Negril
Seven miles of pale sand at Jamaica's western tip, then a shelf of black cliff where cottages hang over clear water and the evenings end facing the sunset.
- Arrival
- Sangster International, Montego Bay · MBJ
- To the town
- About 1 h 15 to 1 h 30 from MBJ by car
- Private jets
- Signature and IAM Jet Centre at MBJ
- Best time
- December to March
The city
The beach, then the cliffs.
North of the village, Seven Mile Beach runs in one long curve, and the evenings play out along Norman Manley Boulevard. South and west, the shore turns to dark rock, possibly the origin of the name, and the West End becomes a run of small hotels set in gardens above the water.
Winter here is reliably dry: from December to March each month averages under 100 mm of rain. From May the wet season sets in, and October is the heaviest month of all, with three hundred millimetres in an average year.
- Seven Mile Beach Seven miles of bright white sand north of the village, rated among the world's ten best beaches, the tourist board notes.
- The West End cliffs A raised coast of dark rock above clear water, with Rick's Café the place to be once the sun has set.
- Mayfield Falls Freshwater pools for a swim, a day out from Negril that the tourist board suggests.
Arriving
Land at Montego Bay, then drive west.
Negril has no airport for jets. Arrivals come through Sangster International at Montego Bay, then follow the coast road west for about an hour and a quarter to an hour and a half. The government has a US$460 million airport for Westmoreland in planning, but nothing yet in service.
- Palm Beach 1 h 35
- Punta Cana 1 h 45
- Antigua 2 h 35
- Los Cabos 4 h 35
- Nice 11 h 00 long-range jet
When to go
December to March.
Daytime heat varies little, 29 °C in midwinter to 32 °C in high summer, and the water stays near 27 to 30 °C. Rain stays near 60 mm a month from December to February, rises through spring and peaks at about 300 mm in October.
- 29° J 58 27°
- 29° F 61 27°
- 30° M 95 27°
- 30° A 142 28°
- 30° M 271 28°
- 31° J 223 29°
- 32° J 205 29°
- 32° A 217 29°
- 31° S 229 30°
- 31° O 301 29°
- 30° N 107 29°
- 29° D 64 28°
Where to stay
On the cliffs of the West End.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
Where to dine
Where to book on the cliffs.
No MICHELIN Guide covers Jamaica. These are restaurants listed by Fodor’s, with Fodor’s price bands.
- The Caves Restaurant Fodor’s Jamaican $$$$ The Caves, West End
- Zimbali’s Mountain Cooking Studio Fodor’s Farm to table $$$$ Canaan Mountain, about 30 minutes by road
- Rockhouse Restaurant Fodor’s New Jamaican $$$ Rockhouse, West End
Elsewhere in Jamaica
More reasons to come.
Flying to Negril?
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A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.