Travel Guide of Port Antonio, Jamaica for: Geejam Rating: Pearls
| 1 of 21 | Frenchman's Cove, Port Antonio, Jamaica | View All 21 Photos |
Port Antonio Summary
Pros
- Outdoor activities like hiking and river rafting
- Blue Lagoon, a famed film locale
- Frenchman's Cove, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world
- Swanky private cottages at the Geejam boutique hotel
- Warm locals and some of the most attentive service anywhere in the Caribbean
- Tap water is safe to drink
- Average temperatures range from 74 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit
Cons
- Three-hour, $120 taxi ride from Kingston International Airport
- Frequent rain showers, even during the dry season
- Few shops or restaurants
- Criminalized homosexuality (between men) and local hostility toward LGBT individuals
- Prevalent drug culture
- Slight chance of hurricanes from June 1 to Nov. 30
What It's Like
Once an upscale haven for movie stars like Errol Flynn and Ginger Rogers, the remote seaport of Port Antonio -- three hours away from Kingston International Airport -- is once again drawing tourists away from Jamaica's mainstream, mega-resort-lined destinations.
Eco-travelers use it as a base to explore the natural wonders of the lushest -- and rainiest -- part of the island, including the Blue Mountains, Rio Grande Valley, numerous waterfalls, the Blue Lagoon (the same one featured in the 1980 Brooke Shields flick), and Frenchman's Cove, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
But small-town Port Antonio has very few shopping, dining, or drinking options, and though its Boston Beach is considered the birthplace of jerk cooking, the best joints, like Scotchies, have followed the tourists east to Montego Bay.
Where to Stay
Outside the modest backpacker crash pads and the scarce villa retreats, the chichi Geejam eco-boutique is the only premier hotel in Port Antonio. That is, aside from the astounding Trident Castle, where a single night's stay starts at the low, low price of about $6,000 (during the high season).
Map of Hotels -- Port Antonio, Jamaica
Expand Map »
Facts
| Languages: | English |
| Airports: | |
Negril Airport (NEG) (domestic only) |
|
Norman Manley Int'l (KIN) (3-hour, $120 cab ride) |
|
| Time Zone: | |
| Peak: | Dec. 15-April 15 |
| Off-Peak: | Sept. 15-Dec. 15 |
| Hurricanes: | June 1-Nov. 30 |
| Visa: | No |
| Vaccines: | No |
| Currency: | |
| Electricity: | 110 V, 50 Hz |
| Tipping: | 15-20% at restaurants |
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