Walk streets that were once filled with pirates while you enjoy the colonial sights of one of the Caribbean’s most historic cities.

Today Port Royal is a fishing village with a peaceful atmosphere. However, in a bygone era, these peaceful streets would have been bustling with pirates, sailors and merchants from around the Caribbean. Take a tour of the landmarks that preserve this turbulent history, including the impressive Fort Charles. Eat fresh fish in town and take a trip to Lime Cay to enjoy the area’s natural beauty.

From its founding in 1581, Port Royal was used by the Spanish and then the English as a naval base. The city soon became one of the New World’s busiest cities, attracting merchants and eventually pirates, prostitutes and drunkards. An earthquake in 1692 caused many of the buildings from this era of decadence to sink into the ocean. Take a scuba diving tour to visit this famous underwater archaeological site.

Get a taste of the port city’s history at St. Peter’s Church, whose walls and relics date back to 1725. Continue the tour to Fort Charles, where you’ll learn how the English controlled the Caribbean from this port for nearly 200 years. Nearby, two small museums preserve relics from the 1692 earthquake.

Visit the Old Gaol and the Old Naval Hospital to look at some colonial architecture. The Old Naval Hospital is supported by ironworks produced in Bradford, England. The hospital is one of the oldest pre-fabricated structures in the world.

Hire a boat and a pilot to take you to Lime Cay. This small island is uninhabited and provides opportunities for snorkelling, swimming and tanning without the crowds. As the sun sets, go back to town and enjoy some of Jamaica’s best seafood at a harbourside restaurant. Dance into the night at one of the town’s bars and nightclubs.

Get to Port Royal from Kingston by car or bus. The 27-kilometre (17-mile) trip takes around 40 minutes. There is accommodation in Port Royal, though many choose to visit as a daytrip.