Once a banana port, Port Antonio became a tourist destination in the 1940s after actor Errol Flynn chose it as a vacation spot and began hosting parties that were attended by Hollywood celebrities. The easternmost of the north coast resort areas, the small town of Port Antonio has a sleepier feel than Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, but it still has all the prerequisites for a vacation spot: beaches, deep-sea fishing and a lovely mountain setting. Thanks to its lush vegetation fed by copious rainfall, it is more of an ecotourism destination than other areas of Jamaica. Secluded in the far northeastern corner of the island, Port Antonio lacks large-scale resorts. Its laid-back atmosphere will probably please nature enthusiasts and those who are put off by the commercialization of some of the north coast's other hot spots.
Sights—Blue Lagoon at Fairy Hill, a beautiful sinkhole filled with cool jade-colored waters; the Rio Grande Valley; the historic gingerbread homes of the Titchfield Peninsula; Long Bay.
Memorable Meals—DeMontevin Lodge Restaurant for wholesome local fare; the Blue Lagoon Restaurant, where jerked specialties can be washed down by oversized house cocktails; nouvelle cuisine at Mille Fleurs in the Hotel Mocking Bird Hill.
Late Night—The no-frills yet colorful and earthy Roof Club, where Hollywood stars have been known to get down and dirty; Shadows Lounge for laid-back soca sounds.
Walks—Along the Titchfield Peninsula to admire the gingerbread architecture of mid-19th-century houses.
Especially for Kids—A journey down the Rio Grande aboard a bamboo raft.
Port Antonio is compact and wraps around the twin-pocketed bays of West Harbour and East Harbour, divided by the Titchfield Peninsula (where the original settlement stood). Navy Island is located off the tip of the peninsula, and is reached by water taxi. The town center lies at the foot of the peninsula. Port Antonio is cusped by thickly forested hills, and many of the town's streets snake steeply uphill. The marina and mercantile Boundbrook Wharf line West Harbour, and polluted Fisherman's Beach lines the larger East Harbour. The main road is the A4. On the west side of Port Antonio, the A4 is known as West Palm Avenue, which becomes West Street in town; and in the east it is called Allan Avenue.
The Spanish founded Port Antonio in the 16th century, naming it Puerto Anton after the current governor's son. The British gained control of the island in 1660. Attacks by the Maroons, slaves freed by the Spanish who lived in the dense forests and mountains, limited development in the area. Eventually, a 1739 treaty between the Maroons and the British made way for sugarcane plantations and settlements.
Port Antonio's fortunes arrived with the development of the banana-export business in the 1870s, when large swaths of banana trees were planted locally. Port Antonio became Jamaica's leading port for the fruit, and it became known as "the banana capital of the world." Another boost to the local economy occurred when actor Errol Flynn's yacht washed ashore in bad weather. He fell in love with the area and bought property on Navy Island, just off the coast, where he entertained his Hollywood friends with lavish parties.
In the 1950s, the first deluxe hotel opened in the town and was quickly followed by others, and socialites vacationed in Port Antonio away from prying eyes. Port Antonio continues to be popular with Hollywood jet-setters, who are attracted by its natural beauty and tranquil, secluded surroundings. The Megayacht Marina lures yachters, and ecotourism promotions have increased interest in the area.
Port Antonio has more churches than any other parish in Jamaica.
Dragon Bay Beach Resort has been the setting for several movies, including Clara's Heart and The Blue Lagoon.
Port Antonio was Jamaica's first tourist resort.
Originally, rafts were used to transport bananas to the port from inland farms. Errol Flynn popularized rafting on the Rio Grande by having his guests compete on the river at night.
