rest on you, you’ll find it was worth the effort.
- Doctor’s Cave Beach – Voted Montego Bay’s best beach, it can get crowded here but it’s beautiful with shallow, calm waters to sit in on the edge of the sand.
- Montego Bay Marine Park – There are beautiful fish here that are so unafraid, they will often swim right up to your snorkeling mask to check you out. The port is designed to protect Jamaica’s natural eco-system and there’s truly nothing more beautiful to experience.