Transportation in Jamaica

The comfort of easy entry into Jamaica is a major attraction for most visitors. Visitors can fly into either of the two major international airports in Jamaica. As there are innumerable small airports spread across the island, people can shift from hotels or resorts easily. Of course, cruise ship passengers will not be able to stay for a longer period but many popular ports have a lot to offer as far as exploration goes. Sailors wanting to travel on their own can gain entry through some of the larger ports and comfortably get clearance to sail around the island as long as they want to.

With innumerable travel options and very few obstacles it is no wonder that Jamaica is a choice holiday destination.

For handy information about the best ways to get to, from and around Jamaica see our Jamaica Transportation Guide below. A variety of tours and activities are available that will take you to see of the Jamaica's major tourist attractions and cities. For information about getting around the Caribbean and our other destinations visit our Caribbean Transportation Guide.

Apart from being the perfect vacation destination, the travel options within Jamaica are also innumerable. Being one of the largest and most popular among the Caribbean islands, Jamaica has many travel choices from the airports and other ports of entry. So a visitor not only gets to choose one swell vacation destination, but also has a varied choice for moving about in and around Jamaica.  

Jamaica Transportation Guide

Getting To Jamaica

By Air

Travelling to Jamaica by air is very simple. This country has two international airports, the Norman Manley International in Kingston (KIN) and the Donald Sangster International in Montego Bay (MBJ). These days, there are several airline companies that operate flights to and from Jamaica. Your travel agent will have the details of the latest services available. If you are using the services of a chartered airline, you will have to land at Montego Bay.

Norman Manley International Airport

The Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) is the country's gateway and is very close (just about 20 minutes away) to Kingston, the capital city of Jamaica and the commercial hub of the Caribbean. The NMIA is presently being converted into a spacious centre equipped with all kinds of modern facilities to meet the needs of today's travellers and also of airport partners and other users.

A varied and interesting range of local and international brands, and food and refreshment services are offered by the NMIA. Innumerable retail shopping facilities are also available for travellers.

Donald Sangster International Airport

The Sangster International Airport (MBJ) is situated right in the centre of the country's main tourist location, Montego Bay. This is about 3 miles east of the airport on the northwest coast of the island and is located very close to hotels and resorts. The advantage of this particular airport is that it is within driving distance of the cruise ports at Montego Bay and Ocho Rios as well as the popular tourist town of Negril.

Shopping facilities for travellers are also available at this airport. All kinds of carefully chosen products are sold in each store here, including designer brands, duty-free goods and speciality items too.

MBJ also offers travellers and tourists a wide array of culinary delights in a relaxed Caribbean setting. Travellers have Full Service or Quick Service dining choices. A delicious and sumptuous menu is available that consists of traditional favourites, island specialities and much more. Travelling and dining are both taken care of here.

By Sea

More than two million cruise travellers visit the Caribbean every year, of whom about one million tourists visit the island of Jamaica annually. Most travellers are enticed by the idyllic beaches and sunny weather. The people here are warm and friendly hosts too.

Cruises to the Caribbean usually leave Florida from the cities of Miami, Lauderdale and Tampa. The West Caribbean cruise takes the tourist to Jamaica, entering through one of the ports – Montego Bay, Port Antonio or Ocho Rios.

Getting Around Jamaica

Using public transport in Jamaica is more of a thrilling experience. The capital city of Kingston has a good service for the busy areas and oft used routes. There are plush, air-conditioned buses. However, in the other areas the service is not very regular and not very comfortable too. Car rental is not only expensive but it becomes cumbersome to manoeuvre the vehicles on the steep and rough roads, especially if you are not familiar with the routes. Remember, most of the towns are hilly and the roads are built on the same mountainous terrain. Public transportation is the best choice for getting around the country. Travelling with the locals in route taxis, mini buses and regular buses, tough though it might be, is a great experience in itself!

Driving

Tourists to Jamaica can use their valid international licences here. Tourists from the United Kingdom can use their national licence for 12 months, those from North America are allowed to use theirs for 3 months and the Japanese tourists can use theirs for only one 1 month.

The essential point to remember is that in Jamaica one drives on the left hand side of the road. In some cases, this rule is relaxed to make way for not only pedestrians but also certain domestic animals like chicken, goats and cows, which normally make themselves comfortable on the roads!

It is compulsory for the driver and the passenger in the front seat to wear safety belts. Infant car seats must be used for children below the age of 3.

Tourists over 25 years of age can avail of car rental services that are available in almost every town or city. The rules for using your own licence apply for car rental too.

Moped/Motor Bikes/Bicycles

Two-wheeled vehicles are the best way to travel in Jamaica. Bikes, motor bikes and scooters are superb options for vacationers. Travelling on a two-wheeler can be very cheap too, apart from being a convenient way to explore the beautiful town. However, you are advised to exercise caution as the roads in Jamaica can be quite rough and there are many potholes to manoeuvre around. Driving rules here are different too and the use of helmets is a must. But all said and done, there is nothing to beat the thrill of zipping around the Jamaican island on a moped or a scooter.

For the health conscious traveller, a non-motorized ride on a bicycle is a wonderful option - to see the island and also get lots of fresh air and exercise. Bicycles are available on rent throughout Jamaica. Resorts offer bicycles at reasonable rates, generally around $30 (USD) or $40 (USD) per day, much less than that of a hired car. However, a driver's licence is mandatory for acquiring a hired bicycle and you may be required to deposit your credit card. Be sure to cycle on the cliffs near Negril. Cycling within the town is fun too.

JUTA - Jamaica Union for Travellers Association

Taking hospitality to a new level, The Jamaica Union for Travellers Association, JUTA, operates a transport service exclusively for tourists. Going beyond just point-to-point travel, the service offers extremely comfortable, air-conditioned luxury buses, coaches and cars manned by extremely warm and experienced drivers. If you are looking for trouble-free travel around Jamaica, JUTA is the service for you. JUTA's luxurious and personalised service will definitely go a long way in making your Jamaican vacation a time to remember!

By Bus 

Buses are one of the most economical means of travelling in Jamaica. However, for those particular about punctuality and climate control, travelling by bus may not be a very good idea - you may find you spend most of the time waiting for the buses to arrive, since the buses generally do not follow a specific time schedule. All the same, travelling by bus is the best way to get a real experience of Jamaican culture, something that cannot be done from inside a resort.

The bus fares are quite low, approximately $1 (USD) for 50 miles. The same distance on a mini bus costs around $1.50 to $2.50 (USD). Mini buses around Negril offer rides across the town day and night for $2 (USD).

Buses and mini buses in the Caribbean do not tend to keep to schedule. Most buses outside the city of Kingston are not scheduled services, sometimes causing passengers to wait quite a while. However, they are quite frequent and pick up and drop passengers off anywhere on the island. This is not permitted in the cities where buses can stop only at terminals.

Travelling by bus in Jamaica is quite an experience and often proves to be very interesting as the buses are packed and travellers get to meet different kinds of people. There are also some colourful names that mark the sides of the vehicles.

Do remember, though, to travel in buses or mini buses that are operated by the Jamaican Union of Travellers Association or JUTA. These buses can be identified by a red Public Passenger Vehicle (PPV) licence plate. Make sure you ask for the rates before boarding the bus.

There are some areas in Jamaica that offer good bus services. Some of them are listed here:
- Negril offers shuttles at resorts to take their guests around the city. So, public transportation can be avoided; a mini bus can be engaged to drive up and down central Boulevard.
- Montego Bay has no public buses. Tourist shuttles are usually used by guests of certain hotels.
- Kingston's bus transportation is not very efficient. Be wary of pickpockets while travelling on buses.
- People in Port Antonio can board a mini bus by flagging it down practically anywhere.
- Prices are cheap and the buses operate throughout the town.

By Taxi

Taxis are usually one of the popular ways of travelling in Jamaica. It helps if you have a guide who knows about the area's driving laws. It will keep you relaxed as you sit back, enjoy the trip, and not worry too much about the regulations of the country. Do prepare ahead in order to ensure a successful and stress free ride in and around Jamaica.

Many kinds of taxi rides are available but the official taxis are usually members of the Jamaican Association or JUTA. These taxi drivers are officially licenced, with a red licence plate displaying ‘PP' or ‘PPV', which stands for Public Passenger Vehicle. ‘Pirate' or rogue taxis are also available but they are best avoided.

‘Route taxi' or shared taxi is another type of Jamaican taxi. These kinds of taxis are a stopgap between a taxi and a bus, running on short routes around the town with lots of passengers. The fares are fixed between the bus and taxi rates.

Like in most developing nations, taxis have meters but they are seldom used, which means that visitors have to negotiate the price before getting into the taxi. The kind of currency to be paid must also be settled before getting into the cab. The fares for metered taxis are usually pasted inside the taxi. In case you do not find them there, you should ask the driver. After travelling for a while in Jamaica a visitor gets the hang of haggling.

Taxi fares in Jamaica are definitely not cheap - around $20 (USD) for every 10 miles. The prices are higher if the taxi is licenced to a hotel. Tips are not necessary if the fare is agreed upon. At other times, while tipping for a metered taxi, 10 to 12 percent of the fare can be given. Of course, taxi fares are higher by about 25 percent between midnight and 5 am.

Jamaican taxis are suitable for sightseeing tours and most drivers make for very informative and friendly guides. The fares are negotiated the same way as on a regular town taxi ride. Fares for a full day taxi tour range from $100 (USD) to $180 (USD), depending on the distance.

While planning a full day tour of Jamaica, be sure to choose a driver you can trust. Make an effort to develop a rapport with the driver in order to have a safe and enjoyable trip. The same applies for taxi drivers licenced by hotels.