Beaches · Montego Bay · Jamaica
The best beaches in and near Montego Bay
Where to swim and spend a beach day, and when the water is warm.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
The best-known beach is Doctor's Cave Beach (About 5 minutes from the airport). The sea is usually warm enough for a comfortable swim (21°C+) in January–December.
Key facts
- Beaches in this guide
- 4
- Swimming season
- January–December
- Warmest sea
- 29°C (84°F)
The beaches
About 5 minutes from the airport · Families and swimming
1.Doctor's Cave Beach
Private beach club on the Hip Strip with clear, calm water and facilities.
Next to the airport · Sunsets
2.Dead End Beach (Buccaneer Beach)
Free public beach near the runway for sunsets and plane-spotting.
On Gloucester Avenue · Activities and groups
3.Aquasol Beach
Beach park on the Hip Strip with activities, a bar and water sports.
About 80 km west · A full beach day out
4.Seven Mile Beach, Negril
Long, calm beach with bars and restaurants at the western tip of the island.
Sea temperature by month
| Month | Sea | Air high |
|---|---|---|
| January | 27°C (81°F) | 30°C (86°F) |
| February | 27°C (81°F) | 30°C (86°F) |
| March | 27°C (81°F) | 30°C (86°F) |
| April | 27°C (81°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| June | 28°C (82°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| July | 29°C (84°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| August | 29°C (84°F) | 33°C (91°F) |
| September | 29°C (84°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| October | 29°C (84°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| November | 28°C (82°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| December | 27°C (81°F) | 30°C (86°F) |
Staying near the beach
$$$ · Best for families, couples and beach
Ironshore
Ironshore stretches east of Sangster International along the coast, with all-inclusive resorts, villas and a shopping area at Fairview and Montego Bay's main highway. Beaches here are mostly in front of resorts, and the area is convenient for both the airport and Rose Hall.
- Good
- Close to the airport; Resort beaches; Quieter than the Hip Strip
- Watch out
- Car or taxi needed for everything; Resorts dominate the shoreline
- Nearby
- Sangster International Airport, Rose Hall, Half Moon
Getting to the beaches
- Bus — Knutsford Express runs comfortable intercity coaches from Montego Bay to Negril, Ocho Rios, Kingston and other towns.
- Car — Car hire is available at the airport, but Jamaica drives on the left and roads can be narrow, winding and busy; many visitors prefer a driver.
- Boat — Glass-bottom boats and catamarans run snorkel and sunset trips from the Hip Strip beaches and resorts.
Beach-weather months
Days of 24°C (75°F) or more with no more than nine rainy days come in November–August. The busiest of those is January, so book early.
Beach safety
Stay in tourist areas after dark, use licensed taxis and keep valuables out of sight; persistent vendors and hustlers are common on the Hip Strip. Check flags before swimming at beaches with currents. Swim at lifeguarded beaches where possible and follow local flag warnings.
Questions travellers ask
+Does Montego Bay have beaches?
Yes: Doctor's Cave Beach, Dead End Beach (Buccaneer Beach), Aquasol Beach and Seven Mile Beach, Negril.
+When is the sea warm enough to swim in Montego Bay?
Usually January–December, when the sea averages 21°C or more.
+What is the best beach near Montego Bay?
Doctor's Cave Beach: Private beach club on the Hip Strip with clear, calm water and facilities.