Port Antonio

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Port Antonio is the capital of the parish of Portland on the northeastern coast of Jamaica, about 100 km from Kingston. It had a population 12,285 in 1982 and 13,246 in 1991.

It is the third largest port of the island, famous for being a shipping point for bananas and coconuts, as well as being one of its most important tourist attractions, tourism being a major contributor to the town’s economy.

Up to the 1880s, Port Antonio was a sleepy coastal town, when Lorenzo Dow Baker started the banana trade in Jamaica and he successively promoted Port Antonio like one of the most amazing destinations for wealthy American travelers. “Porty” became a “boom town”, The banana trade, and the tourists who came in the banana boats, was once so large that at one time, it is claimed, weekly sailing from Port Antonio were greater than weekly sailing from the great English port of Liverpool.

The island was soon to be glamorized by Hollywood, as it became the model of paradise for the silver screen in the 1940’s and 50’s. This was endorsed by the arrival of world-famous movie star Errol Flynn who arrived in Port Antonio in 1946 when his yacht “Zacca” washed ashore in bad weather.

Members of Royal families, movie stars, great musicians and well known politicians that have visited Port Antonio are countless.

It is no wonder that Hollywood selected the Port Antonio area to shoot films such as "Club Paradise" and "Cocktail". Over the years Port Antonio has become an elegant vacation spot for Stars such as Randolph Hearst, Ginger Rogers, Bette Davis, Brooke Shields, Tom Cruise, Eddie Murphy, Denzel Washington, Linda Evans and the list goes on.

There are quite a few sites to see in this area. One of them is the magnificent Blue Lagoon. This turquoise lagoon owes its color to its 200 ft depth. You might also take a slow raft ride down the Rio Grande River or climb the Reich Falls

It is also known as the birthplace of billionaire Michael Lee-Chin, reggae musician Junior Murvin, abolitionist John Brown Russwurm, and footballer Omar Brissett.