Jamaica’s currency is the Jamaican dollar (JMD), written J$. US dollars are widely accepted across tourist areas, so most visitors use a mix of both.
Should you bring US dollars or Jamaican?
Both, in practice. US dollars work almost everywhere a visitor goes — hotels, villas, restaurants, tours and taxis. Jamaican dollars are better for small local purchases: a market stall, a roadside cook shop, a route taxi, a cold drink from a village shop.
Where a price is quoted in US dollars, you will usually get a fairer effective rate paying in US dollars. Where it is quoted in Jamaican dollars, pay in Jamaican.
Bring small notes. A US$50 is difficult to break in Treasure Beach. Five US$10 notes are far more useful, and essential for tipping.
Where to exchange money
- Cambios — licensed exchange bureaux, usually the best rates. Found in Black River and Santa Cruz.
- Banks — reliable, but slower and with shorter opening hours.
- The airport — convenient on arrival, poorer rates. Change a small amount to get you started and do the rest properly later.
Common currencies exchanged include US dollars, pounds sterling, Canadian dollars and euros. Our staff will point you to the nearest facility.
Can you use cards in Treasure Beach?
Patchily, and you should not rely on them. Larger hotels and established restaurants take cards. Small local businesses, boat captains, market vendors and route taxis generally do not.
Treasure Beach is a village, not a resort strip. Arrive with cash.
Tell your bank you are travelling before you go — a card blocked for suspicious activity is a genuine nuisance three hours from the nearest branch.
ATMs
ATMs exist in Jamaica and dispense Jamaican dollars, typically with daily withdrawal limits in the region of US$200–300 equivalent.
There is very little in Treasure Beach itself. The nearest reliable machines are in Black River, about 30–40 minutes west, or Santa Cruz, about 40 minutes inland. Withdraw what you need when you are passing through rather than assuming you can top up locally.
Tipping currency
Either currency is fine and neither causes offence. Jamaican dollars are often more practical for staff, since that is what they spend day to day.
Tip in cash. Gratuities added to a card payment do not reliably reach the person you intended. See our full guide to tipping in Jamaica.
How much cash to bring
Enough for tips, local meals, market shopping and transport. For a week, most guests find a few hundred US dollars in small notes covers everything they cannot put on a card.
Working out a full budget? See what a trip to Jamaica actually costs, and our Jamaica travel tips for the rest of the practical detail.