Zion Country is a cozy bed and breakfast in the east of Jamaica.Perfect place to relax, laid back style, personal touch and it's The place to taste the Jamaican life style.Very often we get visit from manatees, year round. We offer a lot of trips in the surrounded area from waterfalls to beaches and Blue Mountains.
This place is an absolute paradise. It is off the beaten path of the traditional tourist areas of Jamaica but easy to get to. The bay is large and shallow with gently lapping waves, great for snorkeling. Free- I is a great host and I loved that he has many pf the plants on the property labelled for identification. Owen is an amazing chef and made the best fish dish I have ever eaten. If you want crowds of people and swim-up pool bars, this is not the place for you. If you want to feel like you are alone in your own tropical paradise perfectly suited for swimming, bird-watching and hammock relaxing you will not be disappointed. I loved the sound of the peepers at night and they lulled me to sleep but they are loud and might not be music to everyone's ears. My partner was glad he had ear plugs with him. Overall I can't recommend Zion country highly enough and I will definitely be back.
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Date of stay: February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from fredericus enneking, Owner at Zion Country Eco Beach Cabins
Responded Jan 22, 2023
hello lexi, Thanks for your kind words and we hope to welcome you back in the near future. one love, Free-I.
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Highly recommended. The location was beautiful. Free-I was great, helpful with everything and really made our stay. Many lovely things to do near by. You will find the area much less expensive than more popular tourist areas. Food was fantastic. Room was clean and comfortable.
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Date of stay: March 2020
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Response from fredericus enneking, Owner at Zion Country Eco Beach Cabins
Responded Jan 22, 2023
Hello Drew, Thanks for your possitive report about Zion Country. We feel always flaterred by these reports and that s why we keep this paradise to this standards for any future guest. One love, Free-I.
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Our stay at Zion Country Beach Resort was a thoroughly positive experience that I can highly recommend to anyone looking for relaxation and an authentic experience. The resort not only offers a unique location with a private beach that invites you to dream, but also a communal breakfast that offers the opportunity to meet other travelers and exchange experiences.
The location of the resort is simply exceptional - remote enough to relax from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, yet central enough to easily explore the beauty and sights of the area. The private beach is an absolute highlight and offers the perfect backdrop for relaxing days under the sun.
Special praise goes to the host Free-I, whose hospitality and knowledge of the country enriched our stay. Not only did he make us feel at home, but he was also able to give us valuable tips on where to enjoy good food and see the best sights. His stories about life in the country broadened our horizons and made the trip even more unforgettable.
Breakfast together was a pleasure every morning and provided an excellent opportunity to start the day in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. The quality and variety of the food was outstanding and helped to make each day start perfectly.
Overall, Zion Country Beach Resort offers an unbeatable package for anyone looking for peace, authenticity and a personal touch. It is not just a place to stay, but an experience that I would recommend to everyone. I am already looking forward to my next visit and can only recommend this gem of accommodation.
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Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The view, soothing sounds of the waves and excellent care by Owen were the highlights of my stay here. Owen saw me safely on my way back to Mandeville and gave excellent recommendations of things to do while in the area. Thanks so much Owen! Was a pleasure meeting you 💕
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Date of stay: January 2023
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Trip type: Traveled solo
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Response from fredericus enneking, Owner at Zion Country Eco Beach Cabins
Responded Jan 22, 2023
Hello, Sorry, i never met you but great that you had a wonderfull time with my cook Owen, yes he is a fantastic host. Hope to meet you one day back in Zion Country. One love, Free-I.
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My wife and I just spent a week at Zion Country in Long Road Jamaica. Zion Country consists of two rustic cabins each with two rooms. The cabins are very well built and comfortable and the views are out of this world. Long Road is a quite little community in the heart of Portland township on the east side of the Island. The people there are exceptionally friendly. Never once were we approached to buy anything quite unlike many of the tourist areas like MoBay and Ocho. We never felt uncomfortable walking in town, even at night. Little grocery shops and jerk and fried chicken line the one street through town. A couple of things you should know: First of all Owen, your chef / guide, is a great host!! He is beyond friendly and helpful and will guide you in the direction of anything you want to do. I recommend you ask him his advice before doing anything so he can advise you on what to do or not to do. We truly enjoyed our time with him. We brought our own mosquito net which proved to be a good idea. We have been to other areas of the island and had been bothered and bit up. There are nets over the beds already so this is not necessary. Beds are futon type and a little thin and hard but being in paradise we could have cared less. There are no bathrooms in the room and you will have to walk up a pretty steep set of steps to get to the toilets. The toilets are very clean. The showers are in stalls located near the cabins. The water is cold, not luke warm, but cold. After the initial shock to the system we found them to be very refreshing in washing off the salt water or sun screen. The beach area is rocky with no sand but there is a nice spot of soft grass if you like to lay out. Zion Country is located on Manconeal Bay and the water is very warm but you will need to wear water shoes because it is rocky, however the rocks are flat and easy to negotiate. The grounds are lush with local plant life and truly enjoyable to walk amongst. Breakfast is continental style and is served at 9am. It consists of 2 slices of buttered bread, two slices of toast with jam, a slice of grapefruit, a slice of orange, and the occasional boiled egg. It was very good and a nice way to start the day without being weighed down. If you are a big eater in the mornings you can stock up on snacks at any one of the little stores within a five minute walk. If you are a big coffee drinker, like us, you need to be aware that the breakfast includes only two cups of coffee (or tea) and a small decanter of milk and no more. If you ask nicely and are willing to pay a little extra I am sure you can work something out. Dinners are served at 6pm and you need to tell Owen you wish to eat by early afternoon. One night a week, I believe it's Saturdays, meals are not offered so you will have to eat outside Zion Country which is no problem. Owen's cooking is phenomenal and truly Jamaican cuisine. The dining area is very nice and clean with a tremendous view of the bay. You can get a cold beer, rum, or soda at any time and just sit and chill if you wish. If you wamt to hang out at a sandy beach there are several available within a 15 to 20 minute taxi from Zion Country. We visited Long Bay which is one of the few beaches that attracts locals. It is lined with a few little bars and food shacks where you can get cold Red Stripes and enjoy the natural beauty and talk with the friendly locals who are more than happy to have a chat with you. You can take a route taxi for about $2000 - $3000 JA ($20-$30) or if you are more adventurous you can take the public taxis which will run you about $200 JA. Taxis are hard to get on weekends and in the evenings so keep that in mind. The public taxis are very crowded and not for the faint of heart. I recommend the public taxi for a truly Jamaican experience. I highly recommend going to Reach Falls. Have Owen set you up with local rasta guide Renny. He will give you a private tour up the river over and through many falls and tell you all about local plant life. If you simply go to the top and pay to go to the falls themselves you will only stand at the top and miss all the fun. Renny asked for $1200 JA for two of us. I gave him a tip and it was money more than well spent. The owner, Free-I, was visiting family for the holidays so we did not get to meet him. We paid $420 US for the week for the room and round trip transport to Kingston airport was $260 US. Meals were about $10 US per person and drinks were very reasonable, never trying to take advantage. We have been to Jamaica three other times, once to a resort in Runaway Bay and twice to a small place similar to Zion Country in Falmouth. We loved Time and Place in Falmouth and made some great friends there but sadly they are no longer in business. That being said neither of those areas compared to the natural beauty of the east side of the island. I believe that the people are friendlier and more genuine because they don't see as many tourists and because of the small town atmosphere. If you are looking for a rustic adventure I highly recommend Zion Country. I've only been home a few days but have already started putting money in a jar for next year. Nuff Respect.
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Date of stay: December 2014
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Any of the rooms are good. We chose room #4 after reading many reviews. I can tell you that...
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We thoroughly enjoyed our too-short stay at Zioncountry Eco-Beach Cabins. If you are looking for the Ritz-Carlton please go elsewhere-life is a lot simpler and rustic here. The 4 cabins are simply furnished and sturdily built, it kind of reminds me of the Adirondack cabins I used to go to as a kid, but with lush, beautiful tropical surroundings. You can unwind with a book and sit on your cabin porch, listen to the waves lapping onto the shores of Machioneal Bay after a day of visiting the local beaches and sights. Although Free-I the owner was on holiday while we were there, Owen, who makes fabulous meals, took care of us the entire time and was a most gracious host. If you need a car, for example, he is the man to call to get you a cab to go into town. Mokko, a Rasta and our hiking guide to Reach Falls, was terrific, and quite the entertaining tour guide. He loves to hike! Hire him for a day or two during your stay here, although he does run his own cabins near Bath. The grounds are lush, with wild flora, almond and calabash trees all around. During our 4 nights there we slept with the cabin door open and let the crow of a local rooster be our alarm clock. If I had a couple of weeks to work on a book or some writing--sans computer of course-- this place would be where I'd stay. It's away from the hustle and bustle of city living. Port Antonio is about 45 minutes away,and Long Bay with its great beach seems to be the halfway point. There is a communal dining area where meals and drinks (beer, juices) are served. Food is extremely inexpensive here. On Long Road, Mama Joyce has a roadside shack where a delicious chicken plate can be bought for J$175, or you can just eat at a jerk chicken stand. Red Stripe is about J$250. Yum!
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Date of stay: February 2007
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This eco- B& B is a beautiful, cozy haven amidst a small Jamaican farming and seaside village. The land is gorgeously planted with all kinds of lush tropical plants with lovely vistas of the mountains and Carribbean sea. While it is not possible to wake up with a cup of coffee or tea on the deck of your beach cabin as breakfast is strictly served at 9 a.m. sharp, the care of the owner and staff is ever present. IT is easy to become friends with anyone staying there, Owen, the dinner cook is accomodating and sweet, Tamar the breakfast maker and house maid is a delight, and Free-I, the owner loves to join guests with night time card games and drinks. Free-I also helps guests find their way around the area and connects them with local guides who are truly amazing people who live a natural and whole life styel. The kids had a ball! WE went to the local blow hole, had a back way in private waterfall hike that involved jumping off into crystal blue pools, ate jerk foods, and relaxed in the cabin hammocks. At Zion Country everyone seems to lose their age and all play and relax together as ONE. There is no internet and we did not get cell service. This made for truly wonderful uninterrupted family and friends time in nature. Halellujah and Thanks to Free-I for his vision and the success in manifesting it for those of us who need to drop out of our regular lives once in a while and re-connect with the simple preciousness of living on Earth together!
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Date of stay: February 2012
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Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Â Choose a beach cabin for more charm and sounds of the sea to lull you to sleep. But bring a...
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My husband, friends and I booked 6 nights at Zion Country and stayed only 1. We arrived late after 36 hours of flying and 6 hours of driving the challenging Jamaican roads. Upon arrival we were met with a less than friendly attitude from Free-I (owner). We were shown the grounds and explained the very strict rules. We were shown to our Extremely Rustic Rooms. When we asked if there was anything in the kitchen for us to eat before bed his response was WE HAVE NO FOOD FOR YOU. We were thirsty and wanted a cold soda, beer or even water. We were told to get back in the car and go to the bar down the street. Being tired we stayed the night. The next morning weW went up the 50 or more stairs to the bar area. We were told the staff was not allowed to make coffee until 9:00 when breakfast was served. The staff went ahead and made the coffee but no coffee cups were allowed to leave the dining area. At 9:00 when breakfast was served we were given 5 pieces of bread and butter, a 2" square of watermelon and 1 hard boiled egg. Served with coffee, tea or water. Free-I sat down at our table I said good morning to him, his response was I have already said good morning to everyone!
Call it cultural differences, but I feel Free-I doesn't care about his guests or his staff. As a veteran traveler to Jamaica I have never been treated with such disrespect. I will be contacting the Jamaican Tourist Board to look into what is happening at this property. It is my opinion that this is a common thing. He gets the 50% deposit and then doesn't care whether his guests are happy or not. If they leave then he makes money.
Other Issues: The Stairs are treturous, The bathrooms are in the middle of the staircase, showers are alomost and beach level with only cold water, there are electrical outlets in the cabins. Please feel free to email me with any questions.
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Date of stay: October 2010
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from fredericus, Owner at Zion Country Eco Beach Cabins
Responded Nov 1, 2010
Dear guest and readers, I'm running Zion Country for more then 15 years and this is the second negative review we receive in all these years ( still, sad enough it's 2 to much.) When Taunaj arrived in the evening around 7 pm with her husband and friends i welcomed them by the gate but get almost no reaction from any of them.With a less then friendly attitude maybe because they were so tired after all the traveling. We carry for them all their luggage down to their rooms. Arriving down i explained, as i do to every other visitor in Zion Country a few things ( they call it rules ???) Like keep the beach gate closed otherwise the dogs run out , were the bathrooms and showers are situated, were are the light switches and time when breakfast and diner get served. etc. The guests asked me then if we had diner for them and my answer was: We only serve diner cook to order ( what they didn't do ) so i explained them that they could drive with their car ( They had a rental car) to Manchioneal ( what is 5 minutes drive from Zion Country were you can get delicious diners and were we send always guests what arrive late and still looking for diner). They didn't want to go out the property anymore.So they had no diner, what was there own choice Later in the evening the husband came up to the main balcony were everybody is welcome, and order some drinks. We just run out of beer so he order some rum and sodas in Zion Country He asked if i could serve him ice by the soft drinks what we could nt supply because we just got that day the electricity back after 8 days none, what was damaged by tropical storm Nicole.( i never told them that they had to go out of the property for drinks??/) He then went down to their room. The next morning when i came up on the main balcony were we serve breakfast with a beautiful view and sunny day, i greeted everybody with the words" good morning i hope everybody had a good sleep. You have to walk around 20 stairs to come on the level were we serve the breakfast, diner etc. and no 50 stairs and as you can see on many pictures and read on our home page that the property is build on a sloop and the cabins are on sea level so the only way to reach your cabin is by walking, sorry we don't have a elevator and have also no plans to build that, we never had really complains like that. Zion Country is a bed & breakfast accommodation is not a hotel or villa. It's mentioned on Zion Country web page that the diners are cooked to order and the breakfast are continental but we have every day a variety in our breakfast also with the fruits. What you expect from a bed and breakfast accommodation??? they get buffet style breakfast ? For that price ?? After breakfast Taunaj and her husband and friends went t down to their cabins. Around 10 am the husband came up to me and asked if he could have a word with me. i was working so i put down my tools and listen to him. He told me that we get along so far but he's sure that we DON'T get along in the future ????? After he said that they want to leave because the bath rooms had only cold water, they couldn't watch there movies on a computer in their rooms, the breakfast was poor and there were no snacks available ( no were is written on my web page that we serve snacks) .There was no room service?? (Sorry we are Not a hotel.) The bathrooms are situated on the top and not half way the stairs??? From arriving to leaving Zion Country Taunaj neither her friends went out of the premises to met other people. They drove away around 10.30 am and left the community. I chequed these allegations what Taunaj said about that she heard from other community people that these practices happen regular in Zion Country. I will tell you that this is not at all the truth and it looks that you want to damage my business with a lot of lies. Further i have to explain that we are a small business, so if you make a reservation then we reserve the room for you after deposit is paid. In the mean time we got more requests for the same period and i have to disappoint these future guest with telling them that we have no rooms available any more for that period. When a guest arrives in Zion Country and want to leave before the booked departure date in Zion Country then he/she don't get a refund of the deposit, you have to understand that we can't fill up these rooms anymore so we loose 50 %of our business.because Zion Country run for 95 %on on-line bookings. Also every guest get our policy send before he /she make a reservation. IT happens in all these years 3 times that guests leave earl yer without a refund. If there are cancellation before or during your stay in Zion Country and you have to cancel it because of : sickness, accident or somebody past away, Zion Country will always find a solution to refund the money to their guests. So it is ridiculous to tell here in a review that i make a ton of money because this happens so regular. As i said before in all these years 3 times. Zion Country is a team of people what working very relaxed together to serve our guests ,It is totally rubbish to mention that i don't have any respect for my workers neither my guests. Again I'm totally not aware that we in Zion Country treated these guests with disrespect and if you feel it like that, then the only thing i can say, Sorry. I hope you still had a beautiful time in Jamaica. Please for further disappointments in booking accommodation: read good the web-page from the property you interested in and also view some pictures so that you get a good idea were you gonna spent your holiday. Owner/ manager Free-I.
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The best place ! For us just what we expected: simplicity, friendly people, good atmosphere, excellent food, nice view, moderate price. What else do you need? The location is very good, close to Reach falls, and it's extremely easy to move around with taxi transportation (very inexpensive). The area is our favorite in the island: beautiful beaches and super green explosive nature. Would like to be still there.
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Date of stay: November 2007
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Check in / front desk
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Business service (e.g., internet access)
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zion Country was our home for a week in March and we found it to be the perfect place to begin our first "real Jamaican" experience. Having stayed previously at all-inclusives in busy Montego Bay, we realized that if we wanted to know Jamaica's culture and her people we would need to escape the confines of commercial tourism... and escape we did. Zion's host Free-I is a wonderful ambassador for his adopted homeland and was eager to help us connect with the best parts of beautiful Portland Parish. We loved sweet Tamar, and became fast friends with Chef Owen (oh, how I miss that ackee!). Any concerns we had prior to our trip vanished immediately upon arrival at this gem of a place... Cold water showers? The bath house is a roofed building on the beach with 3 partitioned shower stalls affording views of Manchioneal Bay. The water isn't 'cold', it's tepid (and steam would distort the view!). Security? Long Road is so far removed from commercial tourism that we never felt anxious about our safety. No electricity? Constant bay breezes, the lovely shading foliage, and Zion's cliffside perch offer relief from the heat in lieu of air conditioning. The cabins have generator-run indoor lighting, and there are outlets available to charge camera batteries, etc. in the main building. Mosquitos? Yup, we made friends with a few... bring bug spray, and take advantage of the supplied netting hung over your bed if they're a bother (we found we didn't need to use it; the breeze picks up in the evening and mostly keeps them away while sleeping). The 'rocky' beach? The multitude of sugar-sand beaches in nearby coves along the coast and the surf crashing directly outside our door lulling us to sleep at night made up for the fact that rocks are an issue in the bay. With swim shoes (also needed for Reach Falls) it's easy to enjoy a refreshing dip if you can tear yourself away from rock-hounding on shore! Free-I connected us with local guide Rasta Renny for a hike up the lower pools to Reach Falls, and also recommended that we snorkel at gorgeous Winnifred Beach, which is virtually tourist-free (a 40 minute ride via public transportaion for $5 US round trip). Both experiences were highlights of our visit, and should not be missed! We chose Zion Country in part due to its mission of 'sustainable tourism': Free-I welcomed our offer to bring donated school supplies with us and arranged for the goods to be given to 2 local primary schools, going so far as to drive us and the supplies to Reach School and Manchioneal School so we could participate in the delivery. We left at the end of the week knowing Jamaica in a way we could never have imagined prior to our visit to beautiful Zion Country, and have felt 'homesick' since our return!
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Date of stay: March 2012
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Each of 2 cabins has 2 separate rental units (a room with a bed, storage shelving, a small table,...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi kelly
Of cause, everybody from around the world is welcome in our paradise.
The doors are open to everybody.
For more info visit our page.
Hope to hear soon back from you.
Enjoy you're day.
Greetings and one love, Free-I.
Hello, Thanks for you're interest in Zion Country.
We offer pick up and drop offs any time of the day or night, so don't worry you will reach airport on time.
Owen is still Zion Country chef cook and cook delicious dishes for our guests.
Hope to hear soon back from you.
Enjoy the weekend.
Greetings and one love, Free-I.
thanks for asking, yes we are always happy to prepare vegetarian dishes for who prefer this.
The food is finger licking good in Zion Country.
Thanks for asking, Free-I.
There are more places to choose from in the Port Antonio area.
PRICE RANGE
$78 - $95 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
zion country beach cabins hotel port antonio
LOCATION
CaribbeanJamaicaPortland ParishPort Antonio
NUMBER OF ROOMS
5
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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