Port Royal, as soon as referred to as the “Wickedest Metropolis on Earth,” has formally been added to the UNESCO World Heritage Listing. Recognized for its distinctive historical past as each a British stronghold and a pirate haven, Port Royal was devastated by an enormous earthquake in 1692 that despatched a lot of town sinking into the ocean. At present, components of the Seventeenth-century metropolis stay preserved below layers of sediment, providing an archaeological treasure not like another within the area.
The UNESCO designation acknowledges Port Royal below cultural standards, highlighting its significance as an impressive instance of a colonial-era port metropolis and its direct connection to international historical past. With this recognition, Jamaica now has two UNESCO World Heritage Websites, making it the chief amongst English-speaking Caribbean nations.
Jamaica’s Two UNESCO World Heritage Websites
Jamaica now stands out within the Caribbean with these two inscribed websites:
Blue and John Crow Mountains – A combined pure and cultural website inscribed in 2015, this mountain vary is wealthy in biodiversity and historical past. It was as soon as a refuge for Indigenous Taino and Africans escaping enslavement, and it stays an necessary cultural panorama immediately.
Port Royal (The Archaeological Ensemble of Seventeenth-Century Port Royal) – Inscribed in 2025, this distinctive underwater and terrestrial website captures the rise and fall of one of many Caribbean’s most well-known cities.
The addition of Port Royal strengthens Jamaica’s cultural tourism choices, including depth to its already wealthy heritage.
How Jamaica Compares to the Remainder of the Caribbean
Whereas Jamaica leads amongst English-speaking Caribbean nations, the broader area has many different UNESCO World Heritage Websites that spotlight its cultural and pure range.
Cuba – 9 Websites (Spanish-speaking)
Cuba holds essentially the most UNESCO World Heritage Websites within the Caribbean general, with 9. These embody Previous Havana, Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios, Viñales Valley, and a number of other nationwide parks. Nonetheless, Cuba’s Spanish language and restrictions on American journey make it more difficult for U.S. guests in comparison with Jamaica.
Hispaniola – 2 Websites (French/Creole and Spanish)
The island of Hispaniola, shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, has two World Heritage Websites:
- Haiti (French and Creole-speaking): Nationwide Historical past Park – Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers
- Dominican Republic (Spanish-speaking): Colonial Metropolis of Santo Domingo
Different Caribbean Nations and Territories – 1 Website Every
- Antigua and Barbuda (English-speaking): Antigua Naval Dockyard and Associated Archaeological Websites
- Barbados (English-speaking): Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison
- Curaçao (Dutch-speaking): Historic Space of Willemstad, Internal Metropolis and Harbour
- Dominica (English-speaking): Morne Trois Pitons Nationwide Park
- Martinique, France (French-speaking): Volcanoes and Forests of Mount Pelée and the Pitons of Northern Martinique
- Saint Kitts and Nevis (English-speaking): Brimstone Hill Fortress Nationwide Park
- Puerto Rico, USA (Spanish/English-speaking): La Fortaleza and San Juan Nationwide Historic Website
- Saint Lucia (English-speaking): Pitons Administration Space
Why Port Royal Issues
Port Royal’s inscription is greater than a recognition of Jamaica’s historical past—it positions Kingston as a heritage tourism hub. Fort Charles, the Giddy Home, and underwater stays of the sunken metropolis entice historians, archaeologists, and guests keen to attach with the island’s previous. The positioning additionally represents a narrative of resilience, survival, and cultural legacy.
Along with the Blue and John Crow Mountains, the nation affords each pure surprise and cultural depth. Whereas Cuba dominates numerically within the area, Jamaica holds a particular place for vacationers, particularly these from the USA, in search of accessible heritage tourism within the Caribbean.
Picture – X. Murphy
