Frenchman's Cove

If you ask me which is my favorite beach in Jamaica? I would answer Frenchman’s Cove for sure. Unfortunately, the road to get there is as long and difficult as any path from Kingston to the north coast, but this particular drive always seems longer than it actually is. Maybe it has something to do with our misadventure with flooded roads back in 2012 or the fact that it starts with a painful drive through Stony Hill. But once you have reached the heart of Port Antonio, Frenchman’s Cove, nothing else matters…you are now in paradise! This place is amazing, peaceful, breathtaking and certainly special. Why? Because of its remarkable scenery, an opening in a rock wall creates this private white sand beach settled at the outlet of a fresh-water stream. 

This makes the nice blue water refreshing and cooler but who cares…it is so hot in this country! Frenchman’s Cove Beach sometimes becomes a natural wave pool and everyone enjoys spotting the next big wave and screaming when it finally reaches them. A restaurant by the beach offers a great option for lunch, simple Jamaican food. We tried the resort last year because of Mother Nature and we did not like the rooms in the Great House but the Villas by the cliffs are really interesting to me. Maybe we will give this resort a second chance in the near future; it will give us the chance to enjoy the location more than usual and not have to drive back on those roads so soon. This beach is unbelievable; you must go if you have the opportunity!

Bamboo Blu, Ocho Rios

We found a new spot to enjoy a day at the beach! Bamboo Blu is an oceanfront restaurant in Ocho Rios, who also offers the beach experience. Lounge chairs are 5$ each and for a romantic setting they also rent cabana beds from 20 to 30$! Wi-Fi is complimentary. The restaurant has a good menu although some items are kind of overpriced. The staff is fun and the service is great. The beach is remarkable. The blue water and the warm breeze makes you appreciate this relaxing time. I would definitely like to stay one evening just for the bonfire! But I know we will go back! To get there, turn right next to the RIU all inclusive where you have to go through the security gate of Mammee Bay Estate, a little bit further on your right you’ll find the gate of Bamboo Blu. Open every day from 10 to 10. I would rate this restaurant 7 out of 10. 

Lime Cay

Lime Cay is THE beach you need to go to when you are in Kingston. It is located on a small island not so far from Port Royal. To get to this beach, you have to drive passed the Norman-Manley International Airport, and turn right just before the Morgan’s Harbour Hotel, which leads you to the parking lot. The place looks sketchy but you don’t need to worry, you really are at the right place. You pay 1000$ JAM (10$US) at the small bar down at the marina, for your round-trip boat ride to get to Lime Cay island.

When they decide to leave (no regular schedule, Island time ;) ) they will help you get into a small or medium boat. The 15-20 minutes boat ride is sometimes very bumpy and you cannot wait to get there…. hopefully alive. Haha but seriously, as soon as you are on the beach, you know it was worth it. You can agree with your ‘’captain’’ on a time for him to pick you up. You can also take their phone number, but they are usually punctual and reliable.

Lime Cay is the only place near Kingston where the water is so beautiful and clear. I recommend bringing water shoes since there are sea urchins on some rocks and Erik can tell you that…it hurts when you step on one. You also need to bring your own lunch and drinks since there is no restaurant anymore. Phone service and 3G Internet is available on the island, YES! Lime Cay is busier on Sundays and feels like a party island but you can also have the place to yourself on weekdays! For a day at the beach, Lime Cay is the nicest option in the area.

The misadventure in Port Antonio with our first visitors.

A few weeks after the Hurricane Sandy passage in Jamaica, we had our first visitors staying with us, my parents!!! I was so excited, I planned every day of their stay so they would discover and enjoy Jamaica as much as possible! Unfortunately, the first weekend was a total wreck. I wanted to take them to Port Antonio, at the amazing Frenchman’s Cove Beach.

On our road trip, we made a rest-stop activity at the Somerset Falls were Erik and I have been in the past and enjoyed the experience. The place was still out of power since Sandy and was empty except for staff.  The enormous amount of rain that the island had in the past weeks made the water current so strong it was really hard for us to swim to the hidden falls. The employees helped us and showed us a good time by entertaining us with their jumps into the water and all.

After this activity, we hit the road and later we arrived at the Frenchman’s Cove Beach. At the gate, the security guard told us the beach was reserved for a private event. Damn it. Ok…so we went at another beach nearby, San San Beach. This one was almost deserted. The weather started to be cloudy and we soon heard the thunder from a storm catching us. We still had the chance to swim a little while it was raining and a staff member even got us some food at another restaurant nearby that we ate… in the car….haha.

Ok so it was not a perfect day but I was still positive the weekend could be better. It was not.

When we left Port Antonio, the rain was getting a lot stronger and roads started to flood. At some point, we could not go through the water anymore so we tried another road to get back in Kingston. That one was closed as well. After three or four hours of trying to get home, we were obligated to go back at the Frenchman’s Cove were we know they have a hotel on site.  I was now crying and panicking about the weekend being ruined for my parents but they kept trying to tell me we were all okay and it made an exciting adventure to start their visit. Haha…so we stayed at the Frenchman’s Cove resort. Small but charming. 

Rooms were not what we were used to but it was still more than okay for the circumstances. We had fast food by the beach in the evening and some small complimentary continental breakfast in the morning. When we were ready to leave, the weather was still uncertain and rain started again on our road back home. It was even worse than the day before. Here is a video of what we had to go through. 

Erik did an amazing job and we got through every flooded street this time. Later on the way back, I saw the sky getting clearer… and the SUN!!!!! My mom and I started to clap and screamed of joy, it was a great moment for us hahaha. We did make it home that day and we were more than happy to relax. The rest of their stay was wonderful, filled with great weather and great adventures but we will always remember this one and now we can actually laugh about it . :)