Attractions In Port Antonio

Port Antonio has some of Jamaica's most beautiful beaches, from free public beaches to managed beaches with facilities and charging an entrance fee. San San Beach is a private strip of sand that has warm and shallow waters, and some offshore reefs that are ideal for snorkelling. In winter the waves make this a perfect spot to windsurf. One of the region's prettiest beaches is Frenchman's Cove with its clear waters and white sand. During the 1960s a luxurious hotel resort, visited by the likes of Prince Philip and Elizabeth Taylor, occupied the headland, but has since closed down and fallen to ruin. The secluded cove at Boston Bay is perhaps more famous for its jerk stands than its public beach, with food stalls lining the road that serve jerk in all its forms. The waves, however, have raised its status as one of the best beaches in Jamaica for windsurfing.

Beaches

Blue Lagoon

Made famous by 14-year old Brooke Shields in the film 'Blue Lagoon', the sheltered cove is one of the most scenic spots in Jamaica and Port Antonio's most celebrated attraction. It is fed by underground mineral springs, and is believed by many to be bottomless, although it is estimated to be about 185ft (56m) deep. Surrounded by steep, green hillsides, the Blue Lagoon is a wonderful place to swim if one chooses to ignore the tales of sea monsters deep below the surface that are circulated by locals.

Reach Falls

Reach Falls, on the Driver's River, is a strong contender for the 'most beautiful place in Jamaica', and are the island's loveliest natural waterfalls. A series of cascades tumble into pool after pool of clear, green water and the main falls thunder into a pool deep enough to dive into. Undeveloped and unspoilt, the falls are unofficially managed by the neighbouring farmer who charges a small contribution and boys to guide visitors down to the falls.

Rio Grande

The Rio Grande has been used since 1911 as a means of transporting goods by bamboo rafts, particularly by banana farmers in the Rio Grande Valley who floated bunches of bananas on rafts to the end of the river at St Margaret's Bay. Today bamboo rafting trips are a major tourist attraction, offering an experience that showcases the natural beauty that the Portland area has to offer. Trips last between two and three hours, and the 30ft (9m) rafts can carry two passengers and are steered by skilled raftsmen who also act as guides. Rafts can be boarded at Berrydale or Grant's Level and end at the mouth of the Rio Grande at St Margaret's Bay.