The Most Incredible James BondLocations in Jamaica

Posted by Aldo Pusey on Thursday, September 5, 2024

No other film franchise inspires travel the way the James Bond series has for the past 60 years, and topping the destination list of every serious 007 fan is the country of Jamaica, where iconic scenes from “Dr. No,” “Live and Let Die,” and the upcoming “No Time to Die” were shot.

“Jamaican culture is very important to James Bond,” says Renee Robinson, the Film Commissioner of Jamaica. “As we all know, Bond was conceived here by Ian Fleming, and the character and the country are deeply intertwined.”

Beyond the familiar origin story, Robinson believes that Jamaica and Bond share much in common. “There’s something magical about Jamaica, and it’s fed into the mythology of James Bond over the years,” she says. “He’s a larger-than-life figure, and Jamaica also plays that type of role globally. We’re a small country with a small population, but our global brand has a strong impact on people around the world, and that works in tandem with the Bond franchise.”

Although the pandemic continues to affect tourism around the world, Bond fans might want to consider planning their future dream vacation right now. After all, with so many must-see locations in Jamaica to visit, a little extra itinerary preparation might actually come in handy. To help you organize the ultimate James Bond adventure, here are 15 locations in Jamaica that will leave you shaken and stirred.

  • Boundbrook Wharf – 'No Time to Die' 

    Situated on a quiet harbor in Port Antonio, and easily recognizable on screen because of the bright yellow moorings, Boundbrook Wharf was used as a location for an intense nighttime action sequence in “No Time to Die.” In the film, a large ship explodes within sight of the wharf. Since the scene takes place in Cuba, the surrounding area was dressed to look like a Cuban military base; complete with political murals depicting Fidel Castro and Che Guevara that were painted on the dilapidated wharf structure by a local Jamaican artist who based his work on authentic Cuban designs. Bond fans hoping to catch a glimpse of these murals today are in for a disappointment, however. After production wrapped, they were covered with a fresh coat of blue paint to keep their images secret.

  • Ken Jones Aerodrome – 'No Time to Die'

    During production of “No Time to Die,” the Cessna 185 seaplane that flies Bond from Jamaica to Cuba was based at the Ken Jones Aerodrome in St. Margaret’s Bay, located just outside of Port Antonio. This tiny airfield consists of two small structures and a single runway, and features lush green hills on one side and shimmering blue bay waters on the other. Scenes of the plane taking off for Cuba were also reportedly shot at the aerodrome, but do not appear in the film’s final cut. A far cry from Jamaica’s bustling Norman Manley International Airport that was featured in the opening scenes of “Dr. No,” Ken Jones Aerodrome serves only a handful of tourist resorts in the area.

  • Coco Walk – 'No Time to Die'

    Early in “No Time to Die,” Bond is retired from the British Secret Service and living in Jamaica. One of the most memorable images in the film shows him looking forlornly out at a dazzling blue bay from the deck of his waterfront cabin. The secluded spot where Bond’s cabin was built is actually a private beach called Coco Walk, located on the coast of San San Bay in Port Antonio. The film’s crew constructed it from scratch and shot both interiors and exteriors there. To reach Coco Walk, you descend a long wooden staircase from high atop a cliff, and climb carefully down to the beach below. Although the cabin was demolished immediately after filming wrapped, the surrounding area still looks exactly the way it appears in the film. Since Coco Walk is private property, the best way for Bond fans to see it is by chartering a small boat that will take you into San San Bay itself.

  • Market Square – 'No Time to Die'

    An exterior driving scene in “No Time to Die” was shot on the streets of Port Antonio; specifically at the intersection of West and Williams Street, in an area known as Market Square. The location’s centerpiece is a large obelisk honoring the citizens of Jamaica’s Portland Parish who lost their lives during the two world wars. Bond fans who visit the neighborhood should plan on having lunch at nearby Piggy’s Jerk Centre, a popular jerk restaurant that serves some of the island’s tastiest chicken. Piggy’s was so beloved by Daniel Craig – who ate there regularly with the film’s cast and crew – that when it burned down shortly after production wrapped, he personally helped raise funds to rebuild it. Piggy’s actually appears on screen in “No Time to Die” in the scene where Bond leaves a Jamaican nightclub and discovers that his car won’t start. Look over Craig’s shoulder and you’ll spot it in the background.

     

  • Cocosan Villa – 'No Time to Die'

    While filming “No Time to Die” in Port Antonio, Daniel Craig stayed at this luxurious six-bedroom villa for two weeks. One of five exclusive villas that form Jamaica’s Geejam resort, Cocosan has seen its fair share of celebrity guests in the past, including Jay Z and Beyoncé. Decorated with a glossy Tarantino-style retro-hipness, Cocosan comes equipped with a huge vinyl record collection, a Ferrari-red piano, an assortment of plexiglass artwork depicting vintage Playboy magazine covers from the ‘60s and ‘70s, and several large porthole windows that somewhat resemble the iconic James Bond gun-barrel logo. If you’re a fan of the cinematic spy series and can afford $6,000 per night, why not rent the villa and live like Craig for a while?

  • Laughing Waters – 'Dr. No'

    Perhaps the most iconic scene in the entire James Bond franchise takes place in the very first film, “Dr. No.” As Bond watches from behind a tree, Honey Rider steps gracefully from the sea and shakes the water from her golden blonde hair, before pulling a knife from the belt around her waist when Agent 007 startles her. That unforgettable moment was shot at Laughing Waters in Ocho Rios, which is a beautiful private beach owned by the Jamaican government. Graced with cascading waterfalls and powder-soft sand, only a select number of people are allowed to set foot on it each year in order to maintain its pristine splendor. However, the property – which is managed by the St. Ann Development Corporation and Jamaica’s Urban Development Corporation – can be rented for small weddings and social events.

  • Moon Palace Resort – 'Dr. No' 

    The all-inclusive Moon Palace Resort in Ocho Rios isn’t actually featured in a James Bond film, but if you’re a 007 fan, you might want to stay there anyway. That’s because the resort contains the ruins of an authentic helipad that was used to transport the cast and crew of “Dr. No” to and from the nearby shooting locations. The crumbling helipad can be found just beyond the resort’s furthermost poolside bar, and still bears the familiar 007 logo painted on it. Sometime over the past several years, the first “0” in 007 broke off and fell into the sea, but you can still see it clearly in the water below. While standing on the helipad, be sure to look across the ocean at Reynolds Bauxite Pier, which served as Dr. No’s secret lair in the first Bond film.

  • Jamaica Swamp Safari Village – 'Live and Let Die' 

    Midway through “Live and Let Die,” Bond is captured and taken to a remote Louisiana crocodile farm to be eaten alive. Although set in the United States, this sequence was actually shot at a popular crocodile farm in Falmouth, Jamaica. Founded in 1970 by colorful Ohio outdoorsman Ross Kananga, Jamaica Swamp Safari is a working wildlife sanctuary that currently houses 80 crocodiles, along with boa constrictors, wild boars, and various other animals. Kananga – who died in 1978 while spearfishing in Florida – not only performed the stunt where Bond runs across the backs of several snapping crocodiles, his larger-than-life personality inspired the filmmakers to name the movie’s main villain after him. Some of the sanctuary’s longtime employees were present when the film was shot, and will gladly provide Bond fans with stories about the experience.

  • Cinnamon Hill Golf Course – 'Live and Let Die'

    At key moments in “Live and Let Die,” Bond encounters the mysterious Baron Samedi (played by actor, choreographer, and 7 Up pitchman Geoffrey Holder) lurking in an eerie graveyard. In reality, these scenes were shot at Cinnamon Hill Golf Course in Jamaica’s Montego Bay. A picturesque waterfall located just off the green at hole #15 marks the original spot from the film. Surprisingly, the area still looks quite similar to the way it appeared on screen more than four decades ago. In addition to being a memorable Bond movie location, Cinnamon Hill also contains the ruins of an authentic sugar mill and an ancient aqueduct. In a curious case of life imitating art, several real graves are located throughout the golf course, with some tombstones dating back to 1726.

  • Green Grotto Caves – 'Live and Let Die'

    Since every great Bond villain needs a secret lair, the “Live and Let Die” location scouts chose the visually striking Green Grotto Caves on the north coast of Jamaica to serve as the sinister Dr. Kananga’s underground base. Helmets and hairnets are required when touring the cave system, both to prevent bumps to the head and to keep away the bats that routinely swoop down from crevices above. Although the Green Grotto tour guides will helpfully point out several key locations from the film when asked, bear in mind that the subterranean Grotto Lake, located deep in the bowels of the labyrinthian cave system, is not where the climax of “Live and Let Die” was shot, despite what they might tell you. In actuality, that sequence was filmed on a set at Pinewood Studios, though its inspiration may have come from the real Grotto Lake.

  • Couples Sans Souci Resort – 'Live and Let Die'

    Thanks to some clever editing, two different locations were used to create James Bond’s beachside hotel in “Live and Let Die.” Cottage number 1039 at Half Moon Resort in Montego Bay was used for the main exterior shots of Bond’s bungalow, while the Couples Sans Souci Resort in Ocho Rios was used for the scene where Bond buys a set of tarot cards at the hotel’s gift shop. What makes the Couples Sans Souci Resort particularly important for Bond fans is that it includes a deluxe suite dedicated to Sir Roger Moore himself. Since Moore stayed at the resort during filming, room D20 now features a plaque above the door inscribed with his name. The Roger Moore Suite rents for $600 per night, and comes with a balcony overlooking the resort’s private beach.

  • Ian Fleming’s Goldeneye 

    Casual Bond fans often assume that James Bond was born in England, but the truth is a bit more complex than that. Although Ian Fleming never specified where his character was born, author John Pearson’s authorized biography of 007 lists Bond’s birthplace as a small city in Germany, while the recent young adult Bond novels suggest he was born in Switzerland. A case could be made, however, that Bond was truly born at Goldeneye, Fleming’s stunning home in Oracabessa. That’s because Fleming wrote each of the original Bond books there between 1952 and 1964. Built to his exact specifications, Goldeneye is a gorgeous 5-bedroom villa located on a cliff overlooking a private beach. Current owner Chris Blackwell purchased the property from reggae legend Bob Marley in 1977, and opened it as a resort in the late 1980s. Today, guests can rent the Fleming villa for $10,605 a night during the high season, or stay in one of the less expensive beach huts and lagoon cottages that have been added to the property over the years.

  • Noël Coward’s Firefly 

    When famed British playwright Sir Noël Coward came to Jamaica in the 1940s, he stayed in Oracabessa with his friend Ian Fleming. After purchasing a nearby house which he dubbed Blue Harbour, Coward discovered a piece of land overlooking the island’s scenic north coast. He was so fascinated by the local fireflies that he sought out the land’s owner – Jamaican heiress Blanche Blackwell, who was a mistress to Fleming, and inspired the iconic characters Pussy Galore and Honey Rider. Coward bought the land from Blackwell and built a house on it which he named Firefly. Following his death in 1973, the estate was given to the government of Jamaica, and has remained virtually unchanged since then. Today, visitors can tour Firefly, which is filled with Coward’s original furnishings and vintage photographs of its many famous guests, including Britain’s Queen Mother, who came to lunch in 1965.

  • James Bond Beach 

    When the weather is hot and you’re looking for a low-key spot to go for a swim, James Bond Beach in the parish of St. Mary on Jamaica’s north coast should definitely be on your agenda. Rumor has it that Ian Fleming enjoyed swimming here in the late 1950s. Today, this funky public beach is one of the best bargains on the island, costing only $5 for non-residents who want to take a refreshing dip. Bond fans will feel right at home thanks to the vintage movie posters for “You Only Live Twice” and “Diamonds Are Forever” that are prominently displayed at the entrance to the beach. Once you’ve cooled down, stroll over to the waterfront Moonraker Bar and order their signature James Bond cocktail, which is made with Blackwell rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, cranberry juice, and a splash of lime.

  • Jamaica Inn 

    After a long day of location hunting, a cocktail is definitely in order, and for 007 fans, there’s no better place to enjoy a martini than the historic Jamaica Inn in Ocho Rios. Located on what was originally a coconut plantation, this luxury resort was founded in 1950 by Texas newspaper tycoon Charles Marsh, and has welcomed countless celebrity guests over the years, including Hollywood legends like Katherine Hepburn, Errol Flynn, and Marilyn Monroe. The main attraction for Bond fans is that Ian Fleming spent many nights here sipping drinks with the likes of Sir Winston Churchill and Roald Dahl. Fleming even mentions the Jamaica Inn in his novel “Dr. No,” describing the hotel’s bar as one of the best places to imbibe spirits on the island. Rumor has it that the phrase “shaken not stirred” was coined here – the thought being that shaking a cocktail with ice creates a colder drink that’s perfect for the hot Jamaican weather.

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