Ian Fleming, who made James Bond, was inspired by Jamaica’s beautiful beaches, strange places, and constant sunshine. The author wrote the first twelve James Bond books while living in the small town of Oracabessa on the north shore of the island.
In 1962, the first movie in one of the longest-running movie series of all time, Dr. No, was shot on this Caribbean island with Sean Connery as the dapper secret agent. Honey Ryder, played by Ursula Andress, came out of the water on the made-up island of Crab Key, which sealed the movie’s success. With all of its tropical beauty, Jamaica makes a beautiful setting for a gripping story.
A decade later, the island was the main character in the movie Live and Let Die as San Monique. Bond, played for the first time by Roger Moore, outsmarts crocodiles and bad guys and saves his girlfriend, Solitaire, from the evil Dr. Kananga. In 2021’s “No Time to Die,” the famous MI6 agent retires to a small cabin on the water in Jamaica. The island finally got to be the star of the show on its own.
Jamaica is a great place to visit whether you are a huge James Bond fan or just like going to places made famous by movies. There are nice resorts, waterfalls that fall down, caves that are interesting to explore, and turquoise waters that lap on beautiful beaches. You might not find James Bond here, but you can have your own adventures.
Jamaica is the third-largest island in the Caribbean, and it is known as the place where reggae music began. Bob Marley was one of the first people to make this kind of music, and he has a surprising link to Ian Fleming and his home, Goldeneye, on the north shore. Read on to learn all about the best places in Jamaica where Bond movies were shot.
1. Laughing Waters Beach
Honey Ryder and James Bond have their first encounter in the film Dr. No on a beautiful beach on Crab Key. They are able to hide from the villains on the island behind some sandbanks that are located near a waterfall. This fictitious island beach is actually called Laughing Waters, and it is located about a ten-minute drive from the city center of Ocho Rios. It is also only a short distance from Dunn’s River Falls, which is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area.
It was Ian Fleming himself who suggested the beach to the producers of the movie, and Honey Ryder’s pivotal introduction scene was a major factor in the film’s meteoric rise to fame. Because of the government’s efforts to preserve the area, Laughing Waters, also known as Crab Key Beach, continues to appear virtually unchanged from the time it was first photographed in the 1960s.
Visitors who are interested in recreating the iconic scene can obtain permission from Jamaica’s Urban Development Corporation to visit the property. Additionally, the beach and on-site villas are available for rent for weddings and other special events through Jamaica’s Urban Development Corporation.
2. Swamp Safari
Roger Moore made his debut as James Bond in the film Live and Let Die, which also brought production back to the island where it all began. Bond can be seen running across the backs of crocodiles and setting fire to a laboratory in one of the most iconic scenes from the film, which takes place on a crocodile farm in Louisiana. In reality, the shoot took place in Jamaica at a place called Swamp Safari. The gates, which can be found in Falmouth, which is an hour away from Montego Bay, still bear the sign “Trespassers Will Be Eaten,” which can be seen in the movie.
The crocodiles that have been displaced as a result of excessive development are cared for at Swamp Safari, which is located on two acres of the Trelawny mangrove. There are approximately eighty crocodiles lazing around in the murky waters and enjoying the sunshine.
There is still the small concrete mound on which James Bond finds himself surrounded by crocodiles. The mound is now connected by a bridge, and visitors are permitted to go there with a guide. In order to perform the daring act of jumping over the crocodiles, a stuntman by the name of Ross Kananga, who also owned the original crocodile farm, was responsible. It took him five attempts and a few near misses before he was successful. The film’s antagonist, Dr. Kananga, was given his name in honor of the daredevil as a tribute to his courageous nature.
Kananga House, which was infamously set on fire by James Bond, can be found directly opposite the crocodile-infested pond in this location. The house, which is open to the public and displays a video clip of the scene that took place inside, was given its current name in honor of the late stuntman who tragically passed away a few years after filming. The Swamp Safari is open to the public and provides guided tours; guests have the opportunity to get a close look at crocodiles, other reptiles, and native birds.
3. Port Antonio
When Port Antonio becomes James Bond’s new home in No Time to Die, Jamaica is no longer hiding behind the guise of being another Caribbean location. Instead, Jamaica takes center stage. The first time we see the town, James Bond is driving his Jeep through its winding streets and brightly painted storefronts, including Musgrave Market. We see a ball field by the water as he drives past it on his way into the city. He comes to a halt in Market Square, the sign indicating the intersection of West Street and Williams Street being visible behind him. A local souvenir shop and the square’s centerpiece, a white memorial erected to commemorate the citizens of Portland Parish who lost their lives in World Wars I and II, are also prominently featured in the area.
Fans of James Bond will also want to look for the unassuming Piggy’s Jerk Centre on Foreshore Road. This eatery was featured in a nighttime scene and was also one of Daniel Craig’s favorite local restaurants. The structure that visitors see today is not the same as the one that the actor frequented; however, Bond fans value it even more than the original because of its connection to the character. Shortly after production wrapped, a fire completely gutted the takeout restaurant, but Craig and the rest of the cast and crew came to the restaurant’s aid by raising and donating the money necessary to rebuild it and get it back in operation. In addition to providing outstanding cuisine, the proprietor, Eustas Lindsay, is rumored to be an excellent source of information regarding interesting places to visit in the area. Craig is said to have maintained communication with Lindsay.
4. Dunn’s River Falls
Dunn’s River Falls has changed quite a bit since the day that Bond, Ryder, and Quarrel washed themselves in the pools of the terraced waterfalls. On the other hand, Laughing Waters has maintained its original appearance for the most part over the past few decades.
The falls are one of the most popular tourist destinations in Jamaica, and every year thousands of people come to admire the tiered cascades that stretch out over a distance of more than 600 feet. If you travel during a time when there are no cruise ships docked in the port, you will have a better chance of finding a spot to climb to the top of the falls when there are fewer people around.
5. San San Bay
In the film No Time to Die, which will be released in 2021, James Bond will make his triumphant return to Jamaica, not only as a filming location but also as the covert agent’s native country. The former agent of the British Secret Service has retired and now leads a peaceful life in a cabin that is situated on the shores of a bay with a brilliant blue color. In actuality, the cabin was constructed for a specific purpose on a section of private beach known as Coco Walk, which is inaccessible by roads. The best way to see this location is by boat, which is also the way the production crew entered and exited the area.
Fans can still admire the scenery of this idyllic little slice of Bond’s brief retirement from the water, despite the fact that the cabin was destroyed after filming wrapped up.
Fans who are interested in spending their nights in the same place that actor Daniel Craig did can make reservations at the Geejam’s Cocosan Villa, a private villa in the Caribbean that has six bedrooms and every conceivable amenity. The villa at the Geejam costs approximately $4,500 per night, so vacationers might want to consider booking one of the hotel’s standard rooms instead.
6. Half Moon
The Half Moon luxury resort in Montego Bay has been renovated over the years, but this stunning property that sits on a crescent-shaped beach is where Roger Moore’s James Bond meets Gloria Hendry’s Rosie Carver in the film Live and Let Die. In the film, Rosie Carver is played by Gloria Hendry.
On the made-up island of San Monique, where voodoo is practiced, his hotel room was located in the fictional Cottage No. 10. This is where the famous British spy battles a poisonous snake, offers comfort to Carver, and the following morning enjoys a delicious breakfast on the veranda of the inn.
Visitors have the option of renting the Bond villa at Half Moon or selecting any other luxurious villa located along the beach’s two-mile stretch. The Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay can be reached from the resort in a drive of only 15 minutes.
7. Rose Hall Great House
Rose Hall Great House, a Jamaican Georgian-style mansion built in the 18th century and located on the North coast of Jamaica close to Montego Bay, is said to be haunted by Annie Palmer, also known as the White Witch. During that time period (the early 1800s), she and her husband, John Palmer, made that their home.
Folklore has it that Annie was brutally murdered after killing her first husband, her two subsequent husbands, and a few male slaves who worked on the plantation. It is also said that she killed a few male slaves. In case that wasn’t impressive enough, Johnny Cash was once the owner of that property.
In the film “Live and Let Die,” a pivotal scene took place on the grounds of the Rose Hall Plantation. The setting was perfect for the scene. Following Solitaire’s liberation at Bond’s hands, the two of them make their getaway by way of a poppy field and a cemetery. On the hills behind the house, where the house is located, a makeshift graveyard complete with a small shack and a nearby field was brought to life for the film.
On these grounds, which are now occupied by the Cinnamon Hill Golf Course, there is not the slightest trace of the sets that once stood here. Those who hit greens here will not only be treated to breathtaking views of the ocean, but they will also have the opportunity to visit the tranquil waterfall that serves (near the 15th green) as a beautiful backdrop for the main characters in the scene.
8. Boundbrook Wharf
In the movie “No Time to Die,” Boundbook Wharf, which is located in Port Antonio’s West Harbour, makes its debut in the role of a Cuban military base that serves as the setting for a nighttime action scene. A local artist was responsible for giving the area the look and feel of Cuba by painting murals of various political figures from Cuba, including Fidel Castro. Even though a fresh coat of paint has been applied on top of the artwork, the set design continues to exist beneath the surface as a covert mark that the spy has left behind.
9. Green Grotto Caves
Even though the iconic final fight scene from Live and Let Die was shot in a studio in the United Kingdom, the setting was modeled after the Green Grotto Caves. The enormous cavern served as the location for several of the scenes in which Moore and Jane Seymour attempted to evade capture by Kanaga’s men.
The extensive cave network known as Green Grotto Caves can be found in a location that is roughly equidistant from both Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. You can get to Dr. Kanaga’s underground lair and the underground lake by walking through this maze of chambers, passing by the eerie exposed roots of strangler trees, and walking under the stalactites that hang from the ceiling. The age of the cave is estimated to be at least 28 million years, and it is regarded as one of the largest caves on the island that visitors can walk through.
10. Couples Sans Souci
Couples Ocho Rios’s Sans Souci, also known as the Sans Souci Hotel, makes a cameo appearance in the James Bond film Live and Let Die. Roger Moore was forever changed as a result of it, despite the fact that it is only visible in some of the exterior shots of Bond’s hotel room on San Monique. It was in one of the resort’s spacious suites (number D-20), which has since been renamed the Roger Moore Suite in honor of his time spent there while the film was being shot there.
The view from the balcony at Couples San Souci, which looks out over a pristine private beach and the mountains in the distance, explains why he fell in love with her so quickly. This adults-only, five-star resort offers spacious rooms, restaurants, swimming pools, fitness and sports facilities, and a spa. Guests are only allowed to bring their significant others.
11. Goldeneye
In the early 1950s, Fleming began spending the winters in a home that he had designed and built in the town of Oracabessa, which is located on the north shore of Jamaica. The home, which was known as Goldeneye, was not particularly grand; in fact, it consisted of a single level and had few frills. However, it was surrounded by banana and sea grape trees and had stairs that led down to a secluded beach.
Fleming and his wife, Ann, went snorkeling there for a significant number of days. Every one of the 12 James Bond books was penned in this very spot, tucked away in a nook of a room with large windows that were left open. From the front door all the way to the edge of the cliff where you can see the ocean is a sunken garden that was built according to Fleming’s specific wishes.
While they were shooting Dr. No, the cast and crew of Goldeneye were entertained by Ian Fleming. Bob Marley, a legendary reggae musician, toyed with the idea of buying Goldeneye in the 1970s but ultimately decided to settle for a house in Kingston instead.
The house and the gardens that surround it are now a part of the Fleming Villa that can be found within the GoldenEye resort. Visitors are greeted by a light-filled living room that has been lavishly appointed and features shelves that are stocked with James Bond books and other memorabilia. You will feel as though you have traveled back in time when you enter a side room that has walls painted turquoise and features photographs of Ursula Andress from an iconic scene in the first movie.
In addition, the Goldeneye resort features beach huts and lakeside cottages that allow moviegoers and nature enthusiasts to immerse themselves in the untouched natural beauty that served as the basis for many of the film’s scenes. The cottages include access to both saltwater and freshwater infinity pools, and the gazebo that Ernest Fleming used to write in is now used as a restaurant serving upscale cuisine.
12. Port Maria
The picturesque town of Port Maria can be reached from Goldeneye in a relatively short amount of time. In 1952, Fleming tied the knot with the woman who would become the love of his life at the picturesque St. Mary Parish Church in Port Maria, which looked out over the Caribbean Sea and the island of Cabarita.
Prior to Kingston’s rise to prominence as the island’s primary financial center, Port Maria served as Jamaica’s commercial nerve center. The town is still a sleepy outpost today, consisting of only a few buildings, one of which is the courthouse where Fleming and Ann obtained the license for their wedding.
The small church, which was constructed in 1861, shows signs of its age; however, visitors can admire the limestone blocks that make up the structure as well as views of palm trees and crashing waves. Fleming got married the same year he wrote his first James Bond novel, Casino Royale, which was released the following year in 1953. In the movie “Live and Let Die,” Cabarita Island serves as the inspiration for Mr. Big’s “Isle of Surprise,” the location where he runs his drug smuggling operation.
13. James Bond Beach
The quaint James Bond Beach can be found in close proximity to the Goldeneye estate. You can visit this secluded stretch of golden sand with the breathtaking backdrop of the St. Mary’s Mountains for a fee that is not prohibitively expensive. Despite the fact that Fleming had access to his own private beach, he spent a lot of time at this beach while he was living in Jamaica.
Bring a chair and an umbrella with you, and kick back and relax to the sounds of reggae music drifting from the Moonraker Jamaican Restaurant, which is located nearby. Changing rooms and showers are among the amenities that are located on-site. During the peak season, you shouldn’t be surprised if you have to compete for a spot in the warm waters of the tropics with other people who came to the beach for a swim.
