Frenchman's Cove Resort occupies a historic Portland estate above the famous Frenchman's Cove beach, where a fresh-water river meets the Caribbean. Accommodation is in a collection of private cottages with direct access to the beach, and there is a beach restaurant on the sand. The cove itself is one of the most photographed beaches in Jamaica and was a fashionable 1950s jet-set destination in its heyday.
Frenchman's Cove is a small crescent beach in Portland parish on Jamaica's north-east coast, considered one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean. The unique feature: a freshwater river (the Cove River) flows out of the rainforest directly into the saltwater at the beach, creating a brackish pool where you can swim in both fresh and salt water at once.
What to do
Swim in the cove or the freshwater river, walk the rope swing, sunbathe on the protected sand, eat at the beach restaurant. The Frenchman's Cove Resort owns the property; day visitors pay a small entrance fee that includes loungers.
Practical info
About 5 miles east of Port Antonio on the north-east coast. Day entry fee for non-guests. Open daily. About 2 hours from Ocho Rios by car.
About hotels in Jamaica
Jamaica invented the all-inclusive resort. Sandals, Couples, and Beaches all originated here, and you'll find their flagship properties from Negril to Ocho Rios. For boutique luxury, choose Round Hill, Half Moon, Jamaica Inn, Goldeneye, Rockhouse, The Caves, or Strawberry Hill in the Blue Mountains. Treasure Beach's Jakes is the south coast soul. Kingston business travellers head to The Spanish Court, Pegasus, or AC Marriott. From $80-a-night guesthouses to $5,000-a-night villas, every budget fits Jamaica.