The Beautiful Sandy Beaches on The Exciting Greater Antilles Island of Jamaica

Port Antonio Jamaica Hotels & Resorts

From Ocho Rios, drive east along Highway A4/A3, which takes you through some sleepy fishing villages, including Port Maria, until you reach Port Antonio. Situated on the coast just north of the Blue Mountains, the town is surrounded by some of the most rugged and beautiful scenery in Jamaica. Many visitors prefer to visit the mountains and highlands from a base here, rather than starting in Kingston, to avoid the capital's urban sprawl.

This is the parish of Portland. It's the rainiest, greenest parish in Jamaica, known for its many rivers and waterfalls. Once the cradle of Jamaican tourism, the region has since been eclipsed by Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, and Negril. It remains a preferred hideaway, however, for a chic and elegant crowd that comes for a handful of posh hotels.

The Blue Hole (Blue Lagoon), the location for several films, is worth the trip to Port Antonio. It's a small beautiful lagoon with deep and somewhat cold waters. The water color is well worth the visit. Note that there are no facilities at Blue Lagoon.  There was once a beautifully located restaurant, which was built for one of the film sets, but this has now closed due to hurricane damage.  The restaurant is being rebuilt.

It's a public place, but you will see local scammers asking for J$150 per person (U.S.$2.5) as an "entry fee". Though it's well worth to be at the Blue Lagoon, swimming is fun. While you are here, you can also check out the Rafting trip at the Rio Grande (day trip $50, night trip - moon light trip - is around double price).

It can be accessed via a narrow lane off of the A4 coast road, signed Blue Hole.  Another way of getting there is from San San beach where touts will offer to take you by boat around the corner to the Blue Lagoon, then moor up there for you to have a swim.  It's a short boat ride, passing some wonderful waterfront villas.  On the way back, the boatman will offer to drop you on the tiny white sand beach of Pellew Island and arrange to return for you at an agreed time whilst you go snorkelling to the side of the island.

 


Port Antonio itself is a verdant and sleepy seaport 97km (60 miles) northeast of Kingston. You may have seen it in the Hollywood film Cocktail (still talked about here as if it were shot yesterday). Here you can still catch a glimpse of the Jamaica of old. This small, bustling town is like many in Jamaica: clean though ramshackle, its sidewalks surrounding a market filled with vendors, tin-roofed shacks compete with old Georgian and modern brick and concrete buildings. Locals busily shop, talk, and laugh, while others sit and play dominoes (loudly banging the pieces on the table, which is very much part of the game).

Go to the colorful markets to browse for local craftworks, spices, and fruits -- or just to listen to conversations, negotiations, and the news of the day.

The Bonnie View, Port Antonio, Jamaica
Unpretentious, full of ambiance, and wonderful views of the island are waiting at the Bonnie View Plantation Hotel.
Port Antonio: Green Peace
Untouched by time, Errol Flynn's remote adopted home remains true to its Jamaican heritage.
 
Frenchman's Cove

You've always wanted to enjoy elaborate, fruit-flavored cocktails on a beautiful tropical beach, so here's your chance; this beach offers spectacular sand, surf and service.

Attraction type: Beach  

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Deals on Port Antonio Hotels

  • Great Huts
  • Hotel Mocking Bird Hill
  • Jamaica Palace Hotel

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