Situated in the county of Cornwall, on the north of Jamaica, St.
James is one of the most picturesque parishes. From its sandy white
beaches and
pristine waters to its lush green mountains and quaint
towns, the parish seduces visitors with its charms. The name of the
capital, Montego Bay, was
derived from the habit of the Spanish
colonists to boil lard from wild hogs in the area which resulted in the
place being called Bahia de Manteca (Bay of
Lard). Over time the name was transformed to Montego Bay. The area features significantly in Jamaica’s tourism history, starting in the late 1800s.
Visitors would
come to the island on returning banana boats and flock the beaches of
Montego Bay, particularly Doctor’s Cave Beach. A significant sign
of the
parish diversifying from its dependence on tourism is the construction
of the Montego Bay Conference Centre to accommodate large, local and
international conferences.
St. James Attractions:
- Beaches
- Burchell Baptist Church
- The Great Houses of Greenwood, Bellefield and Rose Hall
- Rocklands Bird Sanctuary
- The Hip Strip of Gloucester Avenue
- Croydon in the Mountains
- Fort Montego and the Craft Market
- The museum at the Civic Centre Rocklands Bird Sanctuary
- Championship golf courses at Ironshore, Half Moon, White Witch, and Cinnamon Hill