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Meridiela.

Navy Island

A forested island in Port Antonio harbour, once owned by Errol Flynn, closed and reopened repeatedly since.

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Typeisland
WherePortland
Nearest cityPort Antonio
Best seasonDecember to April
Time to allowHalf a day
Getting thereA short boat ride from Port Antonio's Errol Flynn Marina
EntryBoat hire charged; access depends on current arrangements

Navy Island sits in Port Antonio harbour, about sixty acres of forest and small beaches, used as a British naval careening station in the eighteenth century, which is where the name comes from. Errol Flynn bought it in the 1940s after his yacht took shelter in the harbour, and the island has been associated with him ever since. Development plans have come and gone for decades and the island has been open, closed and semi-abandoned in turn.

What you actually see

  • The forested interior - about sixty acres of woodland and paths.
  • The beaches - small coves on the sheltered side of the island.
  • The harbour view - Port Antonio and the Blue Mountains from the water.
  • The naval history - the eighteenth-century careening station the name comes from.

When to go

December to April is the drier season and the calmest for the crossing. Access depends entirely on current arrangements and should be checked in Port Antonio. Hurricane season brings closures.

Honest expectations

Access has been on and off for years and there may be no way across at any given time. There are no facilities on the island. Boat prices should be agreed before setting out.

Nearby

Port Antonio is across the harbour, and Folly Ruins are east.

What to pack for Navy Island

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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