Information

Reservations

  • To enquire about available dates for rental, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Or find us on AirBnB

Music & Vibes

For some laid back Reggae Classics, check out our YouTube playlist: LINK

Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica
(Jamaican for "keep Jamaica clean")

Belmont Villa is proud to support the Alligator Head Foundation (AHF), whose great work and efforts have led to the establishment of the East Portland Fish Sanctuary. The rental rate of Belmont Villa includes a US$10 per day donation to the AHF, which we match 100% for a total contribution of US$20 for each day Belmont Villa is rented. For more information, or if you are interested in supporting the AHF, go to www.alligatorheadfoundation.org

Thank you for your support in keeping Jamaica beautiful.

Getting there

  • Belmont is located on Alligator Head, overlooking San San Bay
  • San San Bay is approximately 15min east of Port Antonio in Portland Parish, Jamaica
  • Port Antonio is a 2.5 to 3 hour drive from Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport (KIN)
  • It takes approximately 4 hours from Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport (MBJ)
  • Both airports have several car rental agencies on site. Remember: road conditions are not always great (although they have vastly improved in recent years), traffic can be chaotic, and Jamaicans drive on the left side of the road.
  • We are happy to arrange for a driver upon request.

Getting around

  • Having a car is definitely useful to get around the area and we would recommend renting one.
  • However, it is possible to manage without. The property is a few minutes’ walk from the main road where one can hail down route taxis for a moderate fee (do agree on a fee before getting in though). It is also possible to walk to Frenchman’s Cove Beach and San San Beach (5-10min walk).
  • There is no public transportation.
  • We can arrange for a personal driver upon request.

What to bring

  • Sun screen and a hat: Jamaica is sunny and hot. Make sure you don’t get sun burned.
  • Umbrella: it rains very often in Portland, that’s why it is so green and lush. Showers rarely last for more than half an hour or so. Nevertheless, it’s good to keep an umbrella in the car.
  • Mosquito spray: thanks to the constant sea breeze, there are not a lot of mosquitos at Belmont, however, there are usually a few of these bloodthirsty creatures at night and it is best to use protection in the evenings and mosquito nets in the bedrooms.
  • Cash (see Money section below). There are ATMs at the airports and in Port Antonio.

Beaches

Frenchmans cove

  • Frenchman’s Cove, one of Jamaica’s most beautiful and idyllic beaches, private property / entry fee, 10min walk.
  • Winnifred Beach, popular beach where locals and tourists mingle, public beach, 15min drive.
  • Boston Beach, small but nice little beach next to the famous Boston Jerk Center pits, public beach, 10min drive.
  • San San Beach, beautiful setting with views on Monkey Island (same as from the property), private property / entry fee, 10min walk.
  • Long Bay Beach, long beach with white sands and enormous beautiful waves, but unfortunately full of trash, hence a bit of a turn-off, public beach, 20-30min drive.
  • Blue Hole / Blue Lagoon, brought to fame by the movie of the same name, starring Brooke Shields, mix of fresh water and sea water, somewhat run down private property / entry fee, 5min drive.

Things To Do

Belindas
Belinda’s Riverside Restaurant

  • Reach Falls: a lovely stretch of river with waterfalls and natural pools in a lush green forest. The main entrance has a guarded parking area and facilities. It is open Wed-Sun, 8:30am to 4:30pm, entry fee is US$10/person. If you go on a Mon or Tue, there are local guides (down by the main road) offering their “unofficial services”, which are actually well worth it (you don’t enter through the main entrance but instead hike up through the riverbed for about 30min until you reach the main fall). Incredibly beautiful. But don’t do it without a guide. They charge US$10/ person plus tip... or you can negotiate for a larger group. Reach Falls is located about 45 minutes east of Port Antonio, just past the town of Manchioneal. http://www.udcja.com/reach-falls
  • Rio Grande Rafting: don’t worry... this is not the white river rafting, adrenaline-filled activity that you might think of. In fact quite the opposite. A peaceful drifting down the river on 25-foot bamboo rafts, sipping a beer and enjoying the beautiful scenery, while your raft captain skillfully navigates the currents - very relaxing. The highlight of the trip is lunch at Belinda’s riverside restaurant - the best Jamaican food on the Island!!! We can help make a reservation or call 876-389-8826. The whole trip on the water takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, but adding lunch and getting on/off your raft adds another hour or two, so it is a great (half) day trip. The cost is US$ 90 per raft, which sits two. The watering site is about a 20 minutes drive uphill from Port Antonio, ask in town for directions. https://www.visitjamaica.com/listing/rafting-on-the-rio-grande/2633/
  • Scuba Diving: Jamaica is not the Maldives... and if that’s what you expect you will be disappointed. However, there are some nice dive sites along the coast and since the establishment of the East Portland Fish Sancturay the fish population has increased nicely. If you are lucky you can spot a turtle. But what makes a dive trip really worthwhile is the great crew at Lady G’Diver in Port Antonio. Steve, Jan and Lee Ann are fun folks and will take good care of you. http://www.ladygdiver.com/html/about.htm
  • Kayaks: ask our staff for the kayaks and snorkeling gear so you can explore San San Beach, Monkey Island and the Blue Lagoon on your own. Stay close to shore as it can get dangerous out where the waves break. Also, it is a good idea to wear water socks or sandals as there can be quite a lot of sea urchins during certain times of the year.

Supermarkets / groceries

  • Ramtulla’s Supermarket is situated on the left side of the main road as you drive from San San into Port Antonio. It stocks all major groceries and is open until midnight every day.
  • There are countless stalls by the roadside selling delicious fruits and vegetables at very modest prices.

Restaurants / food

  • Best food option: our own chef at Belmont. The chef service is included in the rental, no extra cost. You are welcome to buy the groceries yourself or we can do the shopping on your behalf. Here is a menu with suggested Belmont favorites, but feel free to request any other dish you like.
  • Geejam Hotel / Bush Bar: serves high quality local fusion dishes at international prices. The Jolly Boys, a local mento band formed in 1945, usually plays on Fridays.
  • Trident Hotel / Restaurant: beautiful hotel grounds and a restaurant with high quality fusion dishes at international prices. A jazz band often performs on Saturdays.
  • Devon House I-Scream: located inside the Errol Flynn Marina park of Port Antonio, serves delicious local flavors ice cream.
  • Piggy’s Jerk Center: arguably Port Antonio’s best jerk chicken (despite the name, Piggy doesn’t sell pork), located where the road forks in town.
  • Craft Village: located on the right side of the main road as you drive from San San into Port Antonio, this little craft village sells carvings and various souvenirs and has a bar and small restaurant.
  • Boston Jerk Center: world famous clutter of jerk pits and the epicenter of Jamaican jerk (chicken, pork, fish, lobster), overrated in our opinion, check carefully which pieces they put in your bag.
  • Juici’s: this local fast food chain serves everything from patties (beef, chicken, veggie, etc) to local favorites like oxtail, curried goat, fish and soups, but they often run out of things. Closed on Sundays. Located on the other side of Port Antonio, as you leave town towards Kingston (via St. Mary).
  • Juici’s / Tastee’s express patty stalls: both of these local fast food chains have small outlets in Port Antonio that sell fresh patties and coco bread

Money

  • There are several banks with ATMs in Port Antonio. Many (but not all) of them accept major debit and credit cards and disburse local currency (JMD). Scotiabank and First Caribbean tends to accept international cards.
  • Gas stations, supermarkets, hotels and the restaurants at Geejam and Trident accept credit cards.
  • Most other places require cash.

Emergencies

  • San San police station (off the main road): 993-3220/993-5312
  • Port Antonio police station: 993-7315
  • Portland Marine police: 715-4615
  • Port Antonio Hospital, Naylor’s Hill, Port Antonio, 715-5778 or 993-2646-8
  • Police emergency: 119
  • Ambulance: 110
  • Fire emergency: 110
  • Hurricane update: 116
  • Office of disaster preparedness & emergency management: http://www.odpem.org.jm/
  • US Embassy emergency assistance, Kingston: 1-(876) 702-6000 / http://kingston.usembassy.gov/emergency_contact.html