Westmoreland Parish Guide: Negril, Seven Mile Beach & the West End Cliffs

Westmoreland is the parish at Jamaica's westernmost tip, and its capital — Negril — is arguably the most iconic beach destination in the Caribbean. Where Montego Bay is polished and Kingston is urban, Westmoreland is barefoot. Seven Mile Beach unfurls in one uninterrupted arc of white sand; the West End cliffs drop straight into water so clear you can count the fish. This is where Jamaica exhales.

The lay of the land

• Seven Mile Beach (Norman Manley Boulevard) — the long, straight beach strip. All-inclusive resorts on one end, boutique cottages and beach bars on the other.
• West End (Lighthouse Road) — dramatic 40-foot limestone cliffs, cave hotels, cliff-diving bars, and the best sunsets in the country.
• Bloody Bay — quieter northern cove, home to a handful of adults-only resorts and Booby Cay island snorkelling.
• Little London and Savanna-la-Mar — the working parish inland; the real Westmoreland economy and the best local food.

What to do

Watch the sunset from Rick's Café

It's touristy. Do it anyway — once. The cliff divers, the reggae band, and the sun sliding into the sea at 6:15pm is a rite of passage.

Snorkel or dive the Negril reefs

The reef is a five-minute swim from most Seven Mile Beach properties. Book a glass-bottom boat if you don't swim.

Booby Cay

Half-day boat trip to a private island off Bloody Bay. Snorkel, jerk lunch on the sand, and a swim-up bar in a natural pool. Better than most resort day passes.

Blue Hole Mineral Spring

30 minutes inland. A 25-foot cliff jump into a naturally cold mineral spring. Local vibe, cheap entry, unforgettable.

YS Falls and Black River Safari (day trip)

90 minutes east into St. Elizabeth — worth it. Seven-tiered waterfall, rope swings, and a boat trip through mangroves to spot crocodiles.

Where to eat

• 3 Dives Jerk Centre (West End) — hands-down the best jerk lobster on the island. Cash only, no reservations, worth the wait.
• Ivan's Bar (Catcha Falling Star) — cliffside dinner with a live band and the second-best sunset in Negril.
• Just Natural — jungle garden restaurant with vegetarian and pescatarian dishes served under fruit trees.
• Kuyaba — beachfront brunch spot with the best banana pancakes on the strip.
• Push Cart (Rockhouse Hotel) — elevated Jamaican street food, rum cocktails, and a killer view.

Where to stay

Negril's rental market splits cleanly:

• Seven Mile Beach cottages and villas — beachfront 2- to 5-bedroom homes with private pools, direct beach access, and staff. US$400–1,800 / night.
• West End cliff villas — dramatic ocean-cliff properties with private sea steps and infinity pools. Quieter, more romantic, better for couples.
• Bloody Bay condos — modern 1- and 2-bedroom units in gated developments, ideal for longer stays.

A perfect long weekend

• Day 1: Arrive MBJ, transfer 90 minutes to Negril. Sunset at Rick's Café.
• Day 2: Beach morning on Seven Mile, snorkel trip, lunch at 3 Dives, sunset dinner at Rockhouse.
• Day 3: Day trip to YS Falls and Black River. Evening on the beach.
• Day 4: Blue Hole in the morning, slow beach afternoon, catamaran sail at sunset.

When to come

Negril's peak is December through April. October and early November are the value sweet spot — the rains are winding down, prices drop 30%, and the beach is nearly empty. Avoid September if you can — it's the wettest month of the hurricane season.

Westmoreland is Jamaica at its most relaxed. Come for the sunset, stay for the sand, and remember that "no problem, mon" started here for a reason.