Portland

Picture lush green foliage, beautiful scenery, sleepy charm, a fascinating coastline of bays, estuaries and fine beaches ….this is Portland, the parish of Jamaica that statistics confirm, experiences the highest rainfall in the island.  Its terrain is interestingly varied as the parish extends from the highest peaks of the Blue Mountains (over 7,000 ft above sea-level) down to the northern coast of the island. Fourteen caves, seventeen rivers, romantic coves and several sparkling waterfalls offer a veritable feast of natural attractions that throughout the years, although they have been a source of income, their potential as income earners for the parish has still not yet been fully maximized.

Portland’s complex landforms make for adventure and amazingly fascinating locations for movies. Since the early 1950s more than 782 film or screen productions have been shot here in Portland.  Two of the most popular movies are Walt Disney’s “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” and Vista Productions “The Harder They Come.”  Scenes from the movie “Cocktail” starring Tom Cruise were shot at the bar on the beach at the Dragon Bay Resort property: while Rihanna, as recently as 2011 filmed the music video for her song “Man Down” in various locations throughout the parish.

Portland still offers a playground for the wealthy. In its heyday the swashbuckling American movie star, Errol Flynn is said to have romped through as much adventure off-camera as his characters did in his movies.  He fell in love with Portland, purchased real estate and made Portland his home on a huge estate of several thousand acres where his wife, Patrice Wymore Flynn, a film star and an award winning actress in her own right, still resides.  Today wealthy property owners vacation at their homes near the world-famous, Blue Lagoon, one of the legendary beauty spots in the world.  Believed to be the crater of an extinct volcano, it is also said to be bottomless.  The lagoon is an almost landlocked cove, the depth of which (over 170 ft) gives rise to mysterious tales of exotic sea monsters! In reality, the Blue Lagoon, made famous by a Brooke Shields movie several years ago, is an enchanting spot with deep blue water fed by fresh-water mineral springs.

Portland is said to be the most beautiful parish in Jamaica. The breathtaking view from the old Bonnie View Hotel in the capital town of Port Antonio, looking north to the crystal clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean and encompassing the picturesque Navy Island and the beautifully protected twin harbors would tend to confirm this opinion. Should you visit this gem of a vacation destination it’s appealing to travel by raft down the flowing Rio Grande before travelling by car to Boston on the other side of Port Antonio for its famous food – Boston Jerk Pork. Many a visitor has requested the secret recipe, but the usual response is, “So sorry, it’s not for sale!” Portland’s Boston Jerk Centre has expanded over the years and their jerked foods now include chicken, fish and lobster in addition to their signature jerked pork.  Spicy! Spicy! Spicy Foods!

Driving cars in Jamaica is for the brave and courageous and sometimes visitors who arrange car rentals, after a day or so on the road, avoiding our pot holes and the stray animals who wander absentmindedly across their path, decide to forget about the driving and simply relax with their family on one of the great beaches that are available – a much healthier pastime than driving a car!

A beautiful marina, named after Errol Flynn, has in recent years been constructed on Port Antonio’s waterfront. This accommodates berthing of yachts as well as being deep enough to facilitate cruise ships. In days of old, banana boats were a constant sight as Portland’s very rich soil made this parish a leading producer of bananas for export, as well as coconuts, breadfruit, coffee, mangoes and ackee.  This harbor has for over four decades been the home base of a special sport, deep-sea fishing, at the Annual Port Antonio International Marlin Tournament. The prized Atlantic Blue Marlin is a fish that migrates through the Caribbean in September and October according to the moon’s phases and anglers from all over the world strive to catch the biggest marlin at this thrilling tournament. Marlins can grow up to an impressive 16ft. in length.  Of course when the catch is in, as families relax on their boats, recipes are shared for preparation of this delicacy!

Portland, with its capital town of Port Antonio -  an exciting town of yesteryear, a hotspot for the rich and famous who revelled in this jewel of luxury small hotels destination, is now known around the world as a Jamaican getaway for all types of travellers, especially luxury travellers seeking authentic Jamaican hospitality.

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