As a teenager, Priory Beach was famous for holiday parties and hide-a-way rendezvous! I’m not quite sure how it earned this reputation as the beach is right along the main road on a very open and public plot of land. Nonetheless, it still hosts a great many Jamaican parties and is especially crowded on public holidays. The good news is if it’s not a public holiday day, the beach is practically deserted and you have the beach all to yourself.
The small community of Priory lies between Runaway Bay and St. Ann’s Bay. It is primarily a fishing village (it is also the home of my BFF who fondly recalls her teenage years at this popular beach :-)). The beach is on the left driving from Runaway Bay (your right from Ocho Rios) and is completely free of charge. There is no fencing or gates, you simply drive onto the beach, find a place to park and you’re ready for a swim!
The downer is that there are no changing rooms or public bathrooms so this isn’t ideal for an all day trip. There are also no professional life guards on duty, although almost everyone is a superb swimmer and would rush to help in event of danger (but they aren’t trained life guards).
Rich Entertainment
The real catch howeveris the lovely colorful stalls and the heavy baseline of dancehall music which alw ays fill the air. In fact, you are likely to hear competing music as each stall tries to outdo the other while the younger generation show- off the lavish sound systems in their cars. Grab a drink or a quick snack from any of the stalls or take a walk along the main road and sample Jamaican dishes from any of the cook shops within the community.
If you are looking for a beach to spend the day swimming then this one isn’t my first pick but if you are looking for fun, wait for the next public holiday, then pack the family and be off to the exciting adventures of Priory Beach…see you there!