Port Antonio

Jamaican scenery is truly beautiful. I have now been to about nine of Jamaica’s thirteen parishes, and I haven’t yet found one with a flat horizon. There are mountains everywhere, often covered in lush green tropical forest, incised by precarious winding roads and dotted with houses perched on stilts like large birds. The coastline varies from the beautiful sandy beaches and coral reefs of Negril to the beautiful rocky cliffs of Portland or Lover’s Leap, plunging into deep blue Caribbean ocean.



Port Antonio on the north east coast has some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve seen anywhere in the world. The town is famed for its grand colonial architecture and harbours, separated by high peninsulas. Out of town, east along the coast, is particularly spectacular: Blue Lagoon (location of the eponymous 1980 movie which launched Brooke Shield’s career) is said to be bottomless, so deep is the teal water. It is an incredible spot: the green hills plunge into the Caribbean Sea with a slim line beach, the sand sticky and soft. To the south, a freshwater spring bubbles in, giving the currents of the water a confusing mix of cold fresh and warmer salt currents. We accessed the lagoon by bamboo raft; an experience uncannily similar to punting in Cambridge. That is to say, the bamboo pole reminded me of punting, but I guess apart from that, the experience was very different!



Then there is Frenchman’s Cove, possibly my favourite place in Jamaica. The reasonably large white sandy beach is protected by two large cliffs, which enter the sea like pincers on either side of the cove. The waves grow monstrous where the cove narrows. Steep jungle hills surround it, incised by a deep blue fresh water stream. It looks amazing, and I would recommend it to anyone!