Major Tourist Attractions In Negril

Mayfield Falls

The 22 mini-cascades and numerous swimming holes that make up the Mayfield Falls site in the low-lying Dolphin Head Mountains make a memorable day trip from Negril. The falls are reached through an intriguing maze of country roads, and are difficult to find independently, so an organised tour is advised. Tours offer guided walks through bamboo-shaded cool water holes and splashing falls. It is essential to wear a swimsuit and to bring mosquito repellent. Some parts of the walk through the area involve natural whirlpools; in others blasts of water hit you from the rocks. There is an underwater cave to swim through, smooth rockslide areas and mini cliffs to dive from. This natural water park is edged and overhung with bamboo, flowers, vines, trees and shrubbery. Jamaican dishes are available at the eatery at the entry point.

Negril Lighthouse

The lighthouse on West End Road, built in 1894, is open to visitors every day. The climb to the top (100 feet) is arduous, up steep iron steps, but worth it for the breathtaking views of the coast afforded at the summit.

Rhodes Hall Plantation

Visitors who tire of the beach can head for the countryside to a small estate, Rhodes Hall Plantation, a short distance east of Negril. Here guided horseback excursions give a glimpse of the magic and mystery of the Jamaican countryside, and you don't have to be an experienced rider to participate. Guides give some basic horsemanship tips and then take tourists off through the foothills, pointing out botanical wonders and regaling riders with stories and legends about local landmarks. The tours include riding through forests of banana and coconut palms and along a beach to Crocodile River (which really has crocodiles in residence). The riding tours last from half an hour to two hours, and are inclusive in the round-trip transportation from any hotel in the Negril area.

Seven Mile Beach

The reason for Negril’s recent boom as a tourist Mecca is centred on this seven-mile stretch of beautiful shoreline around Bloody Bay (so-called because of the fierce battle here between Columbus and the Arawak Amerindians) dotted with palm trees and carpeted with pristine white sand. Development has been restricted to palm-tree height, and despite the proliferation of guesthouses and hotels along the strip the natural beauty of the beach has not been compromised. It is now a beach renowned for showing off the world’s smallest bikinis; in fact clothing is optional and generally the option is little or nothing! Expect to be hounded by hundreds of vendors, offering everything from hair braiding to illegal ‘ganja’ (marijuana).