Winnifred beach
Immerse yourself in the authentic Jamaican atmosphere and rest on one of the most beautiful beaches in Portland County, Winnifred Beach, located between the Blue Lagoon and Boston Bay, near the county's main resort town, Port Antonio. The second name is Fairy Hill Beach, this beach was given for its proximity to the town of the same name. Winnifred Beach, aka Fairy Hill Beach, is owned by local community and maintained by donations from visitors, being almost the only free beach available to the public on the east coast of Jamaica.
Photos
Beach description
Winnifred Beach is a wide beach with beautiful sea views, soft white sand and trees growing almost to the water, creating natural shade. It is very popular with Jamaicans who come here with their families. It is often noisy and crowded, reggae sounds everywhere, so visitors looking for privacy and peace, it is better to choose another place.
Gentle approach to the sea with a gradual descent to the depths and transparent azure water with soft waves dispose to swim and dive with a tube and a mask. The bottom is rocky, sometimes covered with algae, on the coast except for sandy areas, there are places with coral chips. The sea is mostly calm, without large waves, as the bay is deep and on one side is protected by a coral reef.
Next to the beach there is a freshwater river, which is usually used for dives after swimming in the sea. There are no umbrellas, sunbeds and diving equipment to rent on the beach, so it is better to take everything you need for your beach vacation with you.
Winnifred Beach from Port Antonio is best reached by taxi or rented car - the journey will take about 20 minutes. Those arriving by taxi will still have to walk from the motorway to the beach for about 15 minutes, going down the hillside to its foot. Visitors arriving by car can leave it in the parking lot near the beach. Despite that entrance to the Winnifred Beach is free, you should be ready that you can be asked by local staff for donations to develop the infrastructure of the beach. By the way, the section of the road which directly leads to the Winnifred Beach has been reconstructed just for such donations.
When is the best time to go?
In Jamaica, the temperature is kept in the range of 20-30 degrees year-round. Rains take place in May-June and September-November. It is best to come from December to March: it is very warm at this time, and the rains will not bother you.
Video: Beach Winnifred
Infrastructure
It is tricky with usual beach amenities at Winnifred Beach. There are few toilets and no showers, and the area is cleaned quite irregularly.
But there are advantages to Winnifred Beach, for example, those who want to eat to do not need to go anywhere else. There is a bar and an open-air restaurant offering homemade drinks and local cuisine. There also several hut kiosks on the beach with unobtrusive friendly sellers selling fruits and other food and souvenirs. For those who would like to try more gourmet cuisine, restaurants within 30 km of the beach can be visited. Of the available attractions for visitors, Winnifred Beach has:
- football court;
- arranged horseback riding;
- boat tours to Monkey Island, Blue Lagoon and mineral baths.
If you need to stay overnight, there are several small hotels and guesthouses near Winnifred Beach. The nearest hotel, located just 2.5 miles from the beach, is Jamaica Palace Hotel that has about 80 rooms in its reserve.
Weather in Winnifred
Best hotels of Winnifred
All hotels of WinnifredUseful information
Despite the fact that Winnifred Beach is not a tourist beach with an undeveloped infrastructure, all who have been here celebrate the beauty of nature, the hospitality of local residents, delicious and affordable cuisine. Every year, turtles lay eggs on the Winnifred coast. If you stay overnight at the beach during this period, you will be able to observe this phenomenon.
By staying at a hotel near Winnifred Beach, tourists have the opportunity to make
raft tour of Rio Grande and visit several regional attractions:
- the lighthouse in Port Antonio;
- the Athenry Gardens cave;
- Blue Mountains National Park.
Winnifred Beach is a picturesque beach offering a relaxed Jamaican atmosphere. Its visited to recommended to all those going to Port Antonio.