Did You Know?
The first ackee tree in Jamaica was planted from a seed brought to the island by the captain of a slave ship in 1778. The fruit is not widely eaten but in Ghana the flowers are used to make a perfume and the seeds are used as a narcotic to catch fish. The seedling was taken to England by Captain Bligh and there the plant was given the botanical name, Blighia sapida. Its original name was ‘akye’ from Twi language of West Africa.
Tour Packages
Kingston and Port Royal Tour |
Kingston and Port Royal Tour
Enjoy a scenic ride from Ocho Rios to the nation's bustling capital, Kingston. Drive south through the dense tropical splendor of Fern Gully, home to more than 500 species of fern. Climb the winding roads to the hills of Mount Diablo and enjoy a panoramic view of the island's mountainous interior. Then journey down to Kingston, and visit the Bob Marley Museum, the University of West Indies, the Devon House - a grand 19th Century domestic Jamaican architecture and National Heritage site, and other area of attractions in this Financial Capital of the West Indies. Once known as the 'Wickedest City on Earth,' Port Royal on the island of Jamaica was one of the largest towns in the English colonies during the late 17th century. It was a haven for privateers and pirates, such as the famed Sir Henry Morgan, due to its excellent geographic location in the middle of the Caribbean. From Port Royal, these buccaneers preyed upon and plundered the heavily laden treasure fleets departing from the Spanish Main. Unfortunately, the glory of Port Royal was short-lived. On the morning of June 7th, 1692, a massive earthquake hit Jamaica. The tremors rocked the sandy peninsula on which the town was built, causing buildings to slide and disappear beneath the sea. An estimated 2000 Port Royalists were killed immediately in the disaster. Many more perished from injuries and disease in the following days. From 1981 to 1990, the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, in cooperation with the Nautical Archaeology Program at Texas A&M University and the Jamaica National Heritage Trust, began underwater archaeological investigations of the submerged portion of Port Royal. The following pages highlight what we have found so far. The last excavation season was in 1990 and no further excavations are planned. Port Royal Gallery                          |