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Negril, Jamaica - Negril travel guide

Negril is famous for its atmosphere of laissez faire. Definitely the place for those looking to just cut loose. Located on the western most point of Jamaica, Negril has some of the island's most amazing sunsets. The coastline is mostly volcanic rock and is riddled with tiny turquoise coves. A stretch of beach that is unspoiled by resorts does still exists. Its called Bloody Bay for back when whalers stopped here to clean their catch. On Jamaica's western tip lies a beautiful and magical place Negril Beach.
Negril, Jamaica.

Negril is another one of those Jamaican destinations that not so long ago was nothing but a sleepy fishing village. Then 20 years ago a few small hotels moved in to take advantage of the beautiful white sandy beaches and gradually over the next few years some of the biggest names in all inclusive resorts such as Sandals and Hedonism moved in turning Negril into one of the most popular destinations on the Island. Famous for Long beach, the seven mile long white sandy beach that runs along the front of all the exclusive hotels in the area, Negril truly is a paradise in the Caribbean.

Negril Things to see

On Jamaica's western tip lies a beautiful and magical place . . . Negril. The seven mile beach is a magnificent stretch of pure white Jamaican sand along which are dotted; low-rise hotels, resorts and guest cottages hidden among the palms.Sunsets are a main attraction here as each day melts into a glorious burst of color; everyone being unique and breathtaking. Some pastels; some intense with fire. The crystal-clear turquoise water is well protected by numerous reefs and is free of rocks, seaweed or undertow. There is such a gentle drop-off that it is safe even for non-swimmers and children.

Negril’s greatest attraction is the seaside, people come here to lie in the sun and swim in the sea. The West End 80-metre high cliffs are a trademark with locals who swim towards them at sunset, while tourists gather at the bars situated on top of the cliffs to sip a cocktail and watch the swimmers. The beach and the two bays, Bloody Bay and Long Bay, are situated along Norman Manley Boulevard. Long Bay, almost completely accessible on foot, has the longest and most famous beach in Negril. All beaches in Negril are open and free to access with the exception of those reserved to the hotels. Hidden by the surrounding bushy hills, Bloody Bay is more intimate and is frequented by tourists and locals alike. Another popular beach is on Booby Cay, an islet just off Bloody Bay.

A stop in Negril wouldn't be complete without a visit to Rick's Café. Yes, its named for Casablanca and is decorated with all sorts of Casablanca memorabilia. You can even jump off a volcanic rock cliff into a small cove. Beware, there is no medi-airlift in Jamaica. Rick's is best for sipping a pina colada and watching the sunset perched on a patio over the water.

The most famous landmark in Negril is the lighthouse. You must request a tour but the bother is worth the view out to sea. Live music usually is going on every night so Negril is the place when Sumfest or Sunsplash isn't going on. This is not a destination for anyone looking for culture or history but rather a place to come and relax on the beach and of course, Party! Negril attracts a mainly young crowd of either newly weds or singles and is the home of some of the wildest parties in the Caribbean such as the world famous Hedonistic parties held at the Hedonism 2 hotel and resort. The Negril Point Lighthouse, situated on the other side of West End Road, is open to the public. The 103 steps to the top are worth the climb for the outstanding views over coast.
Negri lighthouse.

The Royal Palm Park, a natural reserve of 500 acres with over 25 species of birds, turtles and fish is a great place for the nature lovers.

Negril Beaches

All beaches in Negril are free and open to the public, except those belonging to the hotel resorts. Long Bay Beach north of Negril is a 7-mile long sandy stretch, the longest beach in Jamaica. The water is shallow for a long way and waves are a mere ripple on the surface. The beach has many bars and restaurants, various vendors and points where to hire boats and water sports equipment. Bloody Bay Beach is a palm lined beach just after long beach. Two and a half miles of white sand on a calm bay is a fantastic place to relax and to swim. The water is clear and the unspoilt scenery superb.

For years, Negril's beach has been rated as one of the top ten beaches in the world by many travel magazines. The north end of the beach is home to the large, all-inclusive resorts, and to the south are the smaller, family-run hotels. This combination gives the Negril area a large variety of rooms, services and prices. South of downtown Negril is West End Road, known as the cliff area, which is lined with resorts that offer more privacy. These areas offer easy access to waters good for snorkelling and diving, with jumping points reaching more than 40 feet (12 m) high.

In the surrounding areas there are a lot of interesting villages and small bays. Hopewell is a characteristic small centre with a Methodist church dating back to the late 19th century. Sandy Bay was founded as a village for the free slaves and Miskito Cove is a small bay along the road to Lucea. Today a tiny village with less than 6000 inhabitants, Lucea used to be a very active town thanks to one of the best and deepest natural ports in the northern coast. The port is dominated by Fort Charlotte that was built as defense structure against pirates. Interesting places to stop along the coastal road to the small town of Green Island are Cousin’s Cove, Davis Cove and Negro Bay.

Need to find a place to stay while you are in Negril? Thanks to the Jamaican Tourist Board Online Site you can find one. These guys are great. They've basically compiled a constantly updating list of the Hotels, All Inclusives, Guest Houses, and Apartment Resorts for most of the hotspots in Jamaica.

  • Negril Food and Drink

    • Cosmo's Seafood Restaurant and Bar,

      Norman Manley Blvd., Negril
      This seaside open-air bistro is a pleasant place to spend the afternoon--and maybe stay on for dinner. The fresh fish is the main attraction, and the conch soup that's the house specialty is a meal in itself. There's also lobster (grilled or curried), fish-and-chips, and a catch of the day.
      Tel. +1 876 957-4330

    • Tree House Restaurant

      A mixture of international and Jamaican food.
      Tel. +1 876 957-4287

    • Mary’s Bay Boat Bar and Grill,

      Located just before Mi Yard Music Bar & the Love Boat about 10 minutes walk from Downtown Negril, Mary’s Boat offers a large selection of drinks, grilled food and entertainment.
      Tel. +1 876 454-2284

  • Getting Around - Negril Transport

    • By plane

      Montego Bay and Norman Manley Airport in Kingston greet thousands of International tourists, businessmen, and visitors on a daily basis.

      Getting around Jamaica is quick and easy by air. Air Jamaica Express operates from Montego Bay and Kingston to all areas with landing fields on a daily basis. Air Negril operates a daily service from Montego Bay to Negril. For more information, call Air Jamaica Express at +1 876 922-4661, 952-5401 or +1 800 523-5585, and for Air Negril, call +1 876 940-7747 or +1 876 884-6347.

    • By taxi

      Taxis have predetermined rates between one location and another. All cabs have red PPV plates (Public Passenger Vehicle) along with regular license plates. Limousines, air-conditioned coaches and local bus service also connect all villages, cities and towns.

    • By Bus
      • Jamaica's bus system, while serving almost every village in the country, is unorganised: timetables don't really exist and buses are often literally overflowing.
      • Buses and coasters, run between Montego Bay or Kingston and every point on the island. Buses arrive and depart from each town's transportation station, which is usually near the main market.
      • Coasters, or private minibuses, display red license plates with the initials 'PPV'. They depart their point of origin when they're full (often overflowing) and drop off passengers en route.

Visitors guide to Negril: http://www.negril.com/
Negril Resort Association offers Negril Jamaica vacation packages including lodging and airfare: http://negriljamaica.com/

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