Things to do in Negril Jamaica

Things to do in Negril Jamaica

When was the last time you stared out into the bluest ocean and thought, is this my life right now?

It might sound corny and cliche but Negril is that quintessential life. I could be biased but have you had one friend come back from vacation and said, it’s meh. I’ll wait… What you will hear about is the 24-hour perfect weather, just as perfect beaches, breathtaking sunset (they’re world-renowned by the way), and of course the food. But those aren’t the only things to do in Negril. If you’re like me you’ll tire quickly of lazy days in the sand. Luckily, Negril offers so much more. Whether it’s motorized and non-motorized beach activities, a slice of culture you’ll be hard pressed to find anywhere else, or a fascinating ecological element, there’re other awesome things to do in Negril.

But it must be said people do come for the beaches. It would be remiss not to include an afternoon gazing out into the bluest Caribbean sea on Negril’s seven-mile beach. In a previous post, I mentioned that the sunsets are iconic and basically anywhere along the beach is an opportunity to watch the sun go down. Pro tip the chances of an early evening concert on Bourbon beach (keep an eye out for the signs nailed on electric posts) from a famous reggae band is always a possibility. Either that or simply watch the world of beach intrude on the cliffs of Rick’s Cafe.

That out the way, here are the other things to do in Negril as promised

Shipwreck parties

If you were ever shipwrecked a Tiki Hut Pon De Sea would instantly make it better. But since you aren’t, sitting on the waves of the beach on a motorized tiki hut stocked with alcohol definately fuels the fantasy. This adventure is a 90-minute cruise party inclusive of drinks, music, and the view of a lively sandy strip. I highly recommend the 5 pm sunset trip as the sun-kissed tiki after two drinks with a fun group of people is a travel mag moment. If you’re wondering about safety, no worries, the crew ensures you and your possessions are safe. The bigger question is how many drinks can you have on the sea in 90 minutes?

Private picnicking

There are cute spots in Negril offering private picnics and they come with colourfol decor, green fluffy grass and fruit trees as the backdrop. Prepare to have a good time and a bellyful of finger food, fruits, coolers of beverages or a chef whipping up authentic style food over charcoal and wood. I recommend Oasis Resort on West End. There you can have your meal on an organic farm where the resort grow what they eat and serve what they grow. Cue the applause! Make your reservation at the front desk or with the manager, and they’ll handle the rest.

Not so lazing on the beach

About those lazy days in the sand, remix that. As if sun, sea, and sand wasn’t the ultimate combination, there are a number of other things you can do on a beach in Negril. Pro tip, it doesn’t have to come with a resort price tag. Enjoy both motorized and non-motorized water activities like tubing and parasailing or row, row, row your kayak boat down the stream-sea. You can explore the underwater world by opting to snorkel and make friends with starfish and eagle rays along the way. Experiences like the Island Lux Beach Park offers this type of beach fun and comes with you guessed it, a park. Their inflatable park includes trampolines, slides, running wheels, and a rock climbing iceberg to name a few. Between the falls and giggles, it’s a cool way to spend an hour horsing around. What makes it even better is you can do it right before or after your picnic because it’s a hop, skip, and jump away.

Meals at sea

Food is better with ambiance so naturally another thing to do in Negril is having a meal by the water. Seafood is the obvious choice. A trip to an islet just off Negril shores takes you to Booby Cay island and an enjoyable meal. You can arrange a guided trip across and chow down on some perfectly seasoned garlic lobster (if in season) after snorkeling and splashing around on the beach. Pretend you’re stranded on this tiny piece of paradise surrounded by crystal clear water (minus the freshly cooked lobster) or bring your own bottle for a party. There’re no bathrooms though so the sea’s your best bet for no. 1s. Back on the main are dining experiences to be had on the beach and open kitchens with untailored furniture will satisfy your eyes and nostrils.

Be one with nature

At the helm of an ecological adventure is the Throne Room. It’s a famous diving destination under Negril going 40-70 ft deep. Time slows down as you graze pass the colourful sponges and reef life. With some of the most diverse underwater conditions, you’ll find it is a divers haven. But don’t say goodbye to your phone signal just yet. Another lovely little haven is an unassuming ¼ acre garden that endemic hummingbirds are attracted to – and so will you. Off West End road is Barney’s Flower and Hummingbird Garden where magic happens when a hummingbird comes right up to you and drinks the sugary water from the tiny bottle they give you. If you love birds and peace, you’ll love this place. The amazing biodiversity of the beautiful little garden makes it worth the US$19 entrance fee. Pro tip, the best times are 8:30 am or 4:30 am when it’s cooler.

Non-touristy things

I always recommend doing not so touristy things and visiting the Peter Tosh Monument in Bluefields, Westmoreland is one of them. Fans of The Wailers will want to make the trek to learn and just be in the space where the legendary rebel Peter Tosh spent his childhood years. The area is beautiful much like Nine Mile where Bob grew up but there’re no other comparisons. Be mindful though that this is more for the experience because the tour is short and property small. On Sundays, a spirited visit to Sunday Mass at May, Gate of Heaven Catholic church, if you’re so inclined is a great way to really get to know the community and surprisingly people from all over the world.

For such a small area, there are lots of things to do in Negril. But all good things must come to an end. On your way out, grab some souvenirs at Times Square Mall.  Until next time, lata!