Jamaica Beaches
...many stunning ones to choose from !

Sun worshipers from around the world travel to the Caribbean in droves to enjoy Jamaica beaches. (Tip: You may want to keep the "Map of Jamaica" page open while you go through this article!)

On the southern coast, there is a dramatic change in environment to a semi-arid climate and with little protection for the shore, the beaches are darker with volcanic sand and rocky coves.

Most visitors to Jamaica beaches arrive by plane into Montego Bay. "Mobay", as it is called locally, is one of the most visited beach areas in the Caribbean and although the city itself is a bit run-down and neglected, the beaches are quite beautiful. There are public and private beaches in Mobay and tourists usually pay the fee to lay on the private beaches where there are restrooms and snack bars.

Because Jamaica has an economy heavily reliant on tourist dollars, many locals seek their daily income by offering tours, drinks, fruits, and guide services to the visiting folks on Jamaica beaches. As a result, private beaches have become popular, to allow tourists to enjoy the beaches without the local salespeople approaching.

Since 1880 people have been coming to Doctors Cave Beach and today it is a clean, well-maintained private beach right in Montego Bay near most of the hotels. Doctors Cave is considered by many to be the nicest family beach in the area and has creamy rose colored sand and gentle surf. There is a shady concrete terrace just above the sand and a snack bar where icy fruit smoothies are for sale.

Close by is Cornwall Beach, a tiny strip of sand very privately located behind a concrete wall with a giant shade tree, a perfect place for a picnic lunch and a view of the sparkling Caribbean sea.

Waterpark Beach, another private beach has sugar fine sand and shallow, near still water in a horseshoe tree-lined bay.

Montego Bay’s public beaches are expansive with wide stretches of beach and gentle surf. Coconut vendors set up tables under the trees and just about any product or service can be found by being friendly to the locals on Jamaica beaches.

Walter Fletcher, Sunset Lodge and Dead End Beach are all public beaches visited mainly by locals. Dead End is a shallow white beach with soft sand and palm trees to the water’s edge and is located right next to the airport so visitors can watch the planes seemingly right overhead. Going west along the north coast several small sandy and rocky coves lead to the seven mile stretch of famous Caribbean, Long Bay beach in Negril.

Sailing, windsurfing, parasailing, glass bottom boat rides and most other watersports are readily available here and along much of the north coast of Jamaica.

Long Bay is a Jamaica beach where incredible sunsets are widely considered to be the best in the Caribbean.

South across the Black River the coast goes from rocky limestone cliffs through the Morass region where the crocodiles live, along the coast is Treasure Beach. A true treasure this cluster of tourist free beaches are primarily home base for the many fishermen who make their livings in the deeper, darker water that washes the south side of Jamaica.

The sand is volcanic and coves are formed by huge rocks and gnarled, gray trees that grow horizontally across the beach. There is little in the way of commercial development although there are very nice accommodations available for hearty travelers.

Jamaica beaches along the northeast coast in Port Antonio are the most naturally beautiful on the island. Lush vegetation grows right to the water’s edge of pools of sky blue still water. The sand is creamy gold and firm and the beaches feel cooler than the sun drenched stretches of Negril. It is here that the waves are largest and surfers enjoy the Port Antonio beaches.

Ocho Rios, another of the cruise ship stops for the island, offers a couple of fairly wide and long beaches that are both public and partly fenced from the road. Sailboats bob at anchor in the bay and there is a backdrop of hotels and businesses. A fairly crowded area, Ocho’s beaches are pretty and have gentle surf.

Other notable Jamaica beaches scatter along the north coast including Runaway Bay, Frenchman’s Cove and Rose Hall beach, all of which are worth a visit and have expansive views of the blue Caribbean Sea.

Jamaica beaches are always sunny and warm, with frequent quick tropical rainshowers that may last five minutes or an hour. There are places to blend in with a large crowd and soak up the rays or go parasailing, and there are deserted jewels where the visitor can soak up the island experience, and relax.

The beaches of Jamaica share a common beauty, a wonderful climate and the Caribbean Sea lapping at their shores: Your toes need the experience of the Jamaica Beaches!

We love our Jamaica Beaches, but what about you?

Click on the links below to see what visitors to this site have written about their own "Favorite Beach".

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