Travel advisory · JamaicaSome governments advise against travel to parts of Jamaica.The warnings cover only these areas: August Town, Canterbury, Central Village, Downtown Kingston, Flankers, Glendevon, Grants Pen, Mount Salem, Norwood, Paradise Heights, Rose Heights, Spanish Town, Steer Town, Swallowfield, Waterford.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- August Town · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy, US
- Canterbury · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France
- Central Village · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, US
- Downtown Kingston · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France
- Flankers · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, US
- Glendevon · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France
- Grants Pen · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- Mount Salem · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, US
- Norwood · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, US
- Paradise Heights · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France
- Rose Heights · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, US
- Spanish Town · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, Italy
- Steer Town · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, US
- Swallowfield · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, US
- Waterford · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, US
Also named by one government: Bethel Town (Spain), Brooke Valley (US), Buckfield (Spain), Cambridge (Spain), Cassava Piece (Spain), Crawford District (US), Denham Town (US), Duhaney Park (Spain), Elleston Flats (Spain), Grange Hill (US), Green Island Area (US), Greenwich Town (US), Gregory Park (Spain), Grey Ground (US), Hanover (Italy), Harbour View (Italy), Hart Street area (US), Johns Hall (Spain), Kings Valley (Spain), Kingston and Portmore (other neighbourhoods) (France), Middlesex (Italy), Montego Bay (Italy), Morgan Bay (Spain), Mountain View (US), Naggo Head (Spain), Nannyville Gardens (US), New Hall (US), New Haven (US), New Land (Spain), New Town (US), Old Braeton (Spain), Old England (US), Parade Gardens (US), Portmore Lane (Spain), Race Track district (Clarendon) (Spain), Red Ground (Spain), Russia community (Savanna-la-Mar) (Spain), Salt Spring (US), Sandpipe (Spain), Savanna-la-Mar (US), Seaforth area (US), Sherlock Crescent area (US), Springmount (Spain), St Andrew South (Italy), St James (Italy), Vineyard district (Spain), West Kingston (Italy), Westmoreland (Italy), Whiteball (Spain), Whitehall (Spain), York Town and Western Park (Clarendon Parish) (US)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against travel to the whole country; general precautions only | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Exercise increased caution (regional advisories) | Jun 23, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Exercise a high degree of caution | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | Increased caution throughout the country due to high crime | Oct 13, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Exercise increased caution due to violent crime | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Vigilance renforcée (zone jaune) hors Spanish Town (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Jamaica
Go to Jamaica for north coast beaches, waterfalls, hikes in the Blue Mountains, and the reggae, jerk seasoning and coffee the island is known for.
Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean and the third-largest island in the region. Kingston is its capital and largest city, on the south coast. The island is about 234 km long and 80 km wide. Its tallest point, Blue Mountain Peak, rises to 2,256 meters in the Blue Mountains, while the north coast has beaches and waterfalls.
Reggae, ska, dub and dancehall began here, and Bob Marley is the best-known reggae musician. English is the official language, but most people speak Jamaican Patois in daily life. The drier months from December to April suit beach trips, while hurricane season runs from June to November, so check the forecast before you book. Sir Donald Sangster International Airport at Montego Bay is the island's busiest airport, and Norman Manley International Airport serves Kingston. Jerk seasoning, rum and Blue Mountain coffee are among the foods and drinks Jamaica is known for, and Kingston Harbour is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Plan your route around the north coast and one inland area.
Five things to know before Jamaica
- Fill in the C5 form online
Jamaica's immigration and customs form (C5) is completed online before you land. Use the official government site, enterjamaica.gov.jm. Official C5 form
- Check your hotel has reopened after Melissa
Hurricane Melissa hit western Jamaica hard in October 2025, and some communities still lack power and piped water. Confirm your hotel, transfers and tours are running. UK travel advice
- Choose your base by what you want
Montego Bay is closest to the main airport; Negril has the long beach and west-end cliffs; Ocho Rios has waterfalls and river trips. Montego Bay
- Book airport transfers ahead
Most visitors land at Sangster in Montego Bay. Negril and Ocho Rios are each roughly 1.5 to 2 hours by road, so arrange the transfer before you fly. Negril
- Leave meat and dairy at home
It is illegal to bring meat and dairy products into Jamaica. Customs may search bags and destroy prohibited items.
Jamaica travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
The airport, Hip Strip, beaches and transfers.
Read the guideNegrilSeven Mile Beach, the West End cliffs and sunsets.
Read the guideOcho RiosWaterfalls, river trips and the north coast.
Read the guideVisas and entryVisa-free stays and the online C5 form.
Read the guideTravel insuranceStorm cover and what to check after Hurricane Melissa.
Read the guidePhones and eSIMData plans for resorts and road trips.
Read the guide
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- JMD 5,000
- Food
- JMD 2,500
- Transport
- JMD 500
- Sights
- JMD 1,000
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- JMD 12,000
- Food
- JMD 7,000
- Transport
- JMD 2,500
- Sights
- JMD 5,000
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- JMD 25,000
- Food
- JMD 15,000
- Transport
- JMD 8,000
- Sights
- JMD 12,000
When to go
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- JanuaryPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Dry, peak seasonJanuaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 21 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, peak season
- FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Dry, breezyFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 24 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, breezy
- MarchPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Dry, sunnyMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 31 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, sunny
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Dry, quieterAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, quieter
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Showers beginMayRain
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers begin
- JunePartly cloudy8 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low25°Hurricane seasonJunePartly cloudy
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hurricane season
- JulyPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Hot, humidJulyPartly cloudy
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, humid
- AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Hurricane riskAugustPartly cloudy
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hurricane risk
- SeptemberRain14 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low25°Hurricane peakSeptemberRain
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hurricane peak
- OctoberRain19 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low25°Storm risk, rainOctoberRain
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 247 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Storm risk, rain
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Season endsNovemberRain
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 174 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Season ends
- DecemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh28°Low23°Busy holidaysDecemberPartly cloudy
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Busy holidays
Average daily high and low in Montego Bay, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Jamaica
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
31
- Feels like
- 33°
- Humidity
- 52%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 91%
Jamaica
03:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today27°19°91%Monday: Rain. High 27°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 91%.
- Tue24°19°89%Tuesday: Rain. High 24°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 89%.
- Wed26°19°98%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 26°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Thu26°19°100%Thursday: Rain. High 26°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Fri27°18°90%Friday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 90%.
- Sat27°17°85%Saturday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 85%.
- Sun25°19°79%Sunday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 79%.
Updated 12:07 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 159 JMD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Jamaica
Jamaica FAQ
Is it safe to travel to Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa?
Many areas are open, but the UK says western parishes suffered significant damage and some communities still lack power and water. Check the latest travel advice and confirm your hotel and tours are operating.
Do I need a visa for Jamaica?
UK, Canadian and Australian passport holders need no visa. Per Jamaica's immigration agency, US citizens can stay up to 6 months, Germans 90 days and Spaniards 30 days. Complete the online C5 form before you land.
When is hurricane season in Jamaica?
June 1 to November 30, with the highest risk from August to October. December to April is drier and calmer, and prices are highest then; May and June are a good compromise.
Which is better, Negril or Ocho Rios?
Negril for a long beach, cliffs and sunsets; Ocho Rios for waterfalls, rivers and day trips on the north coast. Montego Bay is the most convenient for short stays.
Can I pay in US dollars in Jamaica?
Yes, in most resorts and tourist businesses. Local shops, markets and route taxis prefer Jamaican dollars, and you get a better rate paying in local currency.