Kingston

8 St. Lucia Avenue

Opening Times

Mon-Thur 8:30am – 3:30pm
Fri 8:30am – 2:30pm

Call Us

Kingston

8 St. Lucia Avenue

Mon-Thur 8:30am – 3:30pm
Fri 8:30am – 2:30pm

Call Us
The Spanish-Jamaican Foundation The Spanish-Jamaican Foundation
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The Spanish-Jamaican Foundation

Jamaica Heritage Trail

The Heritage Trail is just a small contribution to the idea of developing a wide range of offers to make a link between Spain and Jamaica, highlighting some places that have some historical importance for Jamaica.

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Oyster Bay / Bahía de la Ostra

Oyster Bay is also known as Glistening Waters, Luminous Lagoon and Phosphorescent Lagoon.  Due to the mixing of the fresh water from the Martha Brae River, brackish water from the mangrove wetlands and salt water of the Caribbean Sea, it provides an optimum habitat for numerous bioluminescent (light-producing) organisms called dinoflagellates.  Indeed, it is one of the few places in the world where these micro-organisms thrive; creating a natural phenomenon that continues to awe tourists and scientists alike.

The lagoon is estimated to be four or five feet deep at its centre. Glowing brightest in warm and shallow waters, the bioluminescent micro-organisms have given rise to the claim that Oyster Bay is the one of the brightest fluorescent lagoons in the world. Their luminosity is particularly noticeable at night, drawing attention to the lagoon’s marine life.

According to local lore, the light was produced by tiny oysters that thrived on the roots of the red mangrove trees that grow abundantly in the shallow waters.  It is this explanation that gave rise to the name, Oyster Bay.

Visitors are able to enjoy the lagoon’s surreal and magical glow through the nocturnal boat trips that are provided locally.  In addition, they are permitted to swim in the lagoon and so can personally experience the sensation of being immersed in such luminous waters.

From some points of the bay’s coast, the skyline of the historic town of Falmouth can be seen, a quaint and quiet seaport town with many attractive old Georgian buildings. Founded in 1790, it is considered the best planned town in Jamaica, carefully laid out along a grid pattern with the parish church in the centre.

Oyster Bay (Bahía de la Ostra) es conocida también como Glistening Waters (Aguas Brillantes), Luminous Lagoon (Laguna Luminosa) y Phosphorescent Lagoon (Laguna Fosforescente). Gracias a la mezcla de agua fresca del río Martha Brae, agua salobre de los humedales de manglares y agua salada del Mar Caribe de  River, ofrece un óptimo hábitat para numerosos organismos bio-luminescentes llamados dinoflagellates.  Es uno de los pocos lugares del mundo donde estos micro-organismos prosperan, creando un fenómeno natural que sobrecoge a turistas y científicos.

Se estima que la laguna tiene una profundidad máxima de 1,2 a 1,5 metros en su centro. Los micro-organismos bio-luminescentes, que brillan más intensamente en aguas cálidas y poco profundas, han permitido a Oyster Bay reclamar ser una de las lagunas más intensamente fluorescentes del mundo. Su luminosidad se percibe particularmente de noche, resaltando el interés de su vida marina.

Según la leyenda popular, la luminosidad era producida por pequeñas ostras que abundaban en las raíces de los árboles de manglar rojo que crecen con fuerza en las aguas poco profundas. Es este el origen de su nombre, Oyster Bay (Bahía de la Ostra)

Los visitantes pueden disfrutar del mágico y surrealista brillo por medio de travesías nocturnas en barcas que se ofrecen en la zona. Además está permitido bañarse en la laguna para experimentar la sensación de de inmersión en esta agua luminosas.

Desde algunos puntos en la costa de la bahía se aprecia la silueta de la ciudad histórica de Falmouth,  un pintoresco y tranquilo puerto de mar con muchos atractivos edificios georgianos. Fundada en 1790, es considerada la ciudad mejor planeada de Jamaica, siguiendo un modelo de parrilla con la iglesia en el centro.

Oyster Bay
Trelawny
Jamaica

Other locations

  • 01. Spanish Town
  • 02. King’s House
  • 03. Gordon House
  • 04. Palisadoes
  • 05. Port Royal
  • 06. New Seville
  • 07. Runaway Bay
  • 08. Rio Bueno
  • 09. Mammee Bay
  • 10. Oyster Bay
  • 11. Falmouth
  • 12. St. James
  • 13. Rose Hall
  • 14. Cinnamon Hill
  • 15. Montego Bay
  • 16. Freeport
  • 17. Point
  • 18. Lucea
  • 19. Negril
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+1 876 764 0068
info@spanishjamaicanfoundation.org

Office working hours

Mon-Thur

8:30am – 3:30pm

Fri

8:30am – 2:30pm

Sat-Sun

Closed

Address

The Spanish-Jamaican Foundation
8 St. Lucia Avenue
Kingston 5

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