Santi White, better known by anyone who knows anything about anything as Santigold, knows a thing or twenty-two about Jamaica. Her most recent album Master Of My Make Believe was partly recorded on the fourth largest island nation of the Greater Antilles and the video for Disparate Youth, the first single, was filmed there.
Santi also spent a lot of time island-side as a child and her biggest tip to anyone thinking of tripping on over would be “not to behave like a naive tourist and go places that you don’t
know anything about.” Alright? “Just wandering around can be dangerous, especially in
Kingston.” Especially if you’re way too beautiful, girl.
What are the top reasons to immediately plan a trip to Jamaica? Apart from the stunning natural beauty of the island, the intensely rich culture and defining musical history? Jerk food originated there, the Coat of Arms is just really great and it comes
highly recommended by Santigold. BOOM. Done. So now that you’re going,
where exactly should you visit?
The
Blue Lagoon
Address: Port Antonio, Jamaica, W.I. Access via a narrow lane off A4 Coast Road (sign saying Blue Hole).
Opening
Hours: Public place.
Santi
says: This is one of my favourite places in all of Jamaica. It’s
where they filmed the first Blue Lagoon and it’s a place where the fresh
mineral springs and the ocean meet. The water is this amazing blue colour, it’s
so deep but because of the mix of water I’m not scared of sea animals because
you can see them coming. No one is really there most of the time and it’s
unlike any other place I’ve been in the world.
Montego
Bay
Address: St. James Parish, Jamaica, W.I.
Website: www.visitjamaica.com
Santi says: If you want to do the
tourist thing, you go to Montego Bay and Ocho Rios.
Dunn’s River Falls
Address: Ocho Rios, Jamaica, W.I.
Phone: (876) 974-2857
E-Mail: dunnsriver@udcja.com
Website: www.dunnsriverfallsja.com
Opening Hours: Daily 8am-4pm
The falls were used for location footage in the first James Bond film
Dr. No in 1962, and Cocktail starring Tom Cruise in 1988.
Geejams
Address: San San, Po Box 7312 Drapers, Port Antonio, Jamaica, W.I.
Phone: (876) 993-7000
E-Mail: reservations@geejam.com
Website: www.geejamhotel.com
Santi
says: If you want to go and just relax and enjoy the beauty of Jamaica,
you could go and stay a Geejams in
Port Antonio.
Strawberry
Hill
Address: New Castle Road, Irish Town, St Andrew, Jamaica, W.I.
Phone: (876) 944-8400
E-Mail: strawberry@cwjamaica.com
Website: www.islandoutpost.com
Santi
says: You can go stay in the hills above Kingston at Strawberry
Hill.
Horseback Riding
Address: Half Moon Equestrian Centre, Montego Bay, Jamaica, W.I.
Phone: (876) 953-2286
E-Mail: r.delisser@cwjamaica.com
Website: www.horsebackridingjamaica.com
Santi says: One thing I remember
doing as a kid is going horseback riding and the horses sit down in the water. It’s amazing.
Green Grotto Caves
Address: Discovery Bay, St. Ann, Jamaica, W.I.
Phone: (876) 973-2841
E-Mail: greengrottocaves@udcja.com
Website: www.greengrottocavesja.com
Opening
Hours: Daily 9am-4pm
Santi says: There are all kinds of Arawak
caves which you can go and
explore.
Boston
Bay
Address: Portland Parish – halfway between Port Antonio and Long Bay – Jamaica, W.I.
Santi
says: Boston Bay in Portland, the birthplace of jerk food, has a lot of really cool local
places to eat. It’s also a local surf spot and they have this skate ramp that
they built where all the kids skate. It’s a really interesting place.
Passa Passa
Address: Spanish Town Road (near Tivoli Gardens), Kingston, Jamaica, W.I.
Opening
Hours: Every Wednesday (starts late and ends late Thursday morning)
Santi says: It’s a street party that keeps going till 8am, everyone is dancing while the cars
are trying to drive through. When I was over with Diplo and Switch
they went and I thought they were lying when they came back and told me all the
things they had seen. 
©
Photography by Alessandro Simonetti
BONUS. Santigold’s Top Three Tour Destinations:
One of my favourite places I’ve ever played is Boracay Island in the Phillipines. It was so amazing, it was like
going to paradise for a show, and was definitely one of my most fun tour destinations.
I also love playing in Switzerland, at Montreux Jazz Festival,
I think the location is one of the most beautiful places in the world.
I do love Moscow because I love the Kremlin,
it’s one of my favourite places to go visit. So any time I get to visit anywhere like that on tour, it’s cool.
DOUBLE BONUS. Disparate Youth viddy. Directed by Santi White and Sam Fleischner in Portland, Jamaica:
Title image by Drew Kilpatrick.
