If you are looking for a breathtaking beach to relax on while in Jamaica, look no further than Puerto Seco Beach. This secluded beach is located in Discovery Bay and offers stunning views of the Caribbean Sea. You can expect crystal-clear water, soft white sand, and plenty of palm trees.
Cost For Entry
It costs Jm$1000 for children from 5 to 11 years and Jm$2000 for persons over 12 years to enter Puerto Seco Beach.
What to do at Puerto Seco Beach
There are many activities at Puerto Seco Beach; you can swim in the pool, play at the floating water park, go snorkeling, swim with dolphins, get a spa treatment, or just lounge in a private cabana.
Dining
You are not allowed to take outside food on the property, so you will have to purchase from thier restaurant. They have several Jamaican foods, such as rice and peace, jerk chicken and pork festival, and more. If you are travel with a group, you can use their catering service however you will have to book them in advance.
They serve liquor on the property if you want to chill, drink, and watch the waves. There are two bars; one does regular beverages, while the other upstairs sells premium liquor. The view from upstairs is fantastic.
Best time to go
The best time to go to Puerto Seco beach depends on what you want to experience. If you want a relaxing day with a few people, go on a non-cruise ship day and avoid the weekend—cruise ships usually dock at Ocho Rios on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.
The holiday weekends are hectic period because a lot of locals are out.
The afternoon is an excellent time to go. Most tours have already felt in late afternoons from four to five, and many people are on their way.
Puerto Seco opens at 8:30 am and closes at 5 pm, so keep that in mind when planning your visit.
Attractions nearby
Runaway Bay Golf Club
Dolphin Cove Jamaica
Mystic Mountain Jamaica
All of these attractions are within a short driving distance from Puerto Seco Beach, so you won’t have to go far to find something fun to do.
Resort nearby
There are several resorts close to Puerto Seco beach. It is about thirty minutes from Ocho Rios town, which has several resorts. Bahia Principe, Frankly D Rose resorts, and Jewels Paradise Cove are the nearest. Here are some more family resorts in Ocho Rios.
How Far is Puerto Seco Beach
Puerto Seco Beach is less than 30 minutes from Ocho Rios Town, 1 1/2 hours from Kingston, 1 hour from Montego Bay, and 2 hours from Negril.
Who Owns Puerto Seco Beach
Guardsman Hospitality, a Guardsman Group of Companies subsidiary, owns and operates Puerto Seco Beach. They started development in 2016 to turn it into a one-of-a-kind attraction on the island. Other attractions in thier group are Konko Falls in Saint Anns and the Hope Zoo in Kingston.
The History
The written history of Puerto Seco starts with Christoper Columbus; it was the first port he saw when he landed in jamaica. From there, he found other rivers in Saint Ann.
I dont know what the indigenous people called it before the invasion. Since Green Gratto Caves is nearby and an important place to the Tainos, Puerto Seco might have also been since fishing was vital to them.
Kaiser bauxite company owned PuertoSeco up to 2015; it was a public access beach.
Surrounded by much controversy Guardsman Hospitality took ownership and started development in 2016. Puerto Seco opened to the public in 2017.
My Experience at Puerto Seco Beach
The attendant greeted our group, and those who wanted to go the obstacle course signed the waiver form, and we were on our way.
Security checks our bags for food because you cannot take food on the property. I thought this was a bit extreme, but I understand.
Puerto Secco’s lawn and garden are impressive, comparable to a five resort on the island. The manicured grounds and the tall palm trees make the perfect backdrop for a romantic movie.
Several people stop to take the perfect picture for social media.
Everything was well laid out; the place was open and not crammed. The bars and restaurant had adequate seating to cater to large groups.
There were enough beach chairs and umbrellas; it seemed as if there was one for everybody.
The bathrooms were spacious and clean, and so too the showers outside.
They provide free lockers, but we had to pay a $500 deposit which we got back when we returned the keys.
The beach
The beach is spacious despite so many umbrellas and chairs. It is safe for nonswimmers once they don’t pass the buoy. I enjoyed walking in the water because it did feel muddy or ruff as I had experienced at other beaches. They put great effort into maintaining the beach.
The Pool
We had a great time at the pool, thats where we spent a significant amount of time. But what kept us there was the music. The DJ was good; he kept patrons at the pool moving despite the age difference. Everyone had a grand time, even the most conservative persons among us.
The Water Park
After waiting for almost an hour in line standing in the midday sun, we finally got an opportunity to experience the water. With lifevest on, we swam about 50 meters out to the waterpark.
Not being a strong swimmer was a challenge, so I wouldn’t recommend it to people who cannot swim.
I didn’t expect the obstacle course to be so much fun would have done it multiple times if I could. However, completing parts of the course takes some fitness and strength.
On our visit, they were understaffed, so I was concerned about the safety of patrons using the water park. Even though they had lifevest, it could be challenging for staff if multiple patrons got into difficulties because there were only two of the twenty-plus people.
Apart from the swimming pool, the water park is where we had the most fun.
Conclusion
Puerto Seco beach is one of the best beaches on the island, its facilities are of the best standard, and the entry price is reasonable. However, they offer luxury services at a higher price.
Their large pool, clean beach, and spacious environment make it perfect for families or groups thats want to spend some time having fun.
Here is a link to book this attraction.