Come learn about a big part of Jamaica's history at Fort Charles. Our Tour guide was very knowledgeable and knew all the best spots to take photos with the artifacts. The Giddy house is definitely unique. See how well you can keep your balance at a 45 degree angle. Visit early in the day so that you have enough time to walk around the city.

Nice History museum with lots of information. Prices are fair, and there is a guided tour included in the price. The fort is small but the tour is very informative.

Step into the enchanting past at Fort Charles, the spirited soul of Port Royal, Jamaica! This historical gem, born between 1650 and 1660, isn't just bricks and stones; it's a living, breathing chronicle of tales waiting to be told. Every brick in its walls carries a story, whispered through centuries, and when the incredibly knowledgeable tour guides spin their yarns, you can almost feel the shivers down your spine as if the ghosts of yesteryears are among you. And oh, the trees! Witness the grandeur of a tree that's witnessed two centuries, standing tall as the keeper of secrets, a true tree of life. Then there's the guango tree, a mystical marvel also known as the "4 o'clock pm tree." Picture this: it nods off to sleep as the clock strikes four, only to wake up refreshed and lively by 6, like nature's own magical snooze button. Fort Charles isn't just a place; it's a time machine, where history dances with the present, and each moment is a treasure waiting to be discovered. Dive in, and let the stories and the trees enchant you! 🌳⚓️🏰 @GreenpassportTravels- Reviews 🧳

The fort has an historical importance on the development of this country and its people. Reserve at least two hours for a guided visit and learn some curious facts about Jamaica and what is happening with the land around the fort. I felt like traveling to the past. Amazing!

Fort Charles is located in the small town of Port Royal, (Kingston) Jamaica. The size of the fort was built under the Spanish rule and has of late undergone some natural changes, thanks to the earthquakes and natural calamities that struck the port town. It currently serves as a museum for locals and tourists alike. Even though it is not a must see location in Jamaica, it would be a nice half day tour to learn some interesting history about Jamaica. The architecture of the fort is pretty noteworthy too!

So much history! Tour guide was great. It was good to revisit the location of my Girl Guide stomping grounds of decades ago. I definitely have a better appreciation of Jamaica's historical past.

I believe Fort Charles is overly priced. Locals cannot afford to bring their entire family here. Separate from the Giddy House and a replica of a Canon that moves up and down and of course hearing the history, there is NO excitement here!

The tour guide we had was was great an extremely knowledgeable. He was also extremely patient with answering questions. Giving more details regarding the history of Port Royal. Definitely would recommend. One piece of advice lather up on the sun screen 🔥

The tour guide was amazing, it was an overall great experience learning about the history of Fort Charles.

A historic place to visit when in Jamaica. Some parts of the tour was more engaging than others. There were lots of opportunities to learn more about the Jamaican history.

Historic treasure in the heart of Port Royal that has been well-preserved to this day. They charge an admission fee of $600 and $300jmd for locals & US$15 and $8 for visitors (adult & child) which gives you access to the Fort Charles museum, battery, Giddy House, cannons and the rest of the fort. Walk-ins are welcome and you can choose to explore unguided or with a tour guide.

What an excellent experience! Our tour guide Dane was really informative and very kind. He really did a great job of explaining the order of events in a way that was super understandable and not overwhelming. Awesome visit! Careful in that Giddy House, though!! Damn. 😅🤦‍♀️

Historical place. Port Royal once known as the wicked established place on earth. Visiting gave me a feeling of nostalgia. Tour guide was phenomenal. Take your family amd friends there.

Beware when you go there as a tourist/foreigner you will be paying more for ticket As a local you pay $10USD. Its a wonderful experince and you get a tour guide that walks you through the rich history of Jamaica.

Real guns and fake guns that move! There are lots of reconstructed elements which bring it to life. Don't miss the church and old goal in Port Royal nearby.

Visited while I was on vacation. The tour was informative and showcased a rich history of the events of Port Royal during Era of the British.

It will not take you long to go through it. Good historical information.

Staff very helpful and tour was excellent. They even break open almonds for you. There was no one else there on a Sunday, which allowed a private tour, beautiful day and excellent guide to tell the history. Go there, learn, and experience a 450 year old jut of land.

The tour was very helpful and useful. The information overload was good but again very insightful. I would recommend it so you can learn a bit more about the history of the island.

Love the old history. Wish they kept the original canons in the fort however :( #historybuff

Absolutely loved this place. The guide was amazing and included in the reasonable admission price. The giddy house was a definite highlight, such a bizarre and unique experience. The history of this little gem is also very fascinating.

It's a nice place and wonderful food at Gloria's not too far away

I learned so much on this tour. It was great!

Great keepers of history, my children were exposed to a little of life back then.

It was great they is a house that partially sunk..... if you go you will know why ?..... the people are great too very help full and the town has great food.

The history behind Port Charles is very rich. An earthquake took so many lives. Giddy house was my favourite!. The view was also amazing.

Old world charm with thoughts and feelings of what may have happened within those fort walls. Easy access to the famous "Giddy House "Half sunken into the sand.

The tour was so informative!

Tell place show you Jamaica's rich history

Brilliant

Located in Kingston Parish, Fort Charles is a standing reminder of Jamaica’s history of defense in the name of colonialism. It was the first fort constructed in Port Royal and experts and historians estimate it was built somewhere between 1650 and 1660. A small redbrick artillery store, the rightly called Giddy House, sits alone just behind the fort. An earthquake in 1907 briefly turned the spit to quicksand and one end of the building sank, leaving the store at a lopsided angle.

I love the place is a historial place and ver y beutyfull in Port royal Jamaica the nice paradise, here is the most beutyfull place in the World.

I love historical site

My place if birth

⚡????

Interesting history. Giddy house was an unusual experience. Nothing comparable . Go try

Rich in history of Port Royal

I love history

Great piece of Jamaican history. The renovations underway will only further enhance this experience .

Nice places to sightsee

Great historical site

Historic Port Royal

It was closed as it was being repaired but we were able to take photos of the outside!

Very informative

Awesome

Good

Historic

Fascinating place with rich history

There isn't much left of the original buildings but you still get the idea.

Informative

it a great experience

I went years ago while at Primary School so this visit was much different as one would imagine and I am glad I revisited. I was able to follow the Tour Guide as he carried us through the Tour and spoke to the history of the area. I highly recommend everyone going and for those who visited as children, they should revisit. It is a treat in and of itself!

very informative and interesting

Excellent experience, Guide was very factual and entertaining.

Lovely place

Very Interesting

Lovely

I am going back as soon as they open in January.

(Translated by Google) Here is a section of colonial history three hundred years ago. The interesting slanting house is worth trying, there are a lot of shots and a huge anti-aircraft gun, according to the guide that is used to protect Kingston. (Original) 这里记述了三百年前的一段殖民历史。有趣的斜房子值得进去尝试，还有很多排炮和一个巨大的高射炮，据导游说是用于保护金斯敦的。

True warrior spirits hate

Great as usual

Well worth a visit!!!

Extremely informative.

It was a good place to chill...

Lovely piece of history. Quite the place to learn about the once riches city in the world.

This location like all other places of public amusements have been ordered closed for the past few months by the government due to the pandemic. I had fun chilling outside just the same.

Its a calm and quiet environment, very relaxing to the mind. Its also educational

Historical site. Jamaica's history preserved!

Still sad after Losing Mary Read here.

Beautiful place

Great History but needs development

Relaxing

Even though the pandemic is on, we still get excited just walking by

Not all that

Great attraction located just outside Ocho Rios

Friendly enviroment, staff easy to get along with and can be very informative

I recently did the Taste of Jamaica tour with this company. I highly recommend them as the driver was very friendly and knowledgeable of the area. A++

I recently visited Jamaica in February of 2016 and decided to use Ocho Rios Authentic Tours for an excursion to Dunns River Falls and their Taste of jamaica tours. The driver picked us up on time and introduced us to the island while we tried we out many fruits from the countryside, which was amazing. Although the jerk chicken was too spicy, I still found the overall tour enjoyable. A+

It a great place

Nice place to go for vacation

The stay was good until I extended my time to stay 4 more extra nights which I paid only to be told on the 3rd night that I need to pay more because the quote the lady charged me was wrong and was for 3 nights...very disappointed and feel screwed at this point.

Exceptional

Fun

Beautiful views historic place

Great spot to go chill if your a fan of the ocean and loud waves

Very interesting history and it's nice to visit whilst seeing other things in the area. We didn't have a guide and regretted it. I heard a little of what a guide was saying and he sounded great.

As soon as its opened it will be lit! Managed by the Port Authority of Jamaica 🇯🇲

I would have loved it more if I could view the inside.

Awesome experience it was amazing the giddy house was a little scary tho but I would do it again in a heartbeat... this place is packed with rich history and lots of artifacts it a great place for history lovers..

A must see! Nice well preserved buildings. Awesome place for pics!

Great experience. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and friendly portrayal has a very rich history

This wa closed to the public due to COVID.

The facilities at Fort Charles are greatly improved. There are well appointed restrooms, and the place appears to be well kept. I enjoyed my visit.

Just beautiful

The tour is of the remaining portion of the damaged Fort Charles. There is not much there, but there are some interesting artifacts and historical stories behind them, the cannons (the large non-heating one mainly) and the main attraction the Giddy House (which really makes you giddy). The entire property is well kept. We went in the middle of August 2018 so it was extremely hot. I advise that you take water and an umbrella with you during summer months, but at the end of the tour there is a snack shop where you can buy water and other beverages - it is staffed by a very pleasant lady. Unfortunately my family arrived just after a group of tourists, so we were basically just hangers on during the tour because while we would have preferred to have our own tour guide, we were instructed to just join the tourist group, but we were just left following the group because the guide wasn't really speaking to us. There are also a few other historical sites on the way to Fort Charles, such as the Naval Cemetery. I recommend the tour just for the knowledge and experience of it and the fact that it is affordable.

Informative and very kind Male guide, Dane . You can't buy the tickets with card so make sure you have enough cash.

I was initially hesitant but if you enjoy history then it is definitely worth the $15. You also get a knowledgeable personal tour guide included.

Interesting historical site. Open for tours by all trained guides

Long time dream to visit here. Very cool historic fort, especially if you are interested in pirates.

Historic site with well preserved and documented history, excellent for school trips

It was a quite informative tour. It resulted in a better understanding of the lifestyle of soldiers on duty at the fort and how the physical landscape came to be what it was. A lot of the original artifacts have been replaced with replicas but there are still original materials, structures and items on site for viewing. The replica of the canon was fun to see turned on and placed in action.

This tour is well worth the time. Docent did a great job. Two major earthquakes destroyed much of the fort in the past, but the fort has been beautifully restored. There is a lot of information posted throughout the tour. If you are interested in the history of Jamaica, this is a must see historical site.

Kool tour.. Well documented history. Perfect for family or school trip or stroll for knowledge

In the 1600’s Port Royal was a wealthy trading hub in the Caribbean. The purpose of my visit was to tour this historic site and learn more about Port Royals history. The tour boasts artifacts and replicas as far as the 1600’s. The tour guide, Andrew was informative and verse at Port Royal’s history. The tour was well paced over an hour with enough information that wasn’t overwhelming.

Very knowledgeable tour guide who was fun and engaging. Enjoyed his tour. The Fort itself needs a little bit of maintenance but the efforts to interpret the space are commendable.

Good to visit if you want to know a bit of history of the place. If you arrive by sea it's at walkable distance from the port and you can also buy an entry ticket by card.

Well organised tour with great tour guides. The Fort needs a food courtyard where persons can dine and enjoy the ambiance.

Nice historic port with a twist about its history and the earthquake that destroyed half of the island it was built on

Worth a visit for the historic tour. Very informative

Unforgettable experience. Awesome history. Get the guided tour. It's worth the cost.

Great tour and absolutely amazing staff, it is better than I remember as a child. The only reason I didn’t leave a 5 star is because the ferry from Kingston is no longer available. A direct travel route would definitely make this treasure and a footnote in Jamaica’s history more accessible.

Nice informative tour. Takes about 1 and a half hour to complete so wear comfy shoes and clothing and walk with a bottle of water to keep hydrated.

So beautiful outside. I was really short on time so I didn't tour inside but what I saw outside was great. There are lots of canyons outside, also palm trees and a memorial with background history of the Port. I will tour inside for sure next time!