Sun, sand, surf and spirit: the best beaches in Jamaica
It’s a bold boast, we know, but nowhere does beaches quite like Jamaica. The compelling Caribbean island boasts some of the most sought after beaches in the world, with a stretch of sand for every occasion and character – one to party, one to play sports, one for families, one for romantic strolls – you get the gist. Soak up the sun, sand and spirit of Jamaica at one of the beaches below...
Montego Bay and Northwest coast
Doctor’s Cave Bathing Club, Montego Bay
It would be criminal to visit Montego Bay without spending at least one day topping up the tan at Doctor’s Cave Beach Club. Consistently hailed as one of the island’s best beaches, Doctor’s Cave is named for the healing properties of the water and attracts locals and visitors alike. Despite the US$6 (£4.80) admission fee (which also helps keep out the beach hustlers), the beach can become as busy as a Bookies on Grand National Day so arrive early to select your spot. Aside from sugary sand and azure waters dotted with floating dive platforms, it offers a decent restaurant, Sand, serving tasty Jamaican and American fare as well as cold Red Stripe beers.
Ocho Rios, Port Antonio & North coast
Boston Beach
Boston Bay may be best known for its highly spiced traditional jerk recipe (cooked by digging a hole in the sand on the beach, lighting a fire and slow cooking for hours on end) but it’s equally famous for its cute beach, with its golden sands and surfer-friendly waves. If you’re in the mood for a surfing lesson, stop by Boston Bay Surfing and say Telegraph Travel sent you. Boston Bay is a private beach, meaning you’ll be charged a small entry fee, but it features an adequate restaurant, showers, changing rooms and a lifeguard.
Frenchman’s Cove, Port Antonio
Is this the prettiest beach in the entire Caribbean? We think so. Sun sybarites can look forward to a small strip of postcard perfect white sand ringed by miniature, forested headlands and flanked on one side by a perfectly turquoise lagoon in which you can swim. Little wonder then that Frenchman's Cove Beach featured in the film Knight and Day. This tiny cove is owned by Frenchman’s Cove Resort, a Jamaican grande dame that has been entertaining celebrities for decades, who charge guests $10 (£8) per day to access the beach. It’s worth it.
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James Bond Beach
Located on Jamaica's northeastern coast, within easy driving distance of Ocho Rios, the spectacular James Bond Beach is surrounded by crystal-clear water on three sides and juxtaposed against the backdrop of the lush St Mary’s mountains. This charming strip of white sand is where Sean Connery watched Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) stride in from the sea in Dr No. Ian Fleming wrote the novel in early 1957 at his Goldeneye estate (now a stylish resort) which lies directly opposite the beach, although it’s partially hidden by a lush tropical forest. As Jamaican beaches go, James Bond Beach is a quiet one, although it does come to life a little more at weekends.
Winnifred Beach
Winnifred Beach (also known as Fairy Hill Beach) is one of the last remaining free public beaches in Jamaica and is hugely popular with local families who famously embarked on a five-year legal battle (Free Winnifred) with a government agency, who had hoped to hand the beach over to a hotel developer and thereby threatening the beach’s public access. Used as the setting for the Robin Williams movie Club Paradise, Winnifred’s clear, calm waters make it perfect for snorkelling – but you’ll need to bring your own equipment. There are food and drink stands and music at the weekends and on public holidays. Unpaid locals currently manage and clean the beach.
Negril and the West Coast
Seven Mile Beach, Negril
Any tour of the island is bound to include a visit to Seven Mile Beach, a gorgeous four-mile (don't ask) stretch of sand that glints in the sunshine with the sparkle of a newly wed’s solitaire. Back in the 1960s, the beach was a hippie hang-out. Fast forward to today and it has been developed – it’s lined with nightclubs, restaurants, bars and water sport outfits – but the white sand remains as stunning as ever. Enjoy a gentle stroll along the water before watching the sunset at Rick’s Café, a Negril institution perched atop rocky cliffs near the southern end of the West End Road. Make no mistake: visitors are bused in from as far away as Ocho Rios to watch the nightly sunset show, before flinging themselves off the cliffs 60ft down into the water.
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Kingston, Blue Mountains and Southeast coast
Bull Bay
Looking to learn to surf? Make a beeline for Bull Bay, aka the birthplace of Jamaica’s surfing scene. In Bull Bay, a small town approximately half an hour’s drive east of the capital, you’ll find Jamnesia surf camp. Jamaica's longest running surf school is run by the charismatic Billy Wilmot, who will have you standing and surfing by the end of your first lesson. As well as lessons, Jamnesia offers board rental (half price if you stay at the hostel) and summer camps such as #SurfLikeAGirl. Regardless of which package you pump for, surfing at Bull’s Bay is a great way to get the blood flowing early in the morning before you plug into the Kingston vibe.
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Lime Cay
Want to escape the craziness of Kingston? Lime Cay, a small, low-lying island cay that’s 15 minutes away by boat from Port Royal, provides the perfect respite. Immortalised in the final showdown of the movie The Harder They Come, it tends to be calm during the week but comes alive at the weekend when Kingstonians descend in their droves. Sundays in particular positively buzz with music, laughter and good vibes. Note there are no facilities on the cay so bring your own food, drink and sunscreen. Trips can be arranged from Morgan’s Harbour, close to the Norman Manley International Airport.
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South Coast and Central Highlands
Treasure Beach
For darker sand, head to Treasure Beach – the umbrella term for four coves: Billy’s Bay, Frenchman’s Bay, Calabash Bay and Great Bay – where the beaches are the antithesis of their north coast counterparts. And unlike its northern siblings, the community at Treasure Beach does a good job of keeping the temptations of development in check (you won’t find any high-rise hotels or all-inclusive resorts lining the beaches here). One caveat: the sea on the south coast of the island is known to be rough with heavy undertows – this is where writer Decca Aitkenhead’s partner, Tony, tragically died rescuing their son from a riptide – so swimmers need to take care and not to venture too far from the shore.
