Negril
Negril
Negril is a large beach resort in Westmoreland, the westernmost parish in Jamaica, located on the south side of the island. The parish is situated south of Hanover, southwest of Saint James, and northwest of Saint Elizabeth, in the county of Cornwall. The nearest large town and capital of Westmoreland is Savanna-la-Mar.
History
Negril’s development as a resort location began during the late 1950s, though access to the area proved difficult as ferries were required to drop off passengers in Negril Bay, forcing them to wade to shore. Most vacationers would rent rooms inside the home of a Jamaican family, or would pitch a tent in their backyard. As the area garnished a welcoming and hospitable reputation over time, the first of many resorts were constructed in the mid to late 1960s.
When the first road between Montego Bay and Negril opened in the early 1970s, it helped to increase Negril’s status as a new resort location. It was a two-lane paved road that ran approximately 100 yards inland from two white coral sand beaches, at the southern end of which was a small village. The long paved road from the village ran north to Green Island, home to the most of the Jamaican workers in Negril, and was straight enough to double as a runway for small airplanes.
After Negril’s infrastructure was expanded — anticipating the growth of resorts and an expanding population, a small airport built near Rutland Point, alongside several small hotels mostly catering to the North American winter tourists. Europeans also came to Negril, and several hotels were built in order to cater directly to those guests.
Geography and Ecology
On the inland side of the main road, to the east of the shore, lies a swamp called the Great Morass, through which runs the Negril River, amidst which is the Royal Palm Reserve, with wetlands that are protected since they are responsible for the growth of coral in the region, which upon death, begin to decay, helping to form coral sand along the beachfront.
In 1990, the Negril Coral Reef Preservation Society (NCRPS) was formed as a non-profit, non-governmental organization to address ongoing degradation of the coral reef ecosystem. The Negril Marine Park was officially declared on March 4, 1998 covering a total area of approximately 160 square kilometers and extending from the Davis Cove River in the Parish of Hanover to St. John’s Point in Westmoreland. The Government of Jamaica delegated the NCRPS to manage the Negril Marine Park in 2002.
Negril Today
For years, Negril’s has been rated as one of the top ten beaches in the world by many travel magazines. The north end of the beach is home to the large, all inclusive resorts, and to the south is the smaller, family-run hotels. This combination gives the Negril area a large variety of rooms, services and prices. South of downtown Negril is West End Road, known as the cliff area, which is lined with resorts that offer more privacy. These areas offer easy access to waters good for snorkeling and diving, with jumping points reaching 40+ feet.
Negril is still fairly underdeveloped, although this remains a significant factor in its undoubted charm. This, however, may not last, as a new highway from Montego Bay will bring more tourists. It is also becoming a very popular location for US college students to visit during spring break.
The last few years have seen major development along the famed “Seven Mile Beach.” The resorts include Couples, Sandals, Beaches, RIU Hotels, Grand Lido and Hedonism II. A branch of Jimmy Buffett’s chain restaurant/bar Margaritaville and a duty free zone have also been added.
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