Blue Lagoon & Frenchman's Cove tour: Swim & kayak

Blue Lagoon's turquoise cove and a kayak paddle to where Cocktail was filmed

A full-day tour from Port Antonio takes you to three stops: Blue Lagoon for swimming and optional kayaking in a cove ringed by forested cliffs; Frenchman's Cove, one of Jamaica's most secluded beaches, for a final swim and meal; and Boston Beach for jerk chicken and pork lunch. Private transportation, entry fees, water and snacks are included. The day runs 14 hours with hotel pickup.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Portland's coast and beaches

• Stop for lunch at Boston Beach
• Swim and kayak at Blue Lagoon
• Visit Monkey Island
• Relax and swim at Frenchman’s Cove
• Enjoy local meals and drinks on beach

The Experience

Port Antonio's Portland parish sits apart from Jamaica's crowded tourist zones, and this tour moves through its quieter coastline in a single arc. You start at Blue Lagoon, where a short trek down leads to a large cove fed by fresh water springs that pour from rocks into 180 feet of turquoise water. The lagoon opens to the Caribbean, and if you want to paddle instead of swim, you can rent a kayak and move out past the glitzy seafront villas toward Cocktail Beach (named for the Tom Cruise film shot there), then circle back past Monkey Island before returning to the cove.

Lunch happens at Boston Beach, where jerk chicken and pork are the local standard. After eating, the route takes you to Frenchman's Cove, a secluded beach where a fresh water stream flows through the property and into the sea. This is where the day slows down: you swim, rest in the tropical forest setting, and order drinks and meals from the beach bar and grill. The 14-hour commitment means an early start and a late finish, but it also means you see three distinct stretches of Portland's coastline without rushing between them.

Private transportation moves you through the day in an air-conditioned vehicle, and the driver handles the route. Entry fees to each site, bottled water and snacks are built into the price. Hotel pickup is included, so you do not arrange your own way to the first stop.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup.
• entry fees to Blue Lagoon, Frenchman's Cove and Boston Beach.
• lunch of jerk chicken or pork at Boston Beach.
• bottled water and snacks throughout the day.
• optional kayak rental at Blue Lagoon (at your own cost).

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Exotic Excursion

Is this one for you?The 14-hour day means an early start and a late return, which rules out a second activity but gives you time to swim, eat and rest at each of the three stops without feeling rushed. Book this if you want to see Portland's quieter beaches in one outing and do not have other plans for the rest of the day.

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Top questions

What is Blue Lagoon like when you get there?

Blue Lagoon is a large cove surrounded by forested cliffs, fed by fresh water springs flowing from rocks. The water is turquoise and 180 feet deep. You can swim in it, or rent a kayak and paddle out toward the Caribbean and the nearby Cocktail Beach.

Can I kayak at Blue Lagoon, or is it just swimming?

Kayaking is optional and available for rent at Blue Lagoon. If you choose to paddle, you pass the seafront villas on the way to Cocktail Beach, then circle back past Monkey Island before returning to the cove.

Where do I eat lunch on this tour?

Lunch is at Boston Beach, which is known for jerk chicken and pork. It is a brief stop on the route between Blue Lagoon and Frenchman's Cove.

What happens at Frenchman's Cove?

Frenchman's Cove is a secluded beach with a fresh water stream running through it into the sea. You swim, relax, and order food and drinks from the beach bar and grill. This is the final stop and where the day winds down.

What time does the tour start and end?

The tour runs 14 hours from hotel pickup. The exact start time depends on your hotel location and the operator's schedule. Confirm the pickup window when you book.