Top Five Ranked Beaches in Montego Bay
The city of Montego Bay is one of Jamaica’s most popular tourist spots and for good reason too. Montego Bay is arguably one of the most diverse cities in the world. There is literally something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a tropical adventure in the rainforest or to be swept up in the fast paced and thrilling lifestyle, Mobay (as it’s affectionately called by locals) is the place for you. If you’re looking for the proverbial sand, sun and sea get away, then the city is also the perfect place to relax with its beautiful white sandy beaches.
The only drawback to the city is that most of its beaches are privatized, so you have to be staying at one of the many all-inclusive hotels in the city to be granted access.
But not to be deterred, there are still plenty of beaches that allow access to the general public at a cost or for free. Here’s a list of the top 5 beaches in Montego Bay that are accessible to the public.
Aquasol Beach Park / Walter Fletcher Beach
Aquasol Beach is the most popular beach on the western end of the island and has been for decades. This beach is actually a fully loaded theme park with go carts, slides, swings and restaurants. The beach is ideally located just mere kilometers from the cruise ship port and is great for family outings or large groups.
It’s important to note that Aquasol is a paid beach, however, the cover charge is usually pretty reasonable. Boat rides are also offered at an extra cost.
The only drawback to this beach is that the property is often used for parties and other events, and the music can be overbearing and quite loud.
Doctor’s Cave Beach
Doctor’s Cave is another popular beach in Mobay that charges a cover fee for entrance. This property is located on the legendary Montego Bay hip-strip or Gloucester Avenue and is an extremely well kept beach with lots of amenities. Located in close proximity to dozens of the best hotels and places such as Starbucks, Doctor’s Cave is a great adult chill spot.
The beach has beautiful white sand and the water is clean and clear. Another great thing about Doctor’s Cave is that it offers free Wi-Fi access and features a Jamaican restaurant that serves up delectable jerk dishes and seafood.
Reviews on this beach rate it for having the cleanest restrooms of any beach in the city.
Cornwall Beach
Also located on the Montego Bay Hip strip, Cornwall Beach is a white sandy beach with a mellow ambience. In the past, Cornwall Beach was a public beach, but it was recently closed for renovation and has since reopened operations as a private beach by the Royal Decameron hotel chain. The new Cornwall Beach is usually less crowded than the neighboring Doctor’s Cave Beach, largely because one has to purchase a day pass with the hotel to gain access, and this can be quite pricey.
The beach still has all the charm of its old days, but has several new and improved amenities including a bar, a café and a beach volleyball court.
It also features a really cool Japanese style water garden complete with water toys.
Patrons can also access glass bottom boat rides that venture out to the reefs where diverse and beautiful marine creatures can be observed.
Dump up Beach
While the name might be off putting, Dump up Beach is a great beach that is free to the public. It got its name due to the fact that it was created under an expansion project by the government in the 1970s. It’s one of the spots that’s mostly frequented by locals and is generally not crowded.
Access to Dump up Beach is currently restricted, however, as the government is undertaking a rehabilitation and upgrading of the property, which is to be renamed the Closed Harbour Beach. The 16-acre property, will be transformed into a world-class recreational space with amenities that will be operated as a free access licensed public beach and multipurpose park. The park will feature landscaping, a jogging trail, an outdoor amphitheater, multipurpose courts, a children’s play area, food kiosks and a boardwalk.
The work to upgrade the beach is expected to be completed by March 2021.
Dead End Beach
The final beach on our list is Dead End Beach. As the name suggests, this beach is literally located at a dead end road off Montego Bay’s hip-strip /Gloucester Avenue.
Dead End Beach is a public beach so there’s no cover cost to access it. Unfortunately, there are very few amenities – there are no bathrooms, changing rooms or shower facilities.
But not many people actually go swimming at this beach. It’s more so a chill spot where groups of people go to hang out, drink and listen to music.
While there are no established restaurants or bars, there are multiple vendors selling snacks, jerk chicken, soup and other street food.