fort clarence beach

Kingston is known for being the concrete jungle as it is definitely a hot place to be. With that being said I desperately wanted some beach time and was happy to have been able to get to Portmore to have a day at the ocean. The environment itself was very pretty and it was a very diverse crowd. Although I did go into the water I have to say that it was not very well maintained and it was extremely dirty, hence, I couldn't spend a long amount of time in the water unless I wanted to spend the day pulling seaweed out of my hair. I ordered steamed red snapper with breadfruit and festival from a local place on the beach and it was average. Still happy for the day in the sun :)

It's not a resort beach, but that's what we like about it. Sometimes the sea is choppy and sometimes it has a lot of weed, but sometimes it's flat and clear blue. It's always warm and the beach is yellow sand. There aren't really any hustlers and it's easy to get fish and drinks from the three shacks that cook on the beach. You pay to get in but it's cheap and your money keeps the beach tidy and the toilets clean. An easy drive from Kingston, FC is a regular spot for Kingston locals.

Fort Clarence is a public beach, managed by the government, so you pay a small admission fee to access the beach. There are swings for the children and vendors selling fish and festival. It's a nice family venue, no harassment , no stress.

Now that Fried fish, bammy and festival is available there. I prefer going there instead of Hellshire. I think it is the best beach on this side of the island. A nice place to relax and have fun with your family.

So if you're looking for a great beach in Jamaica, this is not it. If you're in Kingston on business and need a quick dip, it will do. Better than Hillshire. Less vendors trying to sell you stuff.

Fresh cooked lobster from the lobster shack is a must have. Don`t wait until you are starving to order though because it will take 50 to 60 minutes to arrive. The beach as very sandy and clean. The peddlers on the beach were not pushy or intrusive. I`m not an ocean swimmer but I decided to take a dip due to the heat and it was wonderful. Clean washrooms and change rooms and only a $2.00 entrance fee to the beach area. You can also rent lounge chairs for $5 for the day. I will return when I visit again.

Never had a bad food experience. The fish is always good, as is the festival and bammy. I have not tried the lobster. The good thing with this beach is that there are several independent food vendors to choose from. You can then stick to your favorite or sample the others.

This is my most travelled to beach. Much better than most in Portmore based on the space and food. You have to pay $250 Jcan dollars per person to enter and there's a lot of parking spaces,You can take your own food or purchase seafood from approximately 3 different booths...you may also carry along your own chairs or rent chairs. Beautiful beach!

Visited this beach by taxi from Kingston, maybe 30 - 40 minutes. There was a small entrance fee to the beach, approx J$400 per adult. It had a great feel, very relaxing, not too many people hassling you trying to sell you something. Mostly locals playing soccer on the beach, lots of kids swimming and playing. Fantastic fish hut selling Red Stripe beer and delicious whole fish and other local foods. Will definitely be visiting this beach again next time I am in town!

With the type of security arrangement at Fort Clarence, it make the way for relaxation and a quiet day at the beach

So if you've been to Hellshire and hated it, Fort Clarence might be the place to go. It is relaxing, and the water doesn't reach the foot of the restaurants, and there is A lot more sand! It is definitely not your 7 mile White Sand Beach, however its nice for a day out with family or friends. No one there to harass you, its just cool! The food was OK, however Hellshire has a much larger variety in that department and it is cheaper. Its perfect if your not in the mood for the long drive to Ochi, Negril etc from Kingston. Overall its pretty cool. The entrance fee was not jaw dropping and you can feel safe whether your in a group or riding solo!

Its a great experience that far surpasses that of HellshireThere is much more calm as the hagglers are there to bother you and hassle you to buy seafood from them. The beach ambiance is soothing as there is more beach to walk on and relax as there are not as many stall and shop set up on the beach. You get the opportunity to relax and enjoy the scenic views and the lovely sea breeze

We hired a taxi for the afternoon ( really man named Mr Kelly) and went to Hellshire just for a look. Too many businesses close to the water, not much beach, and lots of people soliciting. So drove over to Fort Clarence. Lovely and quiet, clean beach, nobody hassles you. Also had a wonderful taste of Jamaican food at the fish hut (although it did take quite long for the food to come) when the food finally arrived, it was great.

It was ok to relax but there is an entrace fee. After I while I went over to the more public/local side to get a greater experience of Jamaican life. Its great for seafood also and there are men on the beach giving horse back rides for a reasnable price.

Clean beach, great sea views, nice chill out spot and a great place to eat really good fish! A 'repeat visit' venue.