10 Rock Solid Fun Facts About Jamaica That Will Make You Irie
Updated October 29, 2024 | 7 min read
WRITTEN BY Emma Juno Sparkes
Interesting facts about Jamaica play over the radio and television in my native England. Jamaica was an English colony and even now, many Brits dream of wintereing in Jamaica instead of freezing our faces off in January.
Jamaica is the third-largest island in the Caribbean Sea. The island is home of reggae music and natural landmarks like as the Dunn’s River Falls, the John Crow Mountains and Blue Mountain Peak. This beautiful island nation was the first Caribbean country to launch a website, and it is the largest English-speaking island in the Caribbean. Although English is the official language, most Jamaicans also speak a dialect called Jamaican patois.
Renowned for its rum, people say Jamaica has more rum bars per square mile than anywhere else in the world. But, many rum bars aren’t registered with the government, and instead operate off book, it’s hard to validate this fact.
One of the most well-known Caribbean islands, Jamaica has a rich history. Jamaican culture is celebrated around the world. There are many reasons to visit Jamaica and other Caribbean countries, but if you don’t have that opportunity right now, why not learn some fun facts about Jamaica instead?
Jamaica has the fastest runners on Earth, including theworld’s fastest runner is Usain Bolt. The eight-time Olympic winner retired from sports in 2017 but is still the world record holder for the men’s 100m and 200m, finishing in 9.58 seconds and 19.19 seconds, respectively, at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
However, he’s not the only top sprinter in Jamaica — out of the top five fastest men in history, three are Jamaican. Bolt stands in first place, Yohan Blake is third and Asafa Powel is fourth. And it’s not only the men. Three out of the 10 fastest women in the world also come from this island nation.
2. Jamaica has its own bobsled team
Jamaica surprised the world with its decision to send a bobsled team to compete in the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. The concept of this tropical nation fostering a team to compete in a winter sport drew international interest and the story of these underdogs taking part in such an unusual challenge inspired the 1993 Disney movie “Cool Runnings.”
Jamaica came in at just 29th place in the 1988 Olympics but saw huge success at the 2000 World Push Championship in Monaco, taking home the gold medal. Visitors to Jamaica may not be able to experience a real bobsled ride but there is a jungle bobsled activity that was inspired by the Olympic bobsled team.
Kingston, the country’s capital city, has been a UNESCO city of music since 2015 and its accreditation is well deserved. This music-loving city has the most recording studios per capita in the world and has seen the creation of six distinct musical genres: mento, ska, reggae, rocksteady, dub and dancehall. Numerous music legends including Bob Marley and Toots Hibbert have called this place home. There’s even a Bob Marley museum!
4. Jamaica is the home of James Bond
Ian Fleming, the writer of the James Bond novels, lived in Jamaica on a 15-acre estate called Goldeneye. Named after a covert naval operation he was in charge of, the estate is where Fleming wrote all 14 of his Bond stories. The name James Bond is also the result of Fleming’s residence in this tropical country as the character was named after American ornithologist James Bond who frequently visited Jamaica. “Dr. No,” the first Bond movie, was filmed in Jamaica and the location of its famous crocodile farm scene remains a tourist attraction today. Fleming’s legacy endures in Jamaica with a private airport named after him.
5. The island of Jamaica was once home to pirates
In the 17th century Port Royal became infamous as a place for extravagant displays of wealth and lawlessness, evolving into a home for pirates from around the world and earning it the nickname, “the wickedest city on Earth.” Port Royal is located at the mouth of Kingston Harbour in Jamaica. It was home to legendary figures like the Welsh pirate Henry Morgan and his band of privateers, as well as Blackbeard Teach and Calico Jack. Today, visitors to Jamaica can explore the historic Port Royal Island and glimpse its pirate past.
6. Jamaica is home to the largest butterfly species in the Western Hemisphere
Jamaica is home to the Homerus swallowtail, one of the largest butterflies in the world and largest in the Western Hemisphere.The Homerus swallowtail has a wingspan of up to 6 inches. This butterfly is endemic to Jamaica but is currently an endangered species.
7. Jamaica produces one of the world’s rarest and most expensive coffees
Appreciated by coffee connoisseurs around the globe, Blue Mountain Coffee is one of the rarest and most expensive coffees in the world. Grown on Blue Mountain, Jamaica’s highest point, these coffee cherries are challenging to harvest due to the high altitude and steep gradient of the hills. These conditions contribute to the unique flavor of Blue Mountain Coffee but make production difficult and time-consuming, increasing its rarity and cost.
The high altitude and rough terrain make it expensive and difficult to produce Blue Mountain Coffee
8. Jamaica embraces diversity and symbolism, even in its flag
Jamaica celebrates the multicultural diversity of its inhabitants with its national motto: “Out of Many One People.” The colors on the Jamaican flag are symbolic of different aspects of the island. The black represents the strength and creativity of the people, the gold signifies sunlight and the green symbolizes hope and agriculture. Most Jamaicans are of African descent but given the country’s proximity to North America, South America and value of trade routes, the Jamaican people are a melting pot with citizens of European, Indian, Chinese and Middle Eastern descent also living here.
9. Jamaica was formerly a Spanish-speaking nation
Christopher Columbus discovered Jamaica in 1494, claiming it in the name of Spain, and the Spanish speaking nation was under Spanish rule from 1509 to 1655. Its effects can still be seen today. Some towns, such as Ocho Rios, have retained their Spanish names and colonial architecture from the period can still be found in Spanish Town, once the nation’s capital. There is even a Spanish Town heritage walking tour for those wishing to visit these landmarks.
Spanish rule ended when the British took control of the nation in 1655. Jamaica gained independence in 1962 and joined the Commonwealth, keeping Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state. This position has since been taken by King Charles III.
10. The island is actually the tip of an underwater mountain
Many are aware that Jamaica has stunning mountain ranges. But few people know that the entire island is at the summit of an enormous underwater mountain.
Who could imagine enjoying the beach at the top of a mountain?
Emma Juno Sparkes hails from the U.K. and holds a BA in Graphic Design Communications from University of the Arts London. Her passion for travel and cultural exchange flourished in South Korea, where she taught English for eight years before moving into media. Emma has written about travel and culture for a number of outlets including Morning Calm, The Korea Times and Seoul magazine. When she’s not at work you can find her exploring the streets of Seoul, searching for hidden gems and practicing photography.
