Port Antonio, Jamaica, is Adventure Travel Hub
Eco-Cultural Tourism, Hiking, Rafting on Jamaica's Northeast Coast
Apr 1, 2009
The gracious city of Port Antonio sits on Jamaica’s northeast coast, framed by the Blue Mountains. This is the quiet side of Jamaica, attracting visitors interested in local culture, history, and especially, Jamaican ecotourism. Tourists won’t find lots of all inclusive hotels, high rises, or bacchanalian spring-break parties. Instead, they find smaller boutique hotels and villas in a setting of lush natural beauty, along with ecotourism opportunities that combine adventure travel with exposure to the local culture.
Adventure Tourism near Port Antonio – Hiking, Rafting, Climbing in Jamaica
As Jamaica's capital of eco-tourism, Port Antonio is a base for exploring the surrounding countryside, which includes the Blue Mountains and the Rio Grande Valley.
- Climb Blue Mountain. Jamaica’s highest peak, at 7,402 feet, is accessible via walking paths, but it's an arduous all-day climb. Bring a jacket, because the summit can be frosty and rainy. From the top, hikers can see all the way to Cuba on a clear day.
- Raft the Rio Grande Valley. Local rafts (also called “canoes”) are made of bamboo lashed together. Raft trips meander down the Rio Grande though lush jungle, which offers great bird-watching.
- Hike the Guava Trail. Running through the heart of the Blue Mountains, the Guava Trail is considered one of the most scenic hikes in Jamaica. The trail passes waterfalls, and local guides specialize in explaining local flora and fauna, including the traditional uses of indigenous plants.
Eco-Cultural Tourism in and near Jamaica’s Port Antonio
Eco-cultural tourism combines nature with nurture, giving tourists the chance to explore both the environment and the culture.
- Hike to Nanny Town. Nanny Town is the remote, original hideout of the Winward Maroons, runaway slaves who eluded capture by living deep in the mountains. NannyTown is named after an 18th-century freedom fighter; it's one of several rebel towns hidden in the Blue Mountains. Nanny led and organized more than 800 Maroons, who managed to elude capture and were finally granted independence in 1793.
- Visit Mooretown. The current home of the Winward Maroons is recognized within Jamaica as an independent state. Visitors can stop at Nanny’s grave and meet the current leader of the Maroons before continuing their hike along the Bird River to Nanny Falls.
- Consult with an herbalist. Maroon herbalists offer herbal remedy consultations, as well as natural weekend retreats in the Blue Mountains.
- Tour a Blue Mountain Coffee Plantation. Coffee grown on the lower slopes of the Blue Mountains is exported all over the world.
A number of companies offer tours into the mountains. A good starting place is the Portland Ecotourism Art Community Endeavor (PEACE), which is concerned with combining eco and cultural tourism initiatives in the Port Antonio area.
Port Antonio has plenty of beaches and water sports activities to enjoy, and in fact, many visitors spend a full vacation there never leaving the beaches, their villas, and the town. But Port Antonio is perhaps the best place in Jamaica to combine traditional snorkeling, diving, and beach-sitting with forays into the interior to get a feel for the island's historic and cultural roots and its lush and so-far still pristine tropical mountain environment.
More information on Jamaican destinations
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