Locals call Negril Jamaica the “Capital of Casual.” It might also be called the “Capital of Caribbean Hedonism” for its heavy dose of adult-oriented resorts.

Tensing Pen Hotel; © Jamaica Tourist Board

Topless and even nude sunbathing are common at these resorts and some of the public beaches, which makes Negril a likely choice for tolerant adult couples and an unlikely choice for families.

If nothing else, Negril is known as one of the most laid-back of Jamaican destinations.

Visitors to the resort town, which is on the western tip of Jamaica, will fly into Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport and take a one hour and 30 minute drive to get there. Most resorts in Negril provide transportation from the airport to the resort properties.

Otherwise, taxi or minibus transportation is available.

Negril isn’t a cruise port, so Caribbean cruisers will have to make a day trip to get there from the Montego Bay cruise terminal. Again, the distance will discourage most Jamaica cruise visitors. But some cruise lines do offer cruise excursions from Montego Bay to the area, mainly for the beaches. The total time commitment is about six and a half hours.

Resorts

All-inclusive resorts tend to be clustered at the north end of the town on Seven Mile Beach, which is known as one of the top beaches in the world. It competes with Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman for both the name and the reputation.

Major resorts includes Beaches Negril, Beaches Sandy Bay, Couples, Grand Lido, Hedonism II, Negril Gardens Beach, Riu Tropical Bay, Sandals, Sunset @ the Palms and The Caves.

The West End, which is actually south of Negril beach, has quiet hotels on the cliff sides including Negril Escape Resort and Spa, Oasis Resort, Samsara Cliffs, Seastar Inn, Tensing Pen and Rock House.

Attractions and Shore Excursions

Negril beach; © Jamaica Tourist Board

Attractions include Mayfield Falls, where visitors can camp, hike, cliff jump or cave dive. Bloody Bay has one of the area’s prettiest beaches. Other attractions include the historic Negril Lighthouse and whitewater rafting down the Cabarita River.

Rick’s Cafe was the first public bar and restaurant on the west coast of the island, the Jamaica Tourism Bureau says. It is famous for its location on the cliffs, cliff diving and views of the sunset.

The nearby Great Morass has the Royal Palm Preserve. It has birds, crocodiles and the largest stand of Jamaican Royal Palms in the world. Visitors can view them from an observation tower and a mile-long boardwalk.

For the musically inclined, reggae concerts are a common part of the local nightlife.

The most popular and most famous beach is Seven Mile Beach, which is known for an extensive amount of nude sunbathing.

Less active and more clothed is Long Bay Beach, just north of Seven Mile. Bloody Bay Beach lies beyond Long Bay. Coral Beach is another popular option.

Weather

Like the rest of Jamaica, the best time to visit Negril is most months of the year except for May during a brief rainy season and heavier rains in the fall months.

The heavier downpours happen from August through October during the annual Caribbean hurricane season. Total rainfall reaches about 4.5 inches historically in September and more than seven inches in October, according to the Meteorological Service of Jamaica. October is the rainiest month of the year for Jamaica.

March has the lowest average rainfall of the year with about one inch historically, according to the meteorological service. It rains an average of five days during the month.

April and July are next with an average of two inches of rain and seven total days with rain.

Average daytime high temperatures range from the low to mid 80s Fahrenheit or high 20s Celsius during the winter to the upper 80s Fahrenheit or low 30s Celsius from April through November.

Average low temperatures, mainly at night, range from about 70 degrees Fahrenheit in winter to the upper 70s in summer.

Seawater temperatures are often chilly for swimming during the winter but comfortable the rest of the year.