Negril, Jamaica
What do you think of when you hear the word “Jamaica”? If you’re like most people you think of the warm sun, beautiful white sandy beaches, and clear blue-green water. Negril certainly has all of that and much more to go with it. Accommodations vary from the upscale all-inclusive resorts to budget priced rustic cabins. Whichever you choose, you can get up in the morning, head out to your lounge chair and forget the real world exists.
At an all-inclusive resort, everything you need is right there. If you have chosen one of the smaller resorts it will all come to you. Fruit vendors will come down the beach offering fresh pineapple, papaya, coconut, and the sweetest little bananas you will ever taste. A couple of hours pass and it’s getting close to lunchtime. No! Don’t get up. Here comes the patty man bringing some of the delicious Jamaican patties. Or you can wait for one of the vendors bringing fresh caught and cooked lobsters. YUM!
Baking on a beach chair not enough action for you? There are all kinds of water sports you can enjoy such as parasailing, jet skiing, or jumping on the trampoline at Margaritaville. You can take a catamaran cruise or for a more personal tour, hire one of the glass bottom boats to take you snorkeling out at the reef and to the beach at Bloody Bay for some succulent fresh lobster cooked over an open fire.
You’re not really a beach type person? No Problem, Mon! You could go on a Black River Safari. and see numerous species of birds, the mangrove trees, and the crocodiles. At the place where the boat turns around you can take a refreshing swim in the river. (I did it and lived to tell the tale.) YS Falls is about an hour from Negril. The YS River tumbles down four cascading steps into pools of cool water. Take a swim, jump from the hanging rope swing, or crawl behind the falls into a small cave. Mayfield Falls is a true Jamaican “Garden of Eden”. Here you will hike up the river, not on land but in the water. Along the way you will experience natural slides and jacuzzis, underwater tunnels, and diving holes for swimming. The Royal Palm Reserve is about 10 minutes outside Negril. This is a beautiful, tranquil forest within the Great Morass with 114 plant species and over 300 animal species including birds, butterflies, and reptiles.
After your relaxing day on the beach, or your adventurous day out and about, it is now time for dinner. Most of the resorts have restaurants if you prefer to stay in. Or walk the beach. Most of the restaurants have a menu outside so you can see what they offer – everything from the famous Jamaican Jerk, to many types of fresh fish, shrimp and, of course, lobster.
After dinner head to the hot spot of the night for some live reggae and dancing barefoot in the sand. Oh, what a way to end a perfect day in paradise!
This is just a small part of what Negril has to offer. And Negril is a very small part of what Jamaica has to offer.
