Christopher Columbus sailed into the bay in 1494 and named it "el Golfo de Buen Tiempo" or Fair Weather Bay. The first record of a Spanish settlement here shows it as Monterias. The Spaniards hunted the herds of wild hogs that used to roam the hills and produced and exported 'hog butter' or lard. The name Montego derives from the Spanish "manteca" meaning lard, and Montego Bay is shown on some ancient maps as Lard Bay.
Due in part to its location on the island's north shore, Montego Bay has long since earned the title of 'tourist capital of Jamaica.' It receives the bulk of international flights, and is home to Sangster International Airport, the larger of Jamaica's two main international airports. It is a tourist destination known for its duty free shopping, cruise line terminal, and the sheltered Doctor's Cave beach with clear turquoise waters, which is one of the most famous beaches on the island.
The island of Jamaica is located South of Cuba and a 100 miles West of Haiti. Jamaica is a conglomerate of volcanic hills, limestone, coastal lowlands and Blue Mountains. In 1494 to 1655 Jamaica started out as a Spanish colony, and then became a British influenced colony from 1655 to 1962. However, Jamaica gained their independence on August 6 1962. Their national identity is defined by class, color of skin, and religion. The historical beauty can be seen in the use of palm fronds thatch and mud walls. Since much of the Caribbean life takes place outdoors due to the warm sunny weather, this is what influences the architectural tropical style. It is unique to listen to the different dialects of some Jamaicans who live in the mountains or rural areas speak a Patois. There are others that speak a slower popular sounding dialect kind of like Bob Marley. However, the main language is patois in which is a type of Creole with a West African influence.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Montego Bay
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Montego Bay - updated May 2024
SAVE up to 75% on Last Minute deals! Search for discount Montego Bay hotels, motels, apartments, hostels, guest accommodations and vacation resorts. Book now and pay at the hotel. Instant email confirmation!
Montego Bay Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
