San San Beach

San San is a small crescent of white sand in a sheltered bay east of Port Antonio, backed by hills and villas and with reef close in, which makes the snorkelling directly off the beach better than at most Jamaican beaches. Monkey Island sits a couple of hundred metres offshore and strong swimmers reach it. The beach has long been associated with the villa set that settled this stretch of Portland coast from the 1950s.

The main sights

• The cove - a sheltered crescent of white sand between headlands.
• The reef - coral close inshore, snorkelled directly from the beach.
• Monkey Island - a small islet a couple of hundred metres offshore.
• The hills - forested slopes rising directly behind the bay.

When to go

December to April is the drier season and the calmest for snorkelling. Hurricane season from June to November brings swell and murky water. Weekdays are much quieter.

Practical notes

Access is charged and arrangements have changed several times; the beach has been closed to the public in some periods. Facilities are limited. The swim to Monkey Island is further than it looks and there is boat traffic.

Nearby

Blue Lagoon is west towards Port Antonio, and Boston Bay is east.