The Mango Vol 1 Issue 6

Doctor’s Cave Beach

thick rainforest and find small ocean pools along the way. A limited amount of beach chairs can be rented under the palm trees for shade and relaxation. If you do rent the chairs, you can order food and beverages from a limited menu. The beach also has a freshwater stream which joins the cove creating a thrilling cold and warm water mixture that visitors like to wade in. As you’re exploring, don’t miss the two rope swings that hang low enough over the stream that you can drag your toes through the water. With the jungle backdrop and sugar-white sand, this is a perfectly romantic photo op. Many tourists mistake the Frenchman’s Cove for being closed because it is so secluded and quiet – a welcome attribute that has attracted celebrities and royalty, including the Queen of England. Visitors can also explore the Blue Lagoon which is five minutes away and local hangout Boston Bay, a 12-minute drive with restaurants and small shops for souvenir hunting. Frenchman’s Cove is in Portland on Jamaica’s eastern coast.

If you’re looking for a pristine beach closer to the touristy destinations but with a different vibe than what’s outside your resort window, try Doctor’s Cave Beach. Known for its clean, crystal-clear waters, this beach feeds the soul of a purist who is looking for an uncluttered, well-manicured landscape. Established in the early 1900s, Doctor’s Cave got its name when Dr. Alexander James McCatty donated the property to start a bathing club, mainly for physicians, who would enter the beach through a cave. The cave was destroyed by a hurricane in 1932 but the beach remains an inviting place to snorkel and for children to play in – especially on the two water trampolines that float a few feet out. The beach is part of the Montego Bay Marine Park so there is plenty of marine life to be spotted in the coral reef. The warm, calm water is believed by some to have medicinal healing powers that can cure specific ailments. Whether you buy into that or

The Mango

58

N o v / D e c

2021