Negril Jamaica Introduction

On the western tip of the island is laid-back Negril, known as Jamaica's “capital of casual”.  It overlooks Long Bay and features mostly flat terrain with mountain ranges to the west. Negril is less developed than the island's other resort towns, although it is still filled with hotels, restaurants and shops ranging from low-end to fancy and all-inclusive hotels. It became a popular destination in the 1970s, when American hippies flocked to jam to the island's empowering and rebellious reggae music. Since then, the town has evolved into a more upscale tourist destination. It is best known for its beautiful Seven Mile Beach, frequently ranked among the best beaches in the world.

Beach
The famous Seven Mile Beach (approximately 11km/7 miles) has aqua blue water, white sand, scenic cliffs, little bays, many friendly vendors and open-air restaurants and ranks as one of the top shorelines. Big all-inclusive resorts are on the north end, with smaller, family-run hotels on the south end. Besides lounging in the sun with a cold drink, there are dozens of different water activities available, including scuba diving, fishing and tubing. West End Road, just south of Negril, is the area's best place to snorkel, dive, and if you dare, cliff jump off 12m (40ft) bluffs.

Beyond the beach
Traveling into Negril's hidden nooks or up into the lush mountains is a pleasurable change-of-pace from the beach. The rushing waterfalls and mineral springs at Mayfield Falls are fun, and a sunset cruise is a must. It can be combined with a late-afternoon snorkeling trip or a stop at a private beach. For the best view of the island, climb to the top of the century-old Lighthouse at West End Road.

Exploring further afield
The Negril Yacht Club (Westmoreland) offers day trips to relaxing Little Bay, or the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston. Think up your own itinerary and they'll do a custom tour for you. If you're a fan of the movie How Stella Got Her Groove Back, you can go past the luxurious house featured in the film, which is just outside Negril, in Hanover.

Negril Jamaica Hotels / Resorts

On the arid western tip of Jamaica, Negril has had a reputation for bacchanalia, hedonism, marijuana, and nude sunbathing since hippies discovered its sunny shores during the 1960s. The resort became more mainstream during the early 1990s as big-money capitalists built megaresorts, many of them managed by SuperClubs, Sandals, Couples, or the relative newcomers, the Spain-based Riu chain. But despite the creeping sense of corporate encroachment on a domain once dominated by laid-back hippies, some resorts still reserve stretches of beach for nude bathers, and illegal ganja is still (more or less discreetly) peddled.