James Bond’s Caribbean
Golden Eye, Oracabessa, Jamaica
The little villa that started it all. Former intelligence officer Ian Fleming penned his first James Bond novel in 1952 at his vacation home, Golden Eye, and the island inspired many of the novels themselves.
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Couples Sans Souci, Ocho Rios, Jamaica
When Roger Moore’s Bond visited the fictional island of San Monique in Live and Let Die, the cliff-hanging all-inclusive served as his hotel. On your next visit, ask about staying in the Roger Moore suite.
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The Kaiser Terminal, Ocho Rios, Jamaica
The popular cruise port was title villain Dr. No’s laboratory at Crab Key, from which Sean Connery’s Bond and Ursula Andress’ Honey Ryder make a daredevil escape in the first Bond film.
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Dunn’s River Falls, Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Who could forget Ursula Andress’ iconic emergence from the waters of the fictional Crab Key beach in Dr. No? One of the most memorable scenes in Bond film history, it made every man want to be Bond…or a dive knife.
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Half Moon Resort, Montego Bay, Jamaica
The classic Jamaican hotel, minutes from Montego Bay’s Hip Strip, was the location of the hacienda home of Gloria Hendry’s Bond girl, Rosie Carver. If only real-life CIA agents enjoyed such luxury.
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Green Grotto Caves, Discovery Bay, Jamaica
Remember Kananga’s lair from Live and Let Die? The foreboding Green Grotto Caves were a hideout befitting a Caribbean villain, having served the Spanish during the British takeover of Jamaica.
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The Blue Mountains, Jamaica
Sean Connery’s Bond drove the twisting turns of Jamaica’s Blue Mountains on his way to the home of Miss Taro in Dr. No. The range, however, remains more famous for Jamaica’s Blue Mountain coffee.
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The Arecibo Observatory, Arecibo, Puerto Rico
Pierce Brosnan engages in quintessential Bond theatrics near this world’s largest and most sensitive radiotelescope in Golden Eye. Wonder if the scientists at the observatory use this factoid as a pick-up line?
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Paradise Island, The Bahamas
Formerly known as Hog Island, this home to the Atlantis resort has a long history with the Bond film franchise. Paradise Island has appeared in both 1965’s Thunderball and 2006’s Casino Royale.
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Staniel Cay, The Exumas, The Bahamas
The Bahamas featured heavily in Thunderball, most memorably in the underwater speargun battle, which was shot near Staniel Cay. Now the island is more known for its beer-guzzling, swimming pigs.
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The Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island, The Bahamas
Bond being a notorious casino aficionado, its apropos that scenes from Casino Royale were shot at the Atlantis Paradise Island. Gambling in a gorgeous location simply screams Bond.
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Nassau, The Bahamas
The crystal waters surrounding the Bahamian capital were used for several subaquatic James Bond film scenes, including You Only Live Twice, The Spy Who Loved Me, For Your Eyes Only, The World Is Not Enough, and Casino Royale.
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Colon, Panama
Daniel Craig’s Bond supposedly first meets Dominic Green on the waterfront in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, but the scenes from Quantum of Solace were actually shot near Colon on the Caribbean end of the Panama Canal.
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Tikal Mayan Ruins, Guatemala
Being hundreds of miles from the Amazon jungle didn’t stop producers from using Mayan ruins in Guatemala as the exterior of Sir Hugo Drax’s pyramid headquarters in Moonraker.
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Isla Mujeres, Mexico
While Acapulco and Mexico City doubled as the fictional Republic of Isthmus in city scenes in Licence to Kill, the snorkeling-worthy waters of Isla Mujeres were used for several underwater shots.
Where will Bond go next? Alas, we’ll have to wait for Skyfall to find out…
