Every aspect of life in Jamaica is imbued with a sense of pride for the island and its people. There’s that common search for "everything being irie," which is more than just a phrase to describe being relaxed and content. It sums up that feeling when people come together to create a work of harmony that someone could only discover in Jamaica’s peaceful paradise.

Every aspect of life in Jamaica is imbued with a sense of pride for the island and its people. There’s that common search for "everything being irie," which is more than just a phrase to describe being relaxed and content. It sums up that feeling when people come together to create a work of harmony that someone could only discover in Jamaica’s peaceful paradise. Holding a dish of jerk chicken while listening to live reggae next to a placid turquoise sea seems to do the trick.

That singular sense of rhythm and joy is a major reason for so many vacations booked to Jamaica. All that reggae-inspired dancin’ and romancin’ is a positive reminder of the island’s national motto: "out of many, one people."

Marriage requirements: Proof of citizenship and proof of divorce, if applicable. French Canadians need a notarized translated English copy of documents and a photocopy of the original French documents

Official language: English

Government: Representative democracy

Temperature: Averages 82ºF

Rainfall: 78 inches annually

Official currency: Jamaican dollar, but the U.S. dollar is widely accepted

Entry requirements: Valid passport or birth certificate with photo identification

Departure tax: $27