James Bond Beach – Saint Mary

James Bond Beach sounds like a suitably glamorous place for a dip, as it was one of the beloved swimming holes of Ian Fleming, of James Bond fame. Stage of the notorious Ursula Andress bikini scene in 1962’s Dr. No and a stone’s throw from GoldenEye his Jamaican home. I wondered if we would fall in love with the place just as Ian Fleming had all those years ago.

Located in Oracabessa, Saint Mary, James Bond Beach is privately owned by Chris Blackwell and is part of his Island Outpost portfolio, which includes Island Village, Golden Eye, Strawberry Hill and The Caves to name a few.

The Scoop on James Bond Beach

No matter which direction you approach James Bond Beach, you are going to travel through some beautiful scenery in Saint Mary. Full of coconut and banana plantations, rocky coastline and traditional wooden buildings, this fruitful parish has a certain charm to it.

James Bond Beach is located near to Oracabessa Crossroads, on a winding stretch of the A3 Main Road. After taking the turn off, there is roughly another 1.5km trek down a slip road before the large blue gates with James Bond Beach written over the top guide you to the entrance. There is an attendant at the gate to take your entrance fee and inside the compound there is ample space to park your vehicle.

The complex has a nice set up, with a small but clean sandy beach which boasts crystal clear waters. There are a few tired but complimentary wooden loungers and a couple of picnic tables scattered about on the sand. As the beach is small the seating goes quickly and you may want to bring a beach mat or extra towel to lie or sit down. On both occasions I visited there were only a few other groups present, which made it feel more secluded and quiet.

There is also a winding terrace that has been constructed over the rocks surrounding the beach which offers up a larger area in which to sun yourself. Although it could do with some repairs in places, as the sea seems to want to reclaim it and it is breaking away.

James Bond Beach Sun Loungers
James Bond Beach Sun Loungers

Moonraker Bar and Restaurant

The large Moonraker Bar is open on all sides and boasts a fabulous upstairs seating area that has scenic views across the ocean and the lawn. The bar is well stocked with local and international alcoholic drinks and they had plenty of ice.

The restaurant menu had mostly fish and chicken dishes on offer, which cost around $1,500 and up per main dish. Overall, we found the restaurant to be expensive and the portion sizes, especially for the fish, were not huge by any means. We didn’t eat there as on one occasion we weren’t impressed with what was on offer and the other occasion we visited the restaurant wasn’t open.

A large lawn that is surrounded by the sea on three sides enables sporting activities to take place and a vantage point to look at the boats moored up. The lawn and bar are packed full of people and really come alive when the venue plays home to the large stage shows and events.

The other amenities include large separate male and female changing facilities with showers and communal changing area and toilets.

The beach normally closes at sundown and I’m told it is busier at weekends when more of the locals and even Chris Blackwell and friends sometimes frequent it.

In Conclusion

On the whole I enjoyed my time at James Bond Beach as it was clean, secluded, friendly, peaceful and had good vibes and amenities. The entry price wasn’t too expensive and was indicative on what was on offer. All round it was a nice experience…. But I wouldn’t go out of my way to return to James Bond Beach, when there are better and yet undiscovered options available.

James Bond Beach Changing Rooms
James Bond Beach Changing Rooms

The Important Bits about James Bond Beach

  • COST: Entry for Locals is JA$350 Adults, JA$200 Under 12, JA$250 Seniors – Entry for Visitors is US$5 Adult, US$3 Under 12
  • PARKING: FREE parking inside the compound
  • FOOD: Restaurant on site but very pricey and sometimes closed
  • PLANT BASED FRIENDLY: Unsure – will be sides
  • DRINK: Large Bar selling cold soft and alcoholic beverages
  • SHOPPING: None
  • RESTROOMS: Yes and Changing Rooms with showers
  • FAMILY FRIENDLY: Yes
  • WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE: Yes to some areas – small amount of steps to beach
  • FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED: Suits All
  • EASY TO FIND: Quite Easy! It’s on the A3 Main Road, but the turn off can be easily missed – follow the directions below!
  • BEACH AMENITIES: Sun loungers
  • BEACH SAFETY: Lifeguard on duty
  • ADDED EXTRAS: Play ball games on the lawn – bring your own balls!
  • GOOD TO KNOW: The restaurant is often closed and is always expensive
  • CROWD INDEX: Doesn’t usually get too busy, weekends and public holidays are busiest
  • TOP TIP: Bring snacks!

How to get to James Bond Beach

TAXI: If you are coming from Ocho Rios, get a taxi travelling to Port Maria / Oracabessa. Tell the driver you are going to James Bond Beach and they will drop you off at the slip road. Beware it is approximately 1.5km from the main road to the entrance to James Bond Beach, if you have to walk that last stretch.

DRIVING: Coming from Ocho Rios take the A3 Main Road out of the town towards Oracabessa. Keep following the A3 for approximately 20km, you will pass the Ian Fleming International Airport at Boscobel. At some point you may see a large and hopeful road sign that depicts that James Bond Beach is 1km away, which is a vast underestimation as it was more like 5km! Once you pass a Rubis Gas Station, the road will veer to the left, just around the corner you will see a sign for James Bond Beach. Follow the slip road for another 5 or so minutes and you will see some large blue wooden gates sign painted. If you reach the Oracabessa Crossroads you have missed the turn off.

Coming from Oracabessa, take the A3 Main Road through the town centre, you will pass Oracabessa Crossroads, where there is a Bus Park. Just as you turn the next corner you will see the sign for James Bond Beach. Follow the slip road for another 5 or so minutes and you will see some large blue wooden gates sign painted. If you reach the Rubis Gas Station you have missed the turn off.

*This post has been fully updated from the original post shared on 6th April 2013

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