There is certainly no doubt who Bob Marley is and where the Rastafarians reside and what the smoke. Jamaica is a country that has became a synonym of reggae and smoking marijuana. As well as these the island boasts with some of the finest rum in the world, beautiful sandy beaches and one of the most distinct English accents in the world. Jamaica has this and much more just waiting for the visitors to discover. However, besides discovering the wonders of holidays in Jamaica, the visitors may come across some unpleasant discoveries and they should know how to avoid these.

Traveling info

Visa requirements to enter Jamaica vary greatly with some being quite strict and requiring not only valid passports but also certain vaccinations etc. while other being quite lax and allowing entering without Visa for up to 30 or more days. (List of countries and requirements in sources). There is no requirement for an international drivers permit however it may be useful. Jamaica uses the left-hand side of the road. To drive in Jamaica you need to be 18 and have a valid license from the country of your origin or an IDP. To rent a car you will need to be at least 25.

Traveling hazards

Roads in Jamaica are usually in poor condition and although main roads in towns and outside are paved, they are poorly maintained resulting in many potholes, poor road signage, and road markings. Rural roads, as well as some main roads, may be impassable due to heavy rains resulting in flash floods which might even create life-threatening situations. Breakdown assistance is generally available in Kingston however outside of the city it is virtually unheard of. When driving at night extreme caution is advised due to the earlier mentioned hazards and also due to the animals that frequently venture out on the roads and pedestrians who often cross the roads in random places due to lack of any crossing markings with poor or no lighting at all contributing to the danger. Public communication is often a place of crime and it is not advised for tourists to use. It is advised also to only use registered taxis or taxis recommended by the hotel.

Environmental hazards

The only large dangerous animal is the American crocodile. These inhabit the Black River in Jamaica and probably won’t be a problem at all unless you go looking for them. Besides these venomous critters will pose more threat than any other land creatures. There are venomous spiders however these are rare enough and not aggressive however there is one particularly nasty creature the so-called 40 leggers or commonly known as the giant centipede. These creatures are to be avoided as their bites may be fatal for people with allergies, little children or elderly. Not only dangerous but also extremely aggressive and quite quick running at roughly 50 cm per second and reaching up to 30 cm in length. Medicine for their bites is widely available throughout Jamaica. Although the waters of Jamaica are generally safe and shark attacks are very rare it is advisable not to be swimming after dusk. Swimming near the coral reef may be quite risky as well due to the number of venomous creatures like the lionfish or the scorpionfish. Sea urchins may also be very dangerous although they mostly inhabit the areas of coral reefs as well.
Jamaica like most of the Caribbean region is affected by the hurricane season which lasts from June all the way to November however it was mostly untouched by the recent hurricanes that caused great devastation to the remaining Caribbean states. Heavy rains often result in flash floods which may be life-threatening for drivers and people on foot as well as destroying entire buildings.

Little happy baby in rastaman hat have fun, play reggae music on Hawaiian guitar, enjoy relaxing on ocean beach. Children healthy lifestyle. Travel, family activity on tropical island summer holiday

Health hazards

Jamaica required citizens of certain nations to present proof of yellow fever vaccination upon entry. Other vaccines that are not required but are recommended are Hepatitis A and B, typhoid and rabies vaccine. Although Jamaica is considered a third world country the healthcare is adequate. The Jamaican citizens are provided with free healthcare and free prescribed medicine however ques to physicians are extremely long and some may not be served at all during a single day. This also applies to public pharmacies that often tend to be out of prescribed medicine. Private healthcare and pharmacies are widely available although citizens often can’t afford the medicine or treatment unless having health insurance that covers the costs.
In case of an emergency dial 110

Crime

The US travel advisory along with Canada and the UK advice their citizens to exercise increased caution due to high crime levels. Certain areas of Jamaica such as parts of Kingston or Spanish Town experience a really high homicide, home invasion, and armed robbery rate. Jamaica has recently declared the state of emergency in Montego Bay as gun crime has reached the highest levels so far. In 2017 there were 355 deaths attributed to murder. mostly tied to gang violence and lottery scams attracting mainly older tourists. Tourists in the area of Montego Bay are advised to stay in their resorts and if venturing into town it is strongly advised not to do it at night time. Under the state of public emergency, the security forces will be allowed to use extraordinary powers and some rights will be suspended. To minimize the risk of danger try to avoid certain parts of Kingston, Spanish Town, and Montego Bay, (list in sources), avoid using public transport as it is often a place of crime and avoid walking or driving at night. The local police also lack the resources to respond effectively to serious crime. Jamaica is the largest producer of marijuana herb in the Caribbean and Central America which is followed by making Jamaica one of the largest trafficking routes in the Caribbean however recently laws concerning the cannabis consumption have been relaxed and possession of small amounts has been decriminalized. Possession of 2 ounces which is around 56 grams is punishable by a maximum fine of 5 dollars (USD). Cultivation has also become legal, each household is allowed to grow up to 5 plants. The Rastafari adults are now permitted to use cannabis for their sacramental purposes.

Summary

Although Jamaica is famous for many things and has its very own unique culture that can’t be experienced anywhere else it can be quite even mortally dangerous if caution is not applied. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
http://www.congenjamaica-ny.org/visas/requirements-2/
(Vaccines)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/jamaica
(Travel advisory)
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/jamaica-travel-advisory.html