Port Royal is situated on the end of an 18-mile long sand spit known as the Palisadoes, 15 miles from the centre of Kingston. The place where the real “Pirates of the Caribbean” once lived, Port Royal was often referred to as the wickedest and wealthiest city on earth. The erstwhile capital of Jamaica, Port Royal was an important trading post and a thriving port during the Spanish and British colonial rule. The city was destroyed in the 1600s by a massive earthquake and a subsequent tsunami and further damage occurred in the 1700s. The pirates lived a life of debauchery and soon the city lost most of its glittering wealth. Today it is sleepy fishing village but with an interesting history as most of the old city is submerged in the harbour and the remaining ruins are preserved as they are. It makes for an interesting walk to see the sights of this once glorious city. Especially worth visiting are the Giddy House, Fort Charles and Old Naval Hospital. Other sites include Fort Carlisle and Fort Walker. Boats to Lim Cay are also available from Port Royal. The Jamaican Heritage trust has undertaken a massive restoration and preservation project aiming to make the city a potential tourist hub and have also requested UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The area is famous today for a variety of restaurants serving the best seafood in Jamaica. Gloria’s is an especially well reputed establishment that is frequented by tourists and locals alike.

Port Royal, once known as the wickedest city on earth and the Sodom of the New World, revels in its pirate past. The once-great city, now a fishing port, was at its height in the 1600s, when numerous brothels and drinking establishments thrived on pirates' plundered gold. In 1692, the effects of an earthquake submerged part of the port, a tragedy that has actually preserved the town from being torn down or built over. Entire buildings and streets are clearly visible just beneath the water. The town that remains on dry land offers visitors fascinating archaeological sites to explore, including fortified walls, cannons, and crumbling buildings. By Lebawit Lily Girma, AFAR Local Expert