Boston Bay, Port Antonio
The verdict
- Best for: Travellers who want flavour and grit over a sunlounger, surfers, and anyone who loves jerk at its source.
- Best spot: A plate from the busiest stall at the Boston Jerk Centre, then the sheltered corner of the cove for a swim.
- Know this: There is no lifeguard and the surf is lively, so judge the swell and keep small children to the calmer days.
Published 4 April 2026. Last reviewed 16 May 2026
Boston Bay is two Jamaican legends in one small cove. Above the sand sits the Boston Jerk Centre, the cluster of smoky stalls widely held to be the birthplace of jerk, where pimento wood fires and scotch bonnet heat have flavoured pork and chicken for generations. Below, the bay catches the most reliable surf on the island, a rarity in calm watered Jamaica, drawing local surfers and a relaxed board culture. It is small, a little rough at the edges and full of character, the opposite of a manicured resort beach.
The honest framing is that it is a working local spot, not a polished one. The cove is compact and the sand can be busy, a modest beach or parking fee is sometimes asked and is to be confirmed, and the jerk stalls vary in quality and pricing, with some leaning touristy, so follow the busy ones and agree a price before you order. The surf that makes the bay special also makes it wavier than most Jamaican beaches, there is no lifeguard, and on a big swell it is for confident swimmers and surfers rather than small children paddling.
It suits travellers who want flavour and a bit of grit over a sunlounger, surfers chasing Jamaica's best waves, and anyone who wants to eat jerk where the tradition was born. Board and gear hire and lessons are available by the sand. Pair it with the free, family friendly Winnifred Beach and the storybook Frenchman's Cove close by for a full Portland day that swings from surf and smoke to calm coves and clear rivers.
Clubs on this beach
Boston Bay is about jerk and surf rather than a beach club, with stalls and board hire by the sand. See our Jamaica beach clubs directory for day beds.
Boston Jerk Centre
Above the sand, the Boston Jerk Centre is a cluster of rustic stalls cooking jerk pork and chicken over pimento wood, the dish's spiritual home rather than a club. Quality and pricing vary stall to stall and are to be confirmed, so follow the busy ones and agree a price before ordering. It is a place to eat and soak up the scene, not to hire a lounger.
Surf hire on the sand
By the cove you can hire surfboards and gear and arrange lessons, since Boston is the island's most reliable surf spot, along with basic restrooms, showers and changing rooms. There is no organised beach club or set day pass, and operators, prices and lesson times are independent and to be confirmed before you plan around them.
Boston Bay is on the coast road in Portland, about a fifteen to twenty minute drive east of Port Antonio, beyond Frenchman's Cove and on the way to Long Bay. Port Antonio sits at Jamaica's green eastern end, a long two and a half to three hour drive from the Montego Bay and Negril resorts, so most visitors come while staying in the area. A taxi from Port Antonio is the easiest way to reach the cove and the jerk stalls.
Bring cash for jerk, any beach or parking fee and board hire, and an appetite, since the smoke is the main event. There is no lifeguard and the surf can be lively, so judge the swell and keep small children to the calmer days and the sheltered corner. Treat the wave and water conditions as typical rather than guaranteed, and check any current fee at the sand.
Reserve a day at Boston Bay
Boston Bay is about jerk and surf rather than loungers. Tell us your date, party and plan and we will help with day beds at a managed beach elsewhere if you want them. No charge to enquire.
Common questions
Is Boston Bay the home of jerk?
It is widely regarded as the birthplace of Jamaican jerk. The Boston Jerk Centre above the sand is a cluster of stalls that have cooked pork and chicken over pimento wood fires for generations, and the area is credited with developing the spicy jerk seasoning Jamaica is known for. Quality varies stall to stall, so follow the busy ones and agree a price first.
Can you surf at Boston Bay?
Yes. Boston Bay catches the most reliable surf in Jamaica, which is unusual on an island of mostly calm beaches, and it has a relaxed local board culture. Board and gear hire and lessons are available by the sand. The waves are biggest on a winter swell, and because the water is livelier than most Jamaican beaches, surf within your ability.
Is there an entry fee at Boston Bay?
A modest beach or parking fee is sometimes charged at the cove, but it varies and is to be confirmed on the day. You will also pay cash at the jerk stalls and for any board hire. There is no resort gate, since this is a working local beach rather than a managed club, so bring small notes for the day.
Is Boston Bay good for swimming and families?
It can be, on calmer days and in the more sheltered corner, but the surf that makes the bay special also makes it wavier than most Jamaican beaches, and there is no lifeguard. On a big swell it suits confident swimmers and surfers rather than small children. Judge the conditions on the day and keep young children to the calmer spells.
How do you get to Boston Bay from Port Antonio?
It is on the coast road about a fifteen to twenty minute drive east of Port Antonio, past Frenchman's Cove toward Long Bay, easily reached by taxi. From the Montego Bay or Negril resorts it is a long journey of roughly two and a half to three hours, so most visitors come while staying in the Port Antonio area rather than as a day trip from the west.
