Seven Mile Beach
Sand, barsThe long beach north of town.
Town guide
Things to do in Negril
Jamaica's western tip: Seven Mile Beach, cliffs and cliff jumping in the West End, sunsets over the sea, reef snorkelling, and a laid-back mix of beach bars and guesthouses.
4
Hostels in the city
8.6
Average, from 771 reviews
7 miles
Of beach
3–4
Days
Sand on one side, cliffs on the other
Negril sits at the western tip of Jamaica, about an hour and a half from Montego Bay airport. It is two places in one: Seven Mile Beach, a long sweep of white sand lined with hotels, guesthouses and beach bars, and the West End, where the town gives way to limestone cliffs, caves and clear water.
Negril began as a hippie hideaway in the 1960s and 1970s, and it keeps a relaxed, music-filled feel despite its resorts. The West End cliffs, with their jumping spots, ladders into the sea and sunset bars such as Rick's Café, are the classic place to watch the sun go down.
The town came through Hurricane Melissa in October 2025 and its hotels, bars and restaurants are open again. Nearby are the Royal Palm Reserve wetlands, the Blue Hole mineral spring and the Mayfield Falls. Give Negril three or four days.
Where to base yourself
Seven Mile Beach for sand and bars, or the West End for cliffs, sunsets and cheaper guesthouses.
West End
Cliffs, sunsetsSouth of town, on the cliffs.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 4 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Negril
Spend days on Seven Mile Beach, swimming, snorkelling and taking a boat to Booby Cay. Snorkel or dive the reefs offshore, which are part of a marine park.
In the West End, swim off the cliffs, explore sea caves, and watch the sunset and the cliff divers at Rick's Café or one of the quieter cliff bars.
Take trips to the Blue Hole mineral spring, the Royal Palm Reserve for birds, and the Mayfield Falls for river walking.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Seven Mile Beach is public, and walking it is free. Sunsets from the West End cliffs cost nothing, and some cliff bars do not charge entry.
Swimming off the West End rocks is free.
Boat trips, the Blue Hole and Rick's Café entry charge.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Jerk stands along the road serve chicken and pork for €5 to €9, and patties cost about €1. Beach restaurants grill fresh fish and lobster in season.
Try ital food, the Rastafarian vegetarian cooking, and fresh coconut water.
A 10 to 15 per cent tip is usual in restaurants; check the bill, as service is sometimes already added.
Nightlife
Going out
Negril has beach bars with live reggae most nights, sunset parties on the cliffs and a few clubs on Seven Mile Beach.
Rick's Café is the famous sunset spot, busy and touristy; quieter cliff bars nearby have the same view.
Red Stripe costs €2 to €4.
Getting around
Getting around
Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport is about an hour and a half away by shuttle or taxi. Knutsford Express coaches link Negril with Montego Bay and Kingston.
Route taxis run along the beach road and to the West End for a couple of euros. Agree that it is a route taxi, not a charter, before getting in.
Walking the beach is the easiest way around.
Costs
What Negril costs
Guesthouse and hostel beds start at around €20 to €35 a night. Jerk plates cost €5 to €9.
Boat trips to Booby Cay cost about €20 to €40, snorkel trips about €25 to €45, and the Blue Hole about €15.
Pay in Jamaican dollars for better rates; cards work in most hotels and bars.
Safety
Safety and scams
Negril is relaxed, but vendors offering tours, drugs and taxis can be persistent; a firm, polite no works best. Cannabis is decriminalised in small amounts but not legal, and buying from strangers carries real risk.
Only jump from the cliffs where locals do and check the depth. Avoid empty stretches of beach at night, and use licensed transport.
Tap water is generally safe in towns, but drink bottled water in rural areas and anywhere supply has been disrupted. In an emergency, call 119 for the police, or 110 for an ambulance or the fire service.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Music and holidays.
July
Reggae Sumfest
Montego Bay
The big reggae festival, 90 minutes away.
December to April
Dry season
Negril
Sunny and busy.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Negril, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
When to go
December to April is the dry season and the busiest time. May and October bring the heaviest rain. Hurricane season runs from June to November. Hurricane Melissa hit western Jamaica hard in October 2025. Most of the tourist economy has reopened, but some attractions and roads are still being repaired, so check before you go.
Jan
Dry, busy
Feb
Dry
Mar
Dry
Apr
Easter
May
Rain
Jun
Hurricane season opens
Jul
Sumfest nearby
Aug
Hot
Sep
Peak hurricane risk
Oct
Rain
Nov
Drying
Dec
Holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Hot and sunny.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Negril prices.
Treat these as a guide. Trips cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Negril questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Negril open after Hurricane Melissa?
Yes, hotels, bars and restaurants have reopened.
Seven Mile Beach or the West End?
Seven Mile Beach for sand; the West End for cliffs and sunsets.
How do I get to Negril?
By shuttle or taxi from Montego Bay airport, or by Knutsford Express.
Is cliff jumping safe?
Only jump where locals do, and check the depth.
Is Rick's Café worth it?
For the sunset and cliff divers; quieter cliff bars nearby have the same view.
Is Negril safe?
Generally, but vendors can be persistent and you should avoid empty beaches at night.
When is the best time to visit?
December to April.
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