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Jamaica Is Back. Here’s How to Visit.

Whether it’s serenity of the cliffs of Negril, the sands of Montego Bay’s crescent shores or the sizzle of jerk in Port Antonio, Jamaica is the Caribbean’s sensory feast, a vibrant, endlessly energetic destination that never ceases to make you feel. 

And that hasn’t changed. 

After reopening for tourism in the summer of 2020, the island’s easy-to-follow travel protocols make visiting Jamaica a breeze right now — and that means the Jamaica you’re longing for is exactly what you’ll get. 

jamaica visit how why
Miss Lily’s, the Seven Mile Beach outpost of the New York hotspot.

So what do travelers need to know? 

All visitors need to apply for a Travel Authorization (you can find it here). 

It’s a quick digital form to fill out, and you’ll need to show proof of a negative PCR test taken and received within three days before traveling to Jamaica. 

It’s one of the Caribbean’s simplest travel entry protocols — and it means that when you arrive in Jamaica you’ll find that Jamaica’s tourism industry has implemented a strong series of protocols, from regular sanitizing to broad mask wearing — meaning you’ll feel safe the moment you land at the airport. 

And that’s it — you land and enter one of Jamaica’s tourism-safe “resilient corridors” and you can go about enjoying your vacation, discovering a buzzing Jamaica — one that has seen its tourism industry recover ahead of schedule. 

The cliffs of Negril.

And that’s true across the island. 

In Montego Bay, you’ll find as impressive a collection of hotels and resorts as ever — whether you’re checking in to the dazzling Eclipse at Half Moon resort or the hip new S Hotel Montego Bay, the latter a sister hotel to Kingston’s popular Spanish Court. 

jamaica visit how why
The stunning infinity pool at Eclipse at Half Moon in Jamaica.

In Negril, you can dive right in — the magical cliffs of Negril at inimitable hotels like Rockhouse; the low-key charm of Bloody Bay; and, yes, Seven Mile Beach is still, well, Seven Mile Beach, a never-ending array of beach sights and sounds, from bopping meals at Miss Lily’s to the art of sandy souvenir hunting.

In Port Antonio, you can spend your days on the beach at the edge of the rainforest, and the nights with the sound of Mento. 

Geejam in Jamaica.

In other words, Jamaica is back — and that means you need to be, too. 

For more, visit Jamaica. (Here’s what you need to do before traveling).

— CJ

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