Jacques Cousteau dived in it, Brooke Shields frolicked in it and – so legend has it – a dragon lies at the bottom of it. The Blue Lagoon, one of Jamaica's most famous beauty spots, is a place of some mystery – as well as a stunning location for a film set. This giant sink-hole formed in the fascinatingly eroded limestone found across much of Jamaica is where the warm tropical Caribbean Sea comes to play with cool underwater rock springs.
The waters here are wonderfully clear and superb for snorkelling in. Just don't try and reach the bottom – once reputed to be a bottomless pool, the Blue Lagoon's waters are now known to end some 50 metres down. That depth adds to the magical charm of this place. As the sun rises, peaks and then lowers again, the colours of the Lagoon change from turquoise-green to deepest sapphire to aquamarine.
The lagoon is also framed low forested hills and drooping fronds of jungle trees. It makes for a perfect tropical paradise retreat – and the reason why the 1980s hit film The Blue Lagoon, with teen-beauty Brooke Shields, was shot here. The film actually gave its name to this secluded spot – up until then it had been the Blue Pool (and it's still called this by the locals).
The Blue Lagoon is not a very easy place to get to. It lies close to the town of Port Antonio, on the north Jamaican coast, and can be reached via a narrow and twisting lane off of the main coastal road. You can also get here from San San beach, if you pay a local to bring you in by boat via the narrow sea-channel (although boats aren't allowed on the lagoon itself).
As well as swimming, snorkelling and exploring its shores, this is also a great spot to look for pretty jungle birds, flitting around the canopy. This tranquil slice of paradise is worth the journey and a great place to spend several hours soaking up its hidden beauty.
