Montego Bay is the essence of a resort town. Beaches, palm-covered hills and historic Georgian houses complement this thriving port city. Montego Bay offers more guest rooms than in any other part of Jamaica. Many beaches are accessible though some are the private domain of hotels. Golf is played at the area's four 18-hole championship courses
10sq.mi/26sq.km of protected coral reefs can be explored. The prized blue marlin is the catch anticipated by those chartering fishing boats. The Montego Bay Yacht Club hosts the bi-annual Pineapple Cup Miami to Montego Bay Yacht race.
Music festivals, such as the Reggae Sumfest, are staged here. Montego Bay offers some of Jamaica's best dining in its cafes or at its roadside stands where spicy local food is served. Harbour Street is a popular shopping area, where vendors sell their goods at the Crafts Market. Trendy Gloucester Avenue boasts restaurants, art galleries and duty free shopping.
Visitors can tour plantations and their "Great Houses". Hummingbirds, plus dozens of other species can be hand-fed or photographed at Rocklands Bird Feeding Station in nearby Anchovy. From Montego Bay travelers can venture further afield as excursions depart for almost every part of Jamaica. A guided river-ride on a bamboo raft is a possibility or Cockpit Country can be toured, where Maroons (descendents of escaped slaves) still live.
In 1494 Columbus called Montego Bay, El Golfo Buen Tempo or Fair Weather Gulf. Dubbed Bahia de Manteca (Lard Bay) by the Spanish, the city later became a major shipping port for sugar and bananas. Situated on the north coast of the island, Montego Bay is Jamaica's second largest city with a population of 82,000. It is served by Sangster International Airport and has a modern cruise-ship pier with shuttle buses into downtown Montego Bay.
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