Rockfort Mineral Baths is located in East Kingston, at the foot of the Long Mountain. It includes an historic military fort which gave the area its name. The complex operates as a subsidiary of the Caribbean Cement Factory.
The fort was constructed around 1694 to defend the island. Though it has been around since the 17th century, the mineral spring was discovered only in 1907 following the earthquake which caused extensive damage to Kingston and took 800 lives.
Mineral springs occur naturally and produce water that contain minerals or other dissolved substances that alter its taste or give it therapeutic value. The water at Rockfort is piped from a cold spring into a swimming pool. It contains sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and copper. To avoid overexposure to the minerals, patrons are advised to spend no more than 45 minutes in the water.
You might think that because the water comes from a cold spring, it’d be cold. It isn’t. It’s warm and relaxing. Sit under the jets and let the force of the water coax the stress from your body.
When we visited Rockfort, we used the pool as the rest of the facility, which includes private rooms, was under renovation. Maybe because there are few public pools in Kingston, Rockfort is a very popular destination for locals.
Rockfort Mineral Baths was declared a national monument in 1992.
Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 8 -4 pm; Saturday and Sundays 7:00 – 6 pm. The last person is admitted no later than 3:15 on weekdays, 5:15 on weekends.
Telephone: 876-938-6551 or 938-5055
Email: rmbc@caribcement.com
Rate: J$350 Adults, Children 4-12 and Seniors J$250
Changing rooms with lockers are available. Swimsuits are recommended.
** Go early on weekends to avoid the crowd
Other mineral baths in Jamaica are Bath Fountain (St. Thomas), which opened in 1747 and Milk River (Clarendon), which is said to be 54 time more active than Baden, Switzerland and is among the most radioactive in the world. Two other mineral springs have been discovered – Bubbling Spring (St. Elizabeth) and Blue Hole Mineral Spring (Negril, Westmoreland).
This is my submission to Travel Photo Thursday, which is organized by Nancie at Budget Travelers Sandbox. Be sure to head over and check out more photos from locations around the world.
This sounds lovely! I went to my first mineral bath in Bath, England earlier this year and felt fabulous days after from the water…definitely has great effects for the skin!
Don’t ask me why – ignorance I guess on my part – but I never associate Jamaica with mineral paths. I think I need to visit your wonderful country. They look very inviting. And yes – I’ll be bringing my bathing suit.
I’m sure you’re not alone. We’ve promoted Jamaica primarily as a sun and sand destination and neglected the other parts, maybe because it’s easier? Rockfort is quite accessible to the ‘tourist areas,’ the other older ones — Bath and Milk River — not so much.
Definitely and it’s relaxing too! I wish I had had time when I was in Bath — would have been wonderful, I’m sure.
Glad to see I am not the only one that didn’t know about the mineral baths. I really need to have such an experience one of these days. We were near such mineral-rich waters and baths in Tuscany and never found, or made the time, to visit them. Next time is my rallying cry. . .
Sounds delightful! just the place I’d love to visit now… Were you there during work hours? I’d expected the place to be teeming with people… But I suppose that happens on weekends as you suggested. 😉
This looks so interesting. It reminds me a bit of the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. In all my travels, I still have yet to make it to Jamaica, but it’s on my list!
You should try it, Jackie. It really does relax you. I sleep like a log afterwards!
Hope you do make it here, Koren. BTW, we also have a Blue Lagoon here.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
We went very early one Saturday morning so we missed the crowd. They started arriving when we were leaving. I was surprised to see quite a few young people there.