Port Royal
Shortly before noon on June 7, 1692, as if by divine judgment, an earthquake and tidal wave destroyed 90 percent of the city and claimed more than 2,000 lives; most of the city sank beneath the sea. Attempts were made to rebuild Port Royal, but a 1703 fire and numerous hurricanes thwarted all efforts and the site was eventually abandoned for Kingston across the harbor. Somewhere offshore are the remains of Sir Henry Morgan, who was buried in Port Royal in 1688.
Port Royal is reached by bus from Kingston or by a 10-minute drive from Norman Manley International Airport. Boat trips can be arranged to visit the cays offshore from the Palisadoes. Lime Cay is the most popular.