Goat Islands Iguana Reserve

The Goat Islands are located in Old Harbour Bay within the parish of St. Catherine, forming a key part of the Portland Bight Protected Area. These uninhabited limestone islands are crucial for the survival of the critically endangered Jamaican Iguana (Cyclura collei), which was thought to be extinct until its rediscovery in 1990. The islands provide a well-suited dry forest habitat, relatively free from the invasive predators that threaten the species on mainland Jamaica. In 2017, proposed plans for a major logistics hub were scrapped in favor of conservation, and the area was officially designated as a wildlife sanctuary. Conservationists use the islands as a primary site for releasing head-started iguanas raised at the Hope Zoo to bolster the wild population. In addition to the iguanas, the islands support rare bird species and endemic plants adapted to the arid limestone environment. The Goat Islands stand as a symbol of successful conservation efforts in the Caribbean, highlighting the balance between economic development and ecological preservation.

History & landmarks

Cast Iron Bridge

The oldest surviving cast iron bridge in the Caribbean, spanning the Rio Cobre in Spanish Town.

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Blue Hole

Stunning natural turquoise pools in the hills of Ocho Rios.

Rio Nuevo Battle Site

A historical monument in St.

Dunn's River Falls

Famous waterfalls in Ocho Rios that empty into the Caribbean Sea.

Emancipation Park

A public park in New Kingston symbolizing freedom and the end of slavery.

Nature

Hope River

A river that flows through the eastern suburbs of Kingston.

Rio Cobre River

A river that flows through the famous Bog Walk Gorge.

Salt River

A river in Clarendon that flows into Portland Bight.

Rio Minho River

The longest river in Jamaica, flowing through Clarendon.

More places

Old Iron Bridge, Spanish Town

One of the first cast-iron bridges in the world, erected over the Rio Cobre in 1801.

Rodney Memorial, Spanish Town

A memorial in a temple-like building in Spanish Town Square, honoring Admiral Lord Rodney who led the British fleet to victory over the F…

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Colbeck Castle

The imposing ruins of a huge 17th-century building that resembled a fortress more than a residence.

Fort Augusta

A large 18th-century fortress built at the mouth of Kingston Harbour to protect the city from naval attacks.

Long Mountain

A mountain ridge that forms the eastern border of Kingston.

Taíno Middens at White Marl

A significant archaeological site consisting of large mounds of shells, pottery, and other artifacts, documenting the life of the indigen…

Meat Packing Plant

Large-scale facilities for the hygienic processing and packaging of livestock products for the domestic food industry.

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Port Esquivel

A specialized industrial port on the south coast primarily used for the export of alumina and import of fuel.