6 Best Beaches in Jamaica
The Caribbean Sea, as you may already know, is incredible. However, the view of Jamaica’s beaches is even more perfect. Each beach has its own peculiarity, but they will all make you forget your problems and simply stop to listen to some good reggae.
The island offers the most varied programs, for the most diverse budgets and length of stay. Therefore, it is easier to choose what to do on your trip according to your preferences.
Regardless of what you do in Jamaica, I’m sure the island will enchant you from the moment you set foot on its soil until the last moment before you leave.
1. Doctor’s Cave Beach, Montego Bay
One of the most popular beaches in Jamaica in the entire Caribbean is Doctor’s Cave Beach, and for good reason. If you walk around, you will find waterfalls with clean waters, wide green spaces and impeccable architecture, bringing back English colonial cultures.
It is also possible to enjoy fairs, historic farms and a club for tourists and residents with special amenities. The beach has free Wi-Fi, as do most of the country’s famous places.
The tip is to arrive before 10 am, as after that, the sandy strip tends to get very crowded, mainly because of the fishing pier.
Also, set aside USD 6 for the entrance fee and a few more bucks to try the typical Jamaican food. The distance between the city of Montego Bay and the Jamaican capital Kingston is 168km. The Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa is 30km away.
2. Negril
When we think of Jamaica, what comes to mind is a happy people, full of life, who enjoy good music and lots of parties. And when you arrive in Negril, that’s what you’ll see. The peace and serenity of people is astonishingly beautiful, with or without cannabis.
As soon as you choose a sun lounger, some girl approaches and offers you to braid your hair for a few coins, and if enjoying a different culture is what you want, then you should braid your strands!
The city of Negril is small, but there is no shortage of fun for people of all ages and budgets, such as Cliff Jumping, which is a jump from the cliff directly into crystal clear water, or practicing Jamaicans’ favorite sport: parasailing, in which you are pulled by a boat in a type of “kite”.
Another very important thing to do in Negril is to enjoy the sunset at Rick’s Café, a perfect restaurant for trying Caribbean and international dishes and tasting the best beer in Jamaica, Red Stripe.
The distance between the city and Kingston is 240km.
3. Frenchman’s Cove, Port Antonio
This is one of the beaches in Jamaica that is private and isolated from the city of Port Antonio, capital of the parish of Portland. Entrance costs USD 10, but if I don’t say that it will be the best spent USD 10 of your trip, I will be omitting facts.
The phenomenon of the green river flowing into the turquoise beach makes any amount of money seem small.
Vegetation is very present in Frenchman’s Cove, creating a beaytiful shadows even in the water. When you search for this beach on Google Images, the photo that appears most often is that of the wooden swing, which is located on the river, an attraction for any tourist passionate about adventure, and which leaves nothing to be desired in Jamaica’s “relax vibe”.
Entry with food and drinks is not permitted, but the infrastructure of the place offers a great restaurant, clean bathrooms and sensational service. The distance between Port Antonio and Kingston is 89km.
4. Blue Lagoon, Port Antonio
I bet that as soon as you read the name of this beach, you remembered the famous Brooke Shields film, seen more often than a microwave dish in the Afternoon Session, and really, you thought right!
The film was filmed on this beach in Port Antonio (and on an island in Fiji too, but most of it was in the Blue Lagoon), which is spectacular for its constant changing colors (depending on where you are, the water can appear turquoise blue, sapphire color and even an intense royal blue) and its great depth inviting for people who, like me, love swimming and diving.
The majority of visitors to this beach are couples on their honeymoon or traveling with the intention of renewing their vows, and Lagoa Azul really is the right place for a romantic trip, as it seems to be enchanted.
As if the exuberant beauty of this “lake” wasn’t enough, another point that leads people to visit it is a different water sport, called bamboo rafting, which is very similar to the rafting we know, but with a bamboo board.
The place has completely free entry. However, in the meantime, there are people who like to pay USD 30 to take a guided tour. Do I think this is necessary? No, but taste is taste. As it is in the same city as the previous beach mentioned, the distance between it and Kingston is also 89km.
5. Treasure Beach, South Coast
One of the beaches in Jamaica that is quiet, well-groomed and cozy, this is Treasure Beach. It became famous because of a hotel called Jakes and, because of that, people underestimated everything related to it.
But this beach turned out to be totally different from what people thought. The visitors are generally families, mainly because of the children’s playground. Those who don’t go with family go to see cricket matches, a man who can balance a bicycle on his head and a middle-aged man who specializes in rolling on his stomach from unlikely places.
This place is also a hotspot for young people, as on Saturday nights, a lively DJ draws crowds to the dance floor, complete with Jamaican happy hour. The infrastructure of this small “village” is a mixture of Mykonos, in Greece, and New York, in the United States, which attracts architecture lovers from many parts of the world to the South Coast of Jamaica, in addition to the breathtaking panoramic view.
In terms of food, the beach has several options for all tastes and budgets, but the highlights are the fresh pesto and seafood pasta.
There are two bar-restaurants that have good reviews, one of them is called Frenchman’s Reef and serves Jamaican and international dishes for a very attractive price (around USD 5).
The other is Jack Sprat, which serves pizza and, on Thursday nights, offers an open-air cinema.
The distance between Treasure Beach and Kingston is 141km.
6. Glistening Waters Luminous Lagoon, Falmouth
Is magical attraction what you want? So, it’s to Glistening Waters Luminous Lagoon that you have to go, I’m not exaggerating!
This lagoon is simply a work of art, because at night, as you move around in the water, it glows, and this is due to the fact that millions of microorganisms radiate when something “bothers” them. This natural phenomenon is called bioluminescence and there are only 3 such lakes in the world.
The depth is reasonable, approximately 2 meters, and many people take advantage of the guided tour to dive into the neon water. However, those who just want to observe nature, without immersing themselves, can ask for a bucket or cup to catch some water and play in their own way. It’s also common to see your swimsuits shine when you get out of the water, which makes the whole adventure much cooler.
Make the most of your trip to Glistening Waters Luminous Lagoon and take an empty bottle to fill with a sample of the “magic potion”; it should glow for a few hours. The place is 30 minutes from Montego Bay, therefore, it is 168km from Kingston.
Also Read: Best Cities in Jamaica
Enjoy Jamaica’s beaches
Jamaica is a completely happy, extroverted and culturally different island country from anything you know, and this makes the trip unforgettable.
Always remember to respect Jamaican traditions, the same way you want to be treated, as the people there are kind and friendly, but to those who treat them with respect. Therefore, do not take photos of Rastafarians without their consent, as they may feel offended. This way, you can really enjoy the beaches of Jamaica.
