Negril, a laid-back town west of Jamaica, is world-renown for its uninterrupted miles-long white-sand beaches with pale, calm waters in shallow bays. Negril, short for Negrillo, means “Little black ones” in Spanish. This town welcomes its visitors with lots of places to visit and activities to participate in. Here are several attractions in Negril that every first-time visitor should know about.
1. Negril Beach
The Negril Beach stretches from Bloody Bay in the northern part to Negril Cliffs and Long Bay in the south. This is among Jamaica’s best stretches of shorelines. Also known as Seven Mile Beach, this area with soft sand and turquoise sea is perfect for sunbathing, strolling and swimming. With its shores tucked behind coconut palms, Negril Beach is lined with hotels and restaurants. Some of the areas here are regarded as clothing-optional, and visitors have lots of water spots to enjoy.
2. Negril Cliffs
Negril Cliffs are located south of Negril Beach, and they rise above the waters. This area was used as a backdrop in the James Bond movie “Thunderball.” These limestone outcrops at their highest point rise to 12 meters high. Perched above the ocean is Rick’s café, an attractive place to relax and watch the visitors and locals leap from the cliffs into the sea.
3. Negril Lighthouse
The Negril Lighthouse is the highest structure in Negril towering 30 meters, and it was built in 1894. You can climb the not-so-wide stairs to the top of the structure to enjoy a spectacular view of the coast. It is an excellent spot to watch the sunset.
4. Great Morass
The Great Morass is a stretch of 16 kilometers from Orange Bay to the Negril River. It is an area of protected wetlands harboring turtles, crocodiles, butterflies and many species of birds. Most visitors to this area go to the Royal Palm Preserve, a 351-acre piece of land located 20 minutes from Negril. It protects the Jamaican Royal Palms and also surrounds a small nature museum.
5. Booby Cay
Booby Cay is located off the Negril Beach. It is a perfect place for picnics, snorkeling and sunbathing, and glass-bottomed boats carry visitors to the cay. Visitors can also zoom over the cay on jet skis. The top attraction here is the grilled fresh lobster on the beach.
6. Kool Runnings Adventure Park
Kool Runnings Adventure Park has lots of things to do. You can choose to bounce on the bungee trampoline, zoom down the waterslides, drift around the river ride, or cruise in go-karts. The children can also enjoy the carousel and the interactive playground. You can also learn about the Jamaican history at the Heritage Museum.
7. Half Moon Beach
The Half Mon Beach is a private beach. It is a peaceful piece of hammock-slung coast where you can relax in an open-air restaurant and feast on fresh grilled lobster. Camping and wooden cabins are also available for the visitors.
8. Blue Hole Mineral Spring
The Blue Hole Mineral Spring is located southeast of Negril in a limestone cavern. Visitors come here to soak in the calm, clear waters believed to have therapeutic powers. The clay-like white mud that surrounds the spring is said to have the ability to soothe the skin.
In Negril, you can indulge in any of the water sports such as jet skiing, relax and sunbathe on the beach, or feast on the grilled lobster. There is also lots of good accommodation to choose from in Negril such as the Beach House Villas. And if you are in a search for Negril hotels, you can find satisfactory information from websites such as Hipmunk.com.
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