The third largest of the Caribbean islands and popular the world over for any number of reasons, Jamaica is the ever-popular heart and soul nation that captures a wonderful mixed spirit, half laid back and care-free, half intense and focused. The mountainous terrain of the country gives way to some utterly stunning beach, along with some of the finest flora and fauna in the Caribbean, and visitors can enjoy the delights of the Caribbean Sea whichever beach they decide to lounge about on. The people are generally friendly and the infectious way of life is what keeps people coming back for more year in, year out.

Jamaica was initially settled by Arawak Indians around 700BC, but as with a lot of the Caribbean islands there is little history of their time on the island, as by the time the Europeans arrived – first Columbus is 1494 – the Arawak population went into decline, and by the late 1500s they were wiped out through a combination of being overworked, abused and infected with disease for which they had no immunity. The Spanish held onto the country from 1510 to 1654 until the English arrived and took the poorly defended Jamaica for themselves, and soon made the island into one of the most important slave labour islands in the Empire, with sugar plantations bringing vast wealth to the farm owners and the English in charge. A series of appallingly brutal reprisals for attempted slave uprisings lead to slavery being abolished in Jamaica in 1834, but the white minority still maintained power over the impoverished black African majority for many years. This feeling of social inequality is still something that affects the people of Jamaica to this day, though times did get better – by 1944 all Jamaican citizens were granted the right to vote, and by 1947 the island had gained effective autonomy from the British, though it wasn’t until 1962 that full independence was gained. A series of violent clashes between rival political supporters marred a number of elections through the 20^th Century, leaving many dead, but recent history has seen a much more stable, liberal government in place that has been helping right the wrongs of the past – there is still corruption at the top though and Jamaica is a country home to an embittered public. This history of suppression and depression, however, has seen some amazing artists, musicians, singers and athletes produced over the years, and a spirit of defiance in the face of adversity really sums this wonderful nation up.

Jamaica is a beautiful country and home to a way of life that has to be understood before it can be judged – there is something of a climate of fear surrounding those that visit the country and stay holed up in their all-inclusive compounds. Travelling out, meeting the people and seeing what Jamaican life is like shows that this is a nation of friendly people, stunning natural beauty and one that is on the up, even if it is a slow process. Potential off plan investors with a sense of adventure, who want to put their money into a truly interesting country with a lot of character, will certainly want to look at this Caribbean gem.

The standards of healthcare in Jamaica vary a great deal, with services in main towns hugely eclipsing those offered in more rural regions. Health insurance is highly recommended.

Mobile phone coverage is good across the country. Landlines are widely available and lines are of a good standard. Internet cafes are available through Kingston and are spread across other areas.