Negril, Jamaica: Seven Mile Beach and the West End Cliffs
Negril, on Jamaica’s west coast, is best known for two very different stretches of coastline: the long, level sand of Seven Mile Beach, and the limestone cliffs of the West End a little further south. It’s about 30 minutes by road from Ocean Escape.
Quick facts about Negril
| Parish | Westmoreland (Seven Mile Beach and the northern part of Negril extend into neighbouring Hanover) |
|---|---|
| Known for | Seven Mile Beach, the West End’s limestone cliffs, cliff-diving spots like Rick’s Café, and some of the island’s best-known sunsets |
| Distance from Ocean Escape | About 30 minutes by road |
What Negril is known for
Seven Mile Beach is one of the most photographed beaches in the Caribbean: a long, uninterrupted arc of white sand and clear water, lined with hotels, beach bars and water-sports operators. A few miles south, the West End is a different kind of coastline: roughly 40-foot limestone cliffs, once a reef and now uplifted above the sea, with small hotels, restaurants and cliff-diving bars built along the edge. Rick’s Café is the best known of the cliff-diving spots, and the area is famous for its sunsets, which have featured in film going back to the Bond movies shot partly in Jamaica.
FIRSTHAND Ocean Escape’s host, Phillip, says guests who want a Negril sunset dinner but don’t want to stay in the middle of the strip often use the villa as a base and drive in for the evening, then have a quieter drive home along the coast road.
Many visitors split their trip between a Negril beach day or sunset outing and quieter time elsewhere. Our guide to where to stay in Jamaica compares Montego Bay, Negril and the Lucea corridor in between, where Ocean Escape is based.
Where Ocean Escape fits in
Ocean Escape Jamaica is a private 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom villa about 30 minutes from Negril, in a gated community between Montego Bay and Negril. It sleeps up to 6, with a beach across the road, a shared pool, gym and tennis court, and Starlink wifi throughout.
See the villa on Airbnb →Frequently asked questions
Is it worth staying near Negril, or is Lucea close enough?
Ocean Escape is about 30 minutes from Negril, close enough for a beach day or sunset dinner without needing to base yourself directly on the strip, and quieter for the rest of your stay.
Seven Mile Beach or the West End cliffs, which is better?
They’re different experiences: Seven Mile Beach suits swimming, lounging and water sports, while the West End suits sunset dinners, cliff-jumping and a quieter, more scattered layout of small hotels and bars.
What parish is Negril in?
Most of Negril, including Seven Mile Beach, sits in Westmoreland Parish, with the northern edge of the area extending into Hanover Parish.
Ready to see availability?
Ocean Escape Jamaica books directly through Airbnb.
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