Title: Port Antonio
City:
Port Antonio
History:
Port Antonio is today’s grown-up playground for mature free spirits. The old seaside town has long been a favourite resort for the rich and famous who, attracted to the seclusion, sophistication and serenity of the place, built elegant villas in the surrounding areas. Port Antonio is one of the most accessible towns in Jamaica. Within the town itself, few places are out of walking or bicycling distance. From end-to-end, graceful old buildings with Jamaican gingerbread verandas and elabourate fretwork transoms evoke illusions of grandeur from a time when the banana trade was at its zenith, and movie stars mingled effortlessly with the local elite.
Local Flavor:
Starting at the market, where visitors are encouraged to support local craft vendors, a short walk through the town is a most interesting and revealing trip. Do stop at the Demontevin Lodge, the Portland Parish Court House, the ornate and amusing Village of St George shopping centre, and the old Fort George (now Titchfield High School). A short boat ride away is Navy Island, a tiny cay in the middle of the Harbour with a beautiful golden-sand beach and its own tropical rain forest. On the hill just behind the town are some sights worth seeing. The Portland parish church with its brick entrance tower and tall arched windows is an impressive structure, while the vistas from the Bonnie View Hotel are sure to take your breath away. A few kilometers east of the town, the lavish villas, hotels and private homes of the village of San San are tucked sensuously away within lush emerald forests. Here the world-famous Frenchman’s Cove Beach and San San Beach, together a once highly exclusive enclave of royalty and the very wealthy, are now open (for a small fee) to all connoisseurs of the idyllic life and tropical splendour.
Famous For:
Rafting on the Rio Grande is the ultimate vacation treat. The practice began in the early 20th century when flamboyant celebrity Errol Flynn noticed banana farmers from the interior highlands strapping the much valued fruits to bamboo rafts and floating them down the river to the wharf at Port Antonio. Since then, privileged tourists have followed suit, becoming part of what is certainly one of the most magical experiences available anywhere in the world. The trip from the town of Berrydale in the hills to Rafter’s Rest on the coast at times takes two and a half hours, a slow idyllic meander through rain forests and farmland on a thirty-foot raft steered expertly by a local “captain”. Along the way, stop for a cool dip, enjoy a cold beverage or stop to chat with singing washerwomen and giggling children. There’s always a pleasant surprise along the way, so do indulge your senses in an afternoon of luxury, and soak up the natural tropical beauty.
Don't Miss:
The Blue Lagoon, called “Blue Hole” by residents, is a small, almost landlocked cove, long reputed to be bottomless. Myriad shades of blue are surrounded by lush foliage, kept green by hundreds of tiny, underground mineral springs. The attraction is certainly one of the most scenic spots in Jamaica, as well as one of the most romantic places to enjoy a gourmet meal. Visitors are permitted to swim in the lagoon, and it is quite safe, despite the fanciful fables spun by locals about marine monsters lurking in its depths!
Say Hello To:
Port Antonio is filled with interesting characters and colourful personalities, all of whom would be delighted to chat for a while about anything! The names are too many to list, but some that come to mind at once include Marguerite Guaron, acclaimed journalist, community activist and “Porti” resident – a good person to touch base with. She knows many, many people in the area, and is familiar with the day-to-day happenings around town. Sista P, a Rastafarian woman, and Barbara and Shireen at Mockingbird Hill Hotel also have the “in” on Port Antonio, and can put you in touch with tour guides for the surrounding areas.
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