Need a break from all the stress of contemporary life? Why not take a trip to Jamaica? Millions of tourists flock to this tiny Caribbean island each year to soak up some sun on the best beaches in Jamaica.
Continue reading to discover some of the best pristine white sand beaches for travelers of any age. Whether you’re looking for a popular beach with tons of activities or a more laid-back destination, you’ll find at least one beach on this list to meet all of your travel needs.
1. Doctor’s Cave Beach
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OK, let’s get the obvious choice out of the way first. Doctor’s Cave Beach, located in marvelous Montego Bay, is one of Jamaica’s most crowded beaches. This five-mile stretch of beach made Montego Bay the powerhouse resort town it is today.
Named after Dr. Alexander James McCatty who donated the property to locals in 1906, Doctor’s Cave Beach became internationally famous after a British osteopath claimed the beach’s waters had healing properties in the 1930s. Since Doctor’s Cove is one of the best beaches in Jamaica, it’s highly advisable to stake out your territory right after the beach opens in the morning.
Popular attractions in the area
A few interesting places to visit include Gloucester Avenue, Widowmaker’s Cave, and Rose Hall Great House. Montego Bay has an extremely advanced tourist infrastructure, so you’ll easily find tons of fine restaurants, duty-free shopping, and happening nightclubs. There are also tons of hiking, biking, and camping opportunities.
How to get there
Montego Bay has it’s own airport called Montego Bay Sangster International Airport. Doctor’s Cove Beach is only a four-minute drive from here. There are also a few cruise ports located near Doctor’s Cove Beach.
2. Lime Cay
Lime Cay is a tiny uninhabited island near Jamaica’s capital city Kingston. This extremely secluded beach is almost deserted on weekdays. If you’re into sunbathing in your birthday suit, there’s no better place to it than Lime Cay on a weekday.
Lime Cay is beloved by snorkelers who say some of the best diving areas in southern Jamaica are around this tiny cay. People looking for a bit more action can head on over to Lime Cay on Sundays. Hundreds of Kingstonians descend on this island every Sunday to picnic, hang out, and recharge for the workweek ahead.
Popular attractions in the area
People interested in Jamaican history should check out the sites in nearby Port Royal and Kingston. Since Lime Cay frequently gets submerged in water, there’s no travel infrastructure on the island. Most city dwellers come to Lime Cay to escape the hustle and bustle of Kingston life for a day. People who are staying in Kingston can easily take a day trip to Lime Cay if they’re in need of some R&R.
How to get there
Lime Cay is a 15-minute boat ride from Port Royal. You should find plenty of boatmen in the area willing to take you to the cay and pick you up later for a small fee.
3. Seven Mile Beach
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Much like Doctor’s Cave, Seven Mile Beach is an extremely popular and tourist-friendly vacation area. Located in the city of Negril, this seven-mile stretch of white sand and warm turquoise waters has been hailed by many as the finest beach in Jamaica. First-time visitors to Seven Mile Beach are shocked at just how soft the sand is on their toes.
Since Seven Mile Beach attracts tons of tourists each year, you’ll probably run into a live reggae concert while you’re here. The happening nightlife, wide variety of restaurants, and relative serenity of the beach all combine to make Seven Mile one of the best beaches in Jamaica.
Popular attractions in the area
Three interesting places to visit while in Negril are Mayfield Falls, Negril Cliffs, and Barney’s Flower & Hummingbird Garden Jamaica. Since Seven Mile Beach invites so many tourists each year, there are tons of high-quality restaurants, resorts, and clubs dotting the seven-mile stretch of beach. If you’re into lighthouses, you could also take a trip down the Negril Lighthouse while you’re here.
How to get there
Montego Bay is the closest big city to Negril. Take a shuttle van from Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport to Negril. The highly scenic drive will only take around 1.5 hours.
4. Frenchman’s Cove
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Frenchman’s Cove has a ton of star power behind it. Not only was this the spot where Elizabeth Taylor, Errol Flynn, and Richard Burton vacationed, Robin Williams’s Club Paradise and Tom Cruise’s Cocktail were filmed right here. Despite all the Hollywood hype, Frenchman’s Cove hasn’t become tacky or commercialized.
Once you arrive at this gorgeous beach in Port Antonio, you’ll enjoy the privacy and luxury of a first-class Jamaican beach. Regular visitors consider Frenchman’s Cove one of the best beaches in Jamaica due to its great resorts, remote locale, and lush scenery.
Popular attractions in the area
Nature enthusiasts will really want to check out the Blue Lagoon. People interested in history will most likely enjoy a tour of the Portland Parish Church. Port Antonio is relatively unknown to foreigners, which makes it a perfect retreat for people who don’t feel like contending with hordes of tourists.
How to get there
Port Antonio is on the northeastern side of the island. It’s about a 2.5-hour drive east of Ocho Rios or northeast of Kingston. You can either rent a car or take a taxi from one of these two cities to get to Port Antonio.
5. Hellshire Beach
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One of the best beaches in Jamaica for authentic fried seafood is Hellshire Beach. Most people from nearby Kingston and Portmore visit Hellshire Beach on the weekend to take advantage of the golden sand beaches and tasty seafood.
The beach has a truly Jamaican vibe, and you won’t find mobs of tourists here during the week. If you’re looking for a beach experience near Kingston that’s a bit more developed than Lime Cay, Hellshire Beach is the way to go.
Popular attractions in the area
There are no bad restaurants in Hellshire. Luckily for you, all the restaurants serve quality food at affordable prices. Most Kingstonians come to Hellshire Beach to eat what they feel is the finest seafood on the island. If you aren’t into seafood, you can still enjoy water sports, sunbathing, and strolling along the golden and black sand beach.
How to get there
Hellshire Beach is only a 30-minute drive south of central Kingston. You’ll have to travel through the city of Portmore, which is only a 15-minute drive north of Hellshire Beach.
Summing Up
As you can see, this list of the best beaches in Jamaica has some well-known areas and a few hidden treasures. All of these spots offer a different travel experience, so be sure to pick the one that best suits your personality.
Travelers in the mood for a more secluded trip will want to steer clear of Seven Mile Beach and Doctor’s Cave. Anyone into partying all night, however, will want to avoid the more laid back Hellshire Beach, Frenchman’s Cove, and Lime Cay.
Once you’ve decided which beach best suits you, hop on a plane and get ready to enjoy a slice of tropical paradise.