Location: 5 miles (8 km) South of New Kingston
Fort Charles
Open: 9am-4:45pm
Closed Good Friday & Christmas Day
Off Elizabeth Ave
876-967-8438
Constructed: 1650-1660
Port Royal is a colonial town situated 5 miles (8 km) South of New Kingston in Jamaica. It is famous for its British Fort Charles that was constructed in 1650- 60 to protect colonies against many pirates that were common in the area. Port Royal ("Puerto Real" in Spanish) was the seat of the British government in Jamaica and the main fishing and commercial base of the island during the seventeenth century. In its heyday it also welcomed a large number of pirates who under the protection of the British attacked the Spanish and French ships. It was destroyed by a large earthquake, tsunami and sinking due to the sand on the ground on June 7, 1692, during which two-thirds of the city sank in the waters of the Caribbean Sea. After this disaster, the commercial activity of the island moved to the city of Kingston, current capital of Jamaica.