Chances are that you were dreaming of the best beaches on Jamaica’s coasts when you booked your vacation to the Caribbean.

If you booked into an all–inclusive, you’ll probably already have access to a great beach; but these beaches are private and not accessible to the public at large.

So where do you go when you’re backpacking across Jamaica, have booked a villa or somewhere else inland?

Or maybe you simply want to explore a little bit?

Here’s our list of a few of Jamaica’s best public beaches from the westernmost point to the east of the island.


Seven Mile Beach, Negril

It’s famous for a reason, and while some private resorts have blocked off parts of this beach, it’s big enough for everyone to enjoy.

There are several restaurants, parks, and access points along the strip that allow you to swim in these warm, pristine waters for a nominal fee, for free, or for lunch at the restaurant.

Head to the shorter three-mile stretch known as Bloody Bay for a public beach that is also popular with locals.

Negril is essentially made up of the cliffs on the west end, the center of town, and the beach road so it’s pretty easy to find your way here.

Travel Tip: Ask a local, like a cabbie, to point you to Half Moon Beach. This beach is not very well known and provides a secluded spot just north of Negril in the sleepy town of Lucea, Hanover.


Doctor’s Cave Beach, Montego Bay

Montego Bay’s hip strip sees thousands of visitors every year and no destination is more popular than the famous beach at Doctor's Cave.

With a long history as a top attraction in Jamaica, the beach remains just as beautiful as it has always been.

For a small fee, you’ll have access to the white sand beaches, gorgeous waters (rumored to have healing qualities), a gift shop, a pool table, a sauna, a cyber cafe, a gym, and other amenities.

Travel Tip: Check out Margaritaville or Hard Rock Café if your ‘play’ is a little more about having a party.



Puerto Seco Beach, Discovery Bay

As we slowly make our way toward the east, you’ll come up on the Puerto Seco Beach Park in Discovery Bay, St. Ann.

This is allegedly the point where Christopher Columbus first discovered Jamaica.

Today it’s a pumping beach park complete with restaurants selling local seafood and jerk chicken, along with clean facilities and adequate parking.

Reggae music can be heard blaring from speakers on holidays or Sundays when locals head there for a family outing.

The water is impossibly blue and quite shallow, making it ideal for children to swim in, and a nearby museum on Jamaican history can enhance this as the perfect day out for families.

Travel Tip: There are plans underway to offer more facilities to visitors to the beach, keeping the local community in mind.

Dunn’s River Falls Beach, Ocho Rios

Dunns River Falls is one of the island’s most well-known attractions. 

Tourists and locals alike flock here to make their way up the falls hand in hand from the beach at its base.

The unique attraction isn’t just a beautiful natural phenomenon.

Lke coral, the rock base is constantly growing as elements from the river leave deposits of travertine and the smooth rounded flow of each cataract is the result of thermal spring activity.

What many don’t realize is that the beach itself is also well worth going for.

The falls rise directly from the shoreline making for a spectacular view both behind and in front of you.

Travel Tip: If you aren’t a part of a cruise ship passenger tour, find out when ships dock and plan to head there another day for faster access to the climb. Sundays are also a favorite day for locals.


James Bond Beach, Oracabessa

St. Mary is blessed with many stretches of beautiful beaches.

The most famous of which is the James Bond Beach which is a part of the Ian Fleming estate. Ian Fleming is the famous writer who wrote the 14 novels of the Bond series that the famous Hollywood blockbusters are based on.

Located in Oracabessa, right next to the famous GoldenEye property, this small beach welcomes locals and tourists alike for a fun, family outing or just a day to chill in the calm waters.

During the week it’s pretty quiet but on weekends visitors flock to Stingray City to snorkel and swim with the resident stingrays or to take part in jet-ski safaris and glass-bottom boat rides.

Good read 007's Jamaica Hit List

Travel Tip: Adjacent to Bond beach is Fisherman’s Beach, a rootsy alternative where one can enjoy simple I-tal and seafood fare and the occasional sound-system party.


Frenchman’s Cove, Portland

Undoubtedly one of the most unique beaches in Jamaica, a beautiful cold river winds through the property of lush rainforest vegetation to spill out onto the sands to mix with the large waves rolling into the bay.

It's a semi-enclosed cove where a river meets the sea, and words cannot aptly describe its beauty.

A lifeguard is on standby and a rope is strung across the mouth of the bay as the current can be quite strong and the waves can get quite large and rough at times.

One of the Bond films would eventually be filmed here and today it is high on the bucket list for visitors to Jamaica.

The entry fee is approximately US $10.

Winnifred Beach, Portland

Winnifred Beach encapsulates the idea of a beach that truly belongs to the people.

Although the Jamaican Government is now actively maintaining public beaches with facilities, this stunning family beach has been actively fought for to be kept open to public use.

A day at Winnifred beach is a fantastic opportunity to hang with locals and partake in a Jamaican Sunday tradition. 

Many people head here after church to spend a day with their families and other members of the community. 

Also, there is a restaurant on the beach.


Burwood Beach, Trelawny

Burwood Beach, off the north coast highway, is a free, public beach with white sands and clear tranquil waters.

Changing rooms and restrooms are not available.

Vendors sell local crafts at the beach.

Positioned on the northern part of Trelawny, a quarter-mile east-northeast of White Bay, Burwood Beach is on the northwest edge of Jamaica.

Get to Burwood Beach: Ask any taxi at the Falmouth Cruise ship pier to take you to Burwood which is less than 15 minutes away.


See a list of beaches in Jamaica

Good read: 72 Hours in Montego Bay