Negril flights and travel guide

Negril, located on the western tip of Jamaica, is one of those places that vies with a handful of others around the world for the title of best beach town anywhere. Featuring a laid-back attitude that exemplifies Jamaica's approach to life, its claim to fame is its coastline known as Seven-Mile Beach (though it's actually closer to 7km long).

While all the amenities of beach-side living including swimming, snorkelling and diving are obviously available to visitors arriving on cheap flights to Negril, there is much more that just sun and surf to the area.

A nearby nature reserve offers visitors the chance to observe local wildlife in an area of protected local wilderness while tours of a local rum distillery offer a very different kind of diversion, but whatever you do, it will not be done in a hurry in this self-styled "capital of casual".

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Negril climate

The climate in Jamaica is tropical and like much of the Caribbean features year-round warm temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s degree Celsius range. However, the idyll that this suggests is sometimes disturbed by passing hurricanes. Local hurricane season runs from late June through late November though most of the storms strike between August and October. Modern weather-tracking services will give visitors plenty of warning so it is worth checking the forecast before you take cheap flights to Negril.

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When to fly to Negril

Peak Season:

Two events bound the boundaries of peak season in Negril. The first is local hurricane season and the second is school holiday dates in North America when many visitors choose to travel. As such, mid-December marks the start of peak season here and this generally extends through April.

Off Season:

The hurricane season is a time when some travelers avoid the area however, many choose to visit regardless after checking the weather forecast. May and October are the rainiest of the year.

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Getting around Negril

Once you have landed on cheap flights to Negril, getting around depends very much on where you stay. Most central locations are walking distance to all the local amenities but some attractions and indeed the rest of Jamaica will require transportation of some kind – the options in that case are as follows.

By car: Many common car rental companies have offices throughout Jamaica so renting a car is not a problem. However, getting about can be a touch challenging until you get used to the local signs and customs of the road. Remember that cars in Jamaica drive on the left and beware the many animals that sometimes wander along the roads, particularly in the more rural areas. Taxis are also freely available but be sure to agree a fare in advance, particularly for longer distances.

By bus: Local buses are the adopted form of transportation for the locals who use them to get around Jamaica. They connect the towns and villages of the island and while they are very cheap, expect many to be crowded and allow plenty of time for your journey as they stop frequently and are known to take their time getting around.

By air: Local airline Jamaica Express operates flights between several Jamaican destinations including Negril, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. This is by some margin the most expensive way to get around though it is also the fastest.

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Negril insider information

• See the largest remaining wetlands in Jamaica on a Black River Safari. The 1.5-hour boat trip takes in the local wildlife including the American crocodile, an endangered species that makes its home here. Also on display are countless bird species that make their home in the mangroves – these include ospreys, egrets and herons.
• When you’re planning cheap flights to Negril, pencil in a visit to a rum distillery. A tour generally features an illustrative history of the favoured local tipple followed by the mandatory tastings. The Appleton Estate has been blending the stuff since the 18th century and although it is now a modern distillery much remains of the process involved in making rum in bygone days.
• Roaring River Park is a heritage and nature park a short drive away, near Petersfield. It was once a slave plantation owned by the Beckfords of Gloucestershire, one of the first English settlers in Jamaica following victory over the Spanish. Roaring River runs underground, before coming to the surface here, close to the Roaring River Cave, which is actually several limestone caverns with a small mineral spring inside.
• One of the most prominent Negril landmarks is the lighthouse, which guides local shipping past the western tip of Jamaica. Constructed late in the 19th century, it is 20 metres high and now uses solar energy as a power source – something in plentiful supply in these parts. Visitors can climb to the top where a spectacular view of the sea awaits.
• Take a riverwalk at Mayfield Falls where guided tours covering a stretch of just over a kilometre will take you on a trek navigating local river currents, natural pools and scores of small waterfalls. You will need wet shoes though you can rent some on site if you do not have your own.

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Negril airports

Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) The airport is located 18km south east of Kingston.

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