Runaway Bay, Jamaica

Runaway Bay skyline

Runaway Bay is a town in Saint Ann Parish on the northern coast of Jamaica and is considered one of the most naturally beautiful places on the island. It is a notable tourist destination located 16 km (9.9 mi) west of Ocho Rios,[1] and slightly east of Discovery Bay, where Christopher Columbus landed in 1494. Ocean View Beach is a private beach situated at Runaway Bay. It consists of a series of hotel resort complexes and beaches.

The name derives from its having been an escape route for runaway slaves. Arawaks were the first native settlers, but they were eventually overpowered by Spanish colonisers.[2]

The population according to the 2011 census was 8,640, roughly eight times the population of 1,116 determined in the 1970 census.[3]

Notable people born in the town include Canadian actress Samantha Kaine, who appeared in the 2002 film Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.[4] British composer and actor Noël Coward lived in nearby Port Maria and is buried there. Ian Fleming lived in nearby Oracabessa.[5] Not far inland, in the hills south of Runaway Bay, is the village of Nine Mile, which is where Bob Marley was born and spent his childhood.[6]

Reef areas such as the Canyon and Ricky’s Reef can be visited through organized dives offered at most hotels. Its fine offshore diving and snorkeling opportunities are said to be the best in Jamaica.[7] Runaway Bay is a resort community with a good offshore reef, popular with snorkelers and divers. A couple of wrecked aircraft can also be seen in a dive site now known as Ganja Planes.[8][9]

Runaway Bay is home to an eighteen-hole golf course at Breezes Runaway Bay Resort & Golf Club which has hosted a variety of championship events.[10][11]

  1. ^ Runaway Bay: Introduction at Frommers.com
  2. ^ "Runaway Bay: History". tripadvisor.ca.
  3. ^ "Jamaica: Parishes, Cities, Urban Centers, Communities - Population Statistics in Maps and Charts". www.citypopulation.de.
  4. ^ "Samantha Kaine". IMDb.
  5. ^ Paravisini-Gebert, Lizabeth (2008). Literature of the Caribbean. ABC-CLIO. Page 45. ISBN 9780313088346.
  6. ^ Insight Guides (2016). Insight Guides Pocket Jamaica. Insight Guides. Pages 40-41. ISBN 9781780055268.
  7. ^ Insight Guides (2016). Insight Guides Pocket Jamaica. Insight Guides. Page 40. ISBN 9781780055268.
  8. ^ Cameron, Sarah (2013). Jamaica Footprint Focus Guide. Footprint Travel Guides. Pages 59-60. ISBN 9781909268333.
  9. ^ Roth, Carolyn and Douglas Stallings (2010). Jamaica. Fodor’s. Page 80. ISBN 9781400004461.
  10. ^ Roth, Carolyn and Douglas Stallings (2010). Jamaica. Fodor’s. Page 72. ISBN 9781400004461.
  11. ^ Sullivan, Mark and Douglas Stallings (2008). Jamaica. Fodor's Travel Publications, Inc. Page 78. ISBN 9781400004461.