Portsmouth
The island's second town on Prince Rupert Bay, a yacht anchorage beside the Indian River.
Saved in this browser only - no account, nothing sent anywhere. See your map
Portsmouth sits on Prince Rupert Bay in the northwest, a wide sheltered anchorage that was once proposed as the island's capital before disease in the swamps behind it settled the argument for Roseau. It is now the second town, with a working waterfront, a medical university that shapes much of the local economy, and a yacht services association that organises boat tours and moorings. The Indian River and Cabrits are both on its doorstep.
What you actually see
- Prince Rupert Bay - the wide sheltered anchorage the town is built on.
- The waterfront - the working shore with fishing boats and yacht moorings.
- The boat services - the local association running tours and moorings.
- The position - Cabrits north and the Indian River immediately south.
When to go
December to April is the dry season and the yachting months. Hurricane season runs June to November. The town is quiet outside the sailing season.
Honest expectations
The town itself is workaday with limited sights; it is a base rather than a destination. Facilities close early. Hurricane damage from 2017 is still visible in places.
Nearby
Cabrits National Park is north, and the Indian River is south.
What to pack for Portsmouth
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.