With a population of some 2.6 million, the island - named Xamayca (land of wood and water) by original inhabitants, the Tainos - can be described as ‘a land of misty mountains, lush green valleys, and cool, winding rivers and coasts fringed with soft white sands and dazzling azure waters’. Once a Spanish colony, Jamaica came under the British rule in 1655 until 1962 when the county became an independent nation. Though the majority of the population is from African decent, there are people from European, Arabic, Chinese and East Indian ancestry as well.

There are fourteen parishes, with two cities - Kingston, and Montego Bay. There are two international airports, Norman Manley in Kingston and Sangster International in Montego Bay. Major resort areas include Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, the South Coast, Negril, and Port Antonio.