The laid-back beach town of Negril is one of our favorites in the world. Whether you’re a beach bum or an adventurer, there’s no shortage of great things to do in Negril Jamaica.
Located on the far western tip of Jamaica, Negril has stretches of long white sand beaches and rocky cliffs, both surrounded by clear, calm, turquoise waters.
Negril was our first international trip together, and we’ve been back a total of 8 times so far, and we even got married there.
If you only take one tour and get off your hotel grounds once. Go on the One Love Bus Bar Crawl, with over 1,000 5-star reviews! The tour is super cheap. Visit local bars and meet fun, like-minded travelers out to have a good time.
Here are some of our favorite things to do in Negril, and we know you’ll love it as much as we do!
Best Things Do In Negril Jamaica
1. Walk Seven Mile Beach
Seven Mile Beach is often listed as one of the best beaches in the world, as it should be. There aren’t many beaches in the world where you can walk on the white sand for MILES and MILES.
If you are a beach lover and are looking for the best beach in Negril, this is it!
There are hotels on Seven Mile Beach for everyone’s budget. Some may argue it’s not actually seven miles but more like four, but who’s counting?
To get a photo like this, definitely consider buying a drone. Nowadays they are so small and affordable it’s worth it!
We’ve been flying drones for over six years. Check out our drone guide here to see which travel drone is best for you.
Related Article: The Best Sandals Resorts Rates
2. The One Love Bus Bar Crawl
Jump on the One Love Bus bar crawl for the craziest yet amazing thing to do in Negril. Lenbert, a Negril native, bought a bus and pimped it out as a reggae bus bringing guests to a number of local bars on the West End of Negril for only $25.
Book Online in advance, and he’ll pick you up right at your hotel, and you’ll be joined by other party-goers looking for a good time.
You’ll visit some local bars and some amazing ones located right on the Negril cliffs, a great spot to be for sunset. Beers at most bars run $3-4USD, but if you pay in the local currency, you’ll get a better deal.
Make sure to tip Lenbert. He’s a great guy, a suggested tip of $5-10 per person.
3. Booze Cruise Sunset Catamaran
If you are up for a crazy, sloppy, fun time, jump on the booze cruise catamaran that sets sail to Rick’s Cafe and the West End Cliffs. It’s totally worth the price with an open bar for 3.5 hours with plenty of rum punches & Red Stripe beers.
We’ve personally done this cruise twice, and it has always been a blast. It’s advised to book in advance as it does sell out, book online here.
4. Take a Ride on the Floating Tiki Bar
Negril’s newest and coolest bar, Tiki Pon Da Sea, is a floating tiki bar that you can rent by the hour that includes unlimited drinks.
We’ve never seen any bar like this, and it’s an awesome way to spend a few hours out on the crystal clear waters of Negril.
We suggest renting it out during sunset to enjoy a sunset cruise. Prices are currently $60 USD per person per hour. Mention code “GettingStamped” for $5 off.
5. The Pelican Bar Jamaica
Catch a ride out to the coolest bar in the world. Located about a half-mile from shore is the world-famous Pelican Bar. We recommend this guided tour from Negril.
Made of sticks and palm thatched roof, the bar is simply awesome. Grab a cold Red Stripe from Floyd, the bar owner, and chill for the afternoon at this one-of-a-kind place.
You can hire a driver for the day to take you or join this tour, which visits the Pelican Bar & YS Falls, which, in our opinion, is really cheap as the boat ride out to the Pelican Bar typically costs $25+ per person.
The drive to the boat launch is about 2.5 hours from Negril, so this is a great price. Another option is a boat ride down the Black River.
6. Jump Off the Cliffs at Rick’s Cafe
If you’re looking for an adrenaline thing to do in Negril, then why not jump off a 35-foot cliff into the ocean?
There are three cliffs at Rick’s Café to jump off: 10 feet, 25 feet, and 35 feet. Even if you aren’t a jumper, it’s a great place to spend the afternoon.
You can take a taxi to Rick’s Cafe from your hotel or join this catamaran cruise that includes snorkeling, unlimited drinks & snacks, and it goes to Rick’s Cafe for cliff jumping. The cruise leaves right from Margaritaville Negril on the beach.
Usually, some local men will climb the trees and do higher jumps & tricks. If you are like me and like to watch cliff diving and not participate, make sure to tip these guys for the show.
Recommended Driver in Negril
We’ve personally hired Jackson on several trips, both for long day trips and for driving us around Negril to some of the best restaurants in Negril and other attractions.
If you want to hire a driver for the day to visit several attractions in Negril or Jamaica, contact Jackson in advance to book and get rates. It is one of the best ways to explore Negril.
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 1-876-481-8719 (call or text just like a US number)
7. Visit YS Falls
About 1.5 hours south of Negril is the beautiful YS Falls. A series of tiered waterfalls gently cascade over stone ledges with small swimming pools below.
There is a zip line that traverses the falls and a rope swing for those looking for more excitement. YS Falls is one of the best waterfalls in Jamaica.
For one of the best day trips from Negril, book this tour that visits YS Falls and the Pelican Bar for the ultimate tour.
Water shoes aren’t required but would make your visit more comfortable. You can get a cheap pair online here for under $5. A little bit further is the famous Dunn’s River Falls.
8. Parasailing
Get high in Negril, but not how you were thinking. A parasailing tour of the beach in Negril is one of the top things to do while in Jamaica.
Even if you aren’t a fan of heights, the parachutes are still fun to watch as they glide up and down the beach.
The average price is $60 USD for a single or $100 USD for two people. You can book this in person on the beach. There will be several beach stalls you can book at or beach vendors offering parasailing.
Traveling with Kids – Beaches Negril Jamaica Resort Review
9. Dunn’s River Falls
Often Regarded as one of Jamaica’s top waterfalls, Dunn’s River Falls is around a 3-hour drive from Negril. Just outside of Ocho Rios is a great spot for adventure lovers.
Put on a pair of water shoes, and you can make your way up the set of terraced falls all the way to the top.
Most people spend around 45 minutes to an hour playing around in the pools and climbing their way to the top. Guides are strongly suggested and, at times, required to pass the length of the falls.
Related Article: Must Do Things In Jamaica
10. Glass Bottom Boat Tour
All aboard this one of a kind boat where the floor has been replaced with a see-thru glass bottom. Cruise over reefs and schools of tropical fish off the shores of Negril.
You can book online here or find the captains of these glass bottom boat tours all along the beach in Negril, and it’s one of the city’s most popular activities. The average price is $35 USD per person per hour.
11. Snorkeling Tour in Negril
Strap on your fins and kick your way around beautiful reefs, and swim with colorful sea life while in Negril. There are several spots to snorkel around the beaches of Negril.
A snorkel tour is a must while in Negril. We like this tour which includes snorkeling in Booby Cay, a glass bottom boat, and fresh fish and lobster lunch.
There are several different snorkeling tour options varying in length and where you go. On average, it’s $30 USD per person per hour for a snorkeling trip.
We typically suggest negotiating a trip that would be a glass-bottom boat with a snorkel stop that goes to the small island, Booby Cay, for a fresh lobster lunch. But you honestly can’t beat this tour price that includes all that.
If you want to go scuba diving in Negril, you can, but as divers, we can tell you that marine life and coral reefs are nothing special. We would suggest saving your money and doing some of the other water sports.
12. Eat A Jamaican Patty From The Patty Man Norman
You can’t leave Negril without having an authentic Jamaican Patty. Our favorite patties are from a guy known as Norman The Patty Man.
He doesn’t have a location. You must look for him walking his bike on Seven Mile Beach.
His bike has a big metal cooler in the front that he calls his patty box, which is full of fresh patties! He has several flavors of patties: beef, vegetable, chicken, and coco bread.
If you find him in the afternoon, he may be sold out of some flavors. We have often seen him in front of Negril Treehouse. If you can’t find him, ask a local when Norman the Patty Man usually comes around.
13. Listen To Live Reggae Music
Every day of the week, there is live reggae playing somewhere in Negril. Most restaurants and bars have a specific day of the week they have live bands.
We love the Hiyah Grade band. We actually had them play at our beach wedding in Negril. They play live music every Tuesday at Drifters Bar from 3 pm to 7 pm, which is located right on Seven Mile Beach.
Click here to check their Facebook page and schedule.
14. Mayfield Falls
One of the closest waterfalls to Negril is Mayfield Falls. Strap on some water shoes and make your way up the river that leads to the Mayfield Falls. It’s a nice day trip from Negril and a break from the beaches.
Along with the river and falls tour, the guide will also show you many local plants and culture. Most tours will include a small lunch.
15. Drink Red Stripe
When in Jamaica, you drink Red Stripe and more Red Stripe.
There are two types, regular and light, but stick to the regular Red Stripe. Most all-inclusive hotels will have Red Stripe on tap. If you’re looking for something to do in Negril, Red Stripe is always a good idea!
16. Day trip to Booby Island and lunch
You can take the short boat ride out to the small island that sits between 7 Mile Beach and Bloody Bay for some snorkeling and a plate full of fresh Caribbean lobster.
Often referred to as Lobster Island, the restaurant on the island has a reputation for cooking up some delicious crustaceans.
Lobster prices range from $20+ depending on the size of the lobster. Go early. On our last trip, we arrived at 3 p.m., and they were out of lobster.
17. Eat at Three Dives Jerk Chicken
Come hungry! Jamaican jerk chicken can be found all around Negril on the beach and on the street, but one of the best places in Negril for Jerk Chicken is Three Dives Jerk Chicken. It’s located in the West End, not far from Rick’s Cafe.
We suggest heading here an hour before sunset so you can watch the sunset while you wait for the best jerk chicken in the world.
We had our rehearsal dinner here, and everyone loved it, and we loved the prices, amazing food at local prices. It is a popular spot with locals and tourists.
19. Indulge at the resort
That’s right, don’t do a DAMN thing all day! On our last few visits, we’ve always stayed at all-inclusive resorts.
We’ve stayed at Couples Swept Away, RIU Negril, and Sandals Negril, and we enjoyed a day of nothing but indulging in tasty drinks and food at an all-inclusive resort. You have everything you need right at the resort.
Depending on your budget, there is an all-inclusive in Negril for everyone. Our personal favorite is Sandals Negril. It’s the best Sandals in Jamaica, we think.
20. Horseback Riding on the Beach
Pony up and go on a horseback ride along the beautiful beaches in Negril, Jamaica. One of the favorite things to do among visitors is a sunset ride on the beach. Click here for rates.
21. Beach Bar Crawl
Are you a fan of day drinking? Us too! One of our favorite things to do in Negril Jamaica is make our little beach bar crawl on Seven Mile Beach.
Pick one end of the beach to start on around 11 a.m. and drink your way down the beach. What better way to explore Negril Beach?
There are several beach bars where you can get a bottle of Red Stripe for 200 J ($2), but the prices will range from 150-300 J.
Just keep your eyes open if you’re on a budget. Stay away from the hotel bars and head to the local little bars/shacks.
22. Watch The Sunset
Negril sunsets are the best sunsets in the Caribbean. Every night just head down to the beach for the free show. Remember to stick around a few minutes after the sun sets as the colors continue to change.
If you’re on a honeymoon in Jamaica, there is nothing more romantic than beautiful sunsets on the beach.
When looking for the best price and biggest selection of hotels in Jamaica check prices on Booking.com, we’ve found they are the best option and have a great cancelation policy.*
23. Floatie Time
Don’t forget an Instagramable floatie. It will pair great with the white sand and turquoise water of Negril.
The bigger, the better when it comes to floaties. We get all of our floaties from Amazon, and they have lots of ridiculous floaties that would be perfect for Jamaica!
24. Drink a Rum Punch
Rum Punch in Jamaica is amazing, but can sneak up on you. Most places, I swear, serve more rum punch than water.
Rum punch is either made with Appleton Rum or the other local favorite, Overproof Rum. If you like it, make sure to pick up a bottle in the gift shop or duty-free.
24. Paddle Boarding
For a change of pace on your Jamaican vacation, do something a little more healthy. As much fun as paddleboarding is, it’s also a great workout.
Many resorts have boards available, or they are also for rent on the beach by the hour or by day.
25. Just Chill
Your beach chairs await you. With so many Negril attractions, be sure to leave some time to relax and enjoy the beauty of this place.
Negril has some stunning waters and powder-soft sand, so take a day to enjoy the surroundings.
Recommended Jamaica Hotels We’ve Actually Stayed At
- Riu Negril Check Online Prices | Agoda
- Negril Tree House Check Online Prices | Booking.com
- Charela Inn Negril Check Online Prices| Booking.com
- Sandals Ochi | Check Online Deals Direct
- Sandals Negril | Check Online Deals Direct Now
- Couples Swept Away | Booking.com
- Sandals Montego Bay | Check Online Deals Direct Now
- Sandals Royal Caribbean | Check Online Deals Direct Now
- Sandals South Coast | Check Online Deals Direct Now
- Moon Palace Jamaican Grande |Booking.com
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What are your favorite things to do in Negril Jamaica? We are always looking for new ideas for our next trip back to Negril. We have traveled to Jamaica 6 times, so it’s safe to say we’ll be back again.
Nita Sommerfield
Sunday 3rd of November 2019
Over by ricks there’s a ‘cool vibes’ jerk chicken, brother of the 3 dives. They’re delicious. But the next few places up, they have a little wooden stand out in front advertising magic mushrooms and have wooden carvings for sale. The restaurant behind that has the most amazing patties. They have 10 different kinds, and they’re not your traditional patty. They’re a MEAL. They’re so good, and insanely affordable. $3 for everything but the lobster $5. (The lobster was soooooo good) we had chicken, lobster, beef and cheese. And they were all so good.
Tara
Tuesday 7th of December 2021
Do you recall the name of the patty restaurant? I have a trip planned for June.
Glenn
Monday 14th of October 2019
Is there a place in Negril that would rent just a paddle for paddleboarding if one were to bring their own boards? Also, is there anywhere that would sell paddles? Staying for 12 nights and we can check through our inflatable paddleboards but the paddles don't break down small enough to avoid a second checked bag with baggage fees. Thank you for any help and advice you can give me!
Adam
Thursday 31st of October 2019
You should be able to find a watersports rental company on the beach that would rent paddles to you. However, they will most likely be something like $5 per day, so you might consider just buying a collapsible paddle for this and future trips. If you do choose to rent, try to negotiate since you will be renting for a long period of time, try to get at least 25-40% off of whatever they first propose. Have a great trip to Negril, it's one of our favorites!
Lisa
Tuesday 24th of September 2019
Hi there. I stumbled across your page and am so happy! Its very useful. We are debating between Ochos Rios and Negril but I am feeling drawn to the 7 Mile beach. We are looking the two Riu resorts or Royalton resorts. Do you have any feedback on either resorts? Thank you.
Hannah Lukaszewicz
Monday 6th of April 2020
In Ocho Rios, we have stayed at Sandals Ochi and Moon Palace Jamaican Grande and in Negril we've stayed at several places but for all-inclusive resorts Sandals Negril, Couples Swept Away, and Riu Negril. We love Seven Mile Beach, so we would recommend Negril BUT neither the Royalton or Riu Negril are on Seven Mile Beach. They are in Bloody Bay (man-made bay), just something you might want to know. You will not be able to walk down Seven Mile Beach from either resort. You might want to look at Sandals Negril, more on that resort here: https://www.gettingstamped.com/best-sandals-resorts/ Would love to hear where you end of staying and how your trip was.
Christina Brown
Friday 12th of July 2019
Hi! My husband and I are traveling in August.l, staying in Negril. Your blog has helped me map out things to do. We're thinking of renting a car since we'll be there 5 days and want to visit around the island. Would you say renting a car is ideal for transportation?
Adam
Sunday 14th of July 2019
You're going to love Negril! If you've already visited the island and have a general idea of the layout and how Jamaicans drive it is possible to rent a car if you're a confident driver. It isn't the easiest country to drive BUT if you're mainly going from MBJ airport to Negril and then around Negril, we personally would do it. We actually rented a car on our last trip and did this. If you're looking at taking day trips from Negril make sure you have good cell service as the roads aren't well marked. It honestly will come down to how comfortable you are with driving in a foreign country and your driving skills. Make sure to take insurance though.
Have fun in Negril!
Ciara
Friday 12th of July 2019
Hi, we are thinking of Negril for our honeymoon. We have been looking at Couples Swept Away. I am curious as to why Sandals Negril is your top pick, it is such an important aspect to get the best resort for us? Thanks in advance.
Frankie
Sunday 3rd of November 2019
Catcha falling star resort. Close to ricks you can hear the music. Sunsets are beautiful. Several personal villas to choose from. Most have excellent views of the ocean. Ocean swimming, wonderful pool and hot tub that over looks the ocean. It has an EXCELLENT bar and restaurant- Ivan’s. The shooting stars were our favorite to sip on at the pool.
Adam
Sunday 14th of July 2019
They are both great options and we've stayed at both. Couples Swept Away is a better location while Sandals has more room types & room amenities (more modern/comfortable). Food and drinks are relatively comparable. Either is a great decision. If you stay at Sandals and walk down Seven Mile Beach you can go to Beaches Resort (right next to Couple Swept Away) and eat/drink there whenever as well. Usually, price point they are similar as well. Have a great honeymoon in Jamaica.