Negril · Things to do

The continuous white-sand beach running north from town along Norman Manley Boulevard, and the whole reason Negril exists as a resort. Public access points sit between the hotels, the water stays shallow a long way out, and vendors will approach you — a polite no is normal and works.

West End Road runs south from the roundabout along the low limestone cliffs to the lighthouse at the western tip of the island, past small bars, jerk stands and swimming ladders cut into the rock. It is a route rather than a single sight: walk or take a route taxi one way and stop wherever the water looks good.

A seven-tier waterfall with natural pools, inland to the east and a long half-day trip from Negril. Open Tuesday to Sunday 9:30am-3pm with everyone out by 4:30pm, US$25 for adults and US$16 for children 3-15; it closes on Mondays and public holidays, shuts admissions once it is at capacity, and closes entirely through September.

A river walk rather than a single drop — you wade upstream through a series of small falls and pools with a guide. It is the closest waterfall trip to Negril, in the hills inland, and the site lists no fixed hours, so contact them through their page before setting off.

Hand-poled bamboo rafts on the Great River, in the Hanover hills on a former banana plantation, with river tubing offered on the same stretch. Both start at US$109 per person and include free pickup and drop-off from Negril, which is the practical way to do it without a car.