Montego Bay

Montego Bay is a coastal city in Saint James Parish on the northern shore of Jamaica, stretching several kilometers along the Caribbean coast. The city has multiple beaches with pale sand, commercial districts with restaurants and shops, and residential areas in the hills behind the shoreline.

The Spanish called the place Golfo de Buen Tiempo in 1494 and used the bay as a trading harbor for agricultural products. During the 18th century the settlement grew into a major export port for sugar and other goods from surrounding plantations.

The name comes from manteca, the Spanish word for lard, which was once shipped from here. Today this past shows up in the street names of the old town and in the stories local vendors share at the markets.

Sangster International Airport sits a few kilometers east of the city center and connects the city to North America and Europe. Shared taxis and public buses run regularly to the main beaches and districts, though travel times can vary with traffic conditions.

Cornwall Regional Hospital stands on former sugar cane plantation grounds and uses parts of the old infrastructure in its outdoor areas. Some of the original stone walls and irrigation channels are still visible today in the hospital gardens.

Location: Saint James Parish

Inception: 1980

GPS coordinates: 18.47246,-77.92174

Latest update: December 15, 2025 02:02