Frenchman's Cove

Frenchman's Cove is small, perhaps a hundred metres of pale sand between two wooded headlands, and its particular feature is the river: a cold, clear freshwater stream comes out of the forest, runs across the back of the beach in a shallow channel and empties into the sea, so you can swim from warm salt into cold fresh water in a few strokes. The cove belongs to a hotel estate and entry is charged, which keeps it quiet and tidy. Behind it the grounds run up into gardens and forest. It has been used as a film location often enough that the beach is familiar to people who have never been to Jamaica.

What you actually see

• The river mouth - cold fresh water meeting warm sea on the sand.
• The cove - a small crescent between two wooded headlands.
• The estate grounds - gardens and forest behind the beach.
• The reef - snorkelling off the rocks at either end.

When to go

December to April is drier and the sea calmest. Weekdays are quiet; weekends bring local families. The beach is small enough that a few dozen people fill it. It closes at a set hour in the late afternoon.

Honest expectations

It is genuinely small and can feel crowded quickly. Entry is charged and the price has risen steadily. The river is cold enough to be a shock. Facilities are limited and food service is basic for the price. The sea can be rough on this coast when a swell is running.

Nearby

The Blue Lagoon is five minutes east; Port Antonio is ten minutes west.