The island nation of Jamaica is universally admired for its tropical climate, stunning beaches, and wonderful resorts. Located in the Caribbean just south of Cuba, Jamaica currently has a population of around 2.8 million people. Initially settled by both Taino and Arawak peoples in 4000 B.C., Jamaica became a part of the Spanish Empire after Christopher Columbus arrived in 1494.
After gaining complete independence from the British in 1962, the island nation’s tourism industry started to flourish, and more and more tourists enjoy the spectacular sights with each coming year. If you’re thinking of taking a vacation to Jamaica’s gorgeous beaches, take a look at this list below. We’ll go over five of the best Jamaican beaches that are sure to please even the fussiest traveler.
Best Jamaican Beaches for Any Type of Traveler
1. Frenchman’s Cove
Located in the city of Port Antonio, Frenchman’s Cove is best known as the favorite holiday retreat for stars Liz Taylor and Richard Burton. The billionaire Garfield Weston first understood the potential for Port Antonio as a major tourist destination in the 1960s. Weston built numerous hotels and luxury villas throughout the 60s that attracted thousands of tourists to this beautiful beach.
You’ll absolutely fall in love with the wondrous white sands, luscious gardens, and freshwater rivers all around this area. The resorts here host numerous weddings, yoga retreats, and bicycle tours for those interested in taking part. Wild mango trees naturally grow all around Frenchman’s Cove giving it a particularly tropical feel.
Travelers will have no problem finding high-quality Jamaican cuisine while here. Most of the restaurants in Port Antonio focus specifically on seafood dishes such as conch, shrimp, and local fish cooked with a wide variety of Jamaican sauces and spices. All of these factors make Frenchman’s Cove one of the finest of all the Jamaican beaches.
2. Silver Sands
If you’re looking for seclusion on your holiday, check out Silver Sands Beach. Located on the northwestern coast of the island, Silver Sands is about 1.5 miles northeast of the settlement Duncans. To stay on this private beach, you’ll have to stay for at least one night at the Silver Sands Villas. This will give you access to one of the finest Jamaican beaches with no large crowds or vendors. Silver Sands Villas offer numerous family-friendly and honeymoon cottages for rental, and the staff there are more than willing to help you accommodate a family celebration or wedding.
Most visitors say that Silver Sands offers the greatest snorkeling out of any Jamaican beaches. A few attractions you can take in while exploring Silver Sands include Fort Balcarres, originally constructed in 1774, and the Gallery Joe James. Again, if you’re looking for seclusion, seriously consider booking a vacation at Silver Sands Villas.
3. Cornwall Beach
Most people traveling to Jamaica for the first time head to Doctor’s Cave Beach Club in Montego Bay. Doctor’s Cave is without a doubt one of the most popular Jamaican beaches. However, we’re recommending Cornwall Beach instead. Why? Well, because it’s within walking distance of Doctor’s Cave, costs the same amount price for admission, and, frankly, it’s far less crowded.
Cornwall Beach offers all the things you need to have fun in the sun and the crystal clear Jamaican water. The facilities on this beach have showers, towels, lockers, snorkel gear, and much more. You can also visit a restaurant, bar, and gift shop on this beach’s premises. As always, you can schedule special events such as weddings by calling Cornwall Beach’s authorities in advance.
Cornwall Beach also hosts hot DJ parties with “bottomless” rum every Sunday afternoon. Just be sure to have your Appleton Rum mug on hand. All these reasons make Cornwall Beach yet another worthy addition to our list of the best Jamaican beaches. Even though this beach is less crowded than Doctor’s Cave, you should arrive early in order to claim a great space to relax Cornwall Beach.
4. Treasure Beach
Treasure Beach isn’t as popular as Doctor’s Cave or Cornwall Beach, but it’s a wonderful way to get acquainted with local Jamaican fishers. The small communities of fishing villages located here are extremely relaxed and welcoming of all interested tourists. Treasure Beach includes four Jamaican coves and is located southwestern coast of the island. The beach stretches for approximately six miles with four coves and rocky shorelines.
People can swim, snorkel, and even bodysurf on the various public beaches throughout Treasure Beach. Locals are extremely proud of their Jamaican heritage and love to share their rich culture with visitors. However, you should be forewarned, Treasure Beach prides itself on being “anti-tourist.” By this we mean Treasure Beach doesn’t offer resort luxuries, a hot nightlife, parasailing, or jet skiing.
For those looking for a truly relaxing and “chill” vacation experience, Treasure Beach is perhaps the greatest of all Jamaican beaches to explore.
5. Seven Mile Beach
Last, but certainly not least, we have the western Seven Mile Beach in Negril. As the name suggests, Seven Mile Beach goes along the western coast of Jamaica for, well, seven miles. As with all the other beaches, you can swim, snorkel, and sunbathe all day long on this beautiful stretch of tropical paradise.
What really sets Seven Mile Beach apart from some of the other beaches on this list is its hot nightlife and dining scene. If you’re into Reggae music, you must take a trip to Seven Mile Beach. Every week different Reggae bands come to perform live music on Seven Mile Beach. There are also numerous food vendors and restaurants to choose from to satisfy your hunger.
Seven Mile Beach is also extremely close to Negril’s famous cliff side that offers amazing views. If you’re looking for a fun touristy party atmosphere, Seven Mile Beach may be the best of all the Jamaican beaches for you.
Summing It All Up
As you can see, different Jamaican beaches offer their visitors different experiences. Whether you’re into partying with a bunch of strangers or relaxing in a secluded tropical paradise, there’s at least one beach on this list to satisfy your particular desires. No matter where you go, however, you’ll find that Jamaica is an extremely welcoming island for those who are eager to learn about its rich history.
Be sure to pick whichever beach will offer you the experience you want out of a Jamaican adventure. And, most importantly, relax! Honestly, no matter what beach you choose, you’re going to have a great time here.