For centuries, Negril was cut off from the rest of the island by bad roads and a large swamp, it lay undiscovered and sparsely populated. Unlike most other places in Jamaica it has very little history except as a haven for shipping. A navy squadron mustered here in 1702 to sail against the French. In 1814 fifty warships and 6600 men sailed from Negril to tackle the American rebels and were put to fight the Battle of New Orleans. And it was at Negril that an infamous pirate, Calico Jack Rackham, was captured, then taken to Spanish Town for trial and executed near Port Royal at a place known thereafter as Rackham’s Cay.
One of the first people to realise Negril’s potential was Norman Washington Manley whose administration cut canals to drain the swamp and built a highway. The Negril Land Authority was established in 1958 to supervise development of the area and has functioned intermittently and ineffectually ever since. Regulations enacted to preserve Negril’s unspoiled beauty have been honoured more in the breach than the observance and even the oft-quoted rule that no building must be taller than the tallest tree is disregarded nowadays.
Initially, development was very slow. Then in the 1960’s the American “flower children” discovered Negril. Accommodation was very limited and the few establishments on the beach did not appreciate or encourage “the hippies”. So these young foreigners, college kids, draft dodgers, Vietnam veterans, gravitated to the West End and The Rock and lodged in the humble homes of the local people, renting a room, a bed, or a space for their sleeping bags and eating out of the family pot.
It was a beautiful example of symbiosis. As a result the landlords in Redground and along Lighthouse Road prospered, extended their houses and put in modern conveniences as the hippies came in ever-increasing numbers. In the early days the more affluent landowners were worried about Negril becoming a “Hippie Haven” and set up a committee to deal with the problem of “long haired, ganja-smoking, loose-moralled foreign visitors”, but the reply from the villagers was “let those that have the problem deal with it”.
Only a few decades ago, telephones and TVs were unheard of. Telegrams delivered from the Negril Post Office provided communication. Few hotels existed. The main road was the beach, known today as Negril’s “second high-way”.
Despite progress, you won’t find much hustle and bustle. Growth has been on the march in a controlled manner since the halcyon days of the early 1970s. More than three dozen quaint guest houses, tropical resorts and upscale hotels share the beachfront with coconut palms.
A dozen or so distinctive properties hug the cliffs. More cottages and hotels can be found east of West End Road . Even so, buildings cannot be constructed higher than the tallest palm tree. When it comes to protecting the environment Negril is a leader. Marine parks have been established to keep reefs alive with tropical fish and coral. Energy management and coastal-water cleanup are among environmentally friendly projects.
Negril’s powdery white beach is Jamaica’s most famous and among the best in the entire Caribbean. The sand slopes gently into a placid sea with waters so warm it feels like a saltwater jacuzzi. The waters are so clear it is sometimes possible to see small yellowtail snappers as they glide by.
negril discounts
Negril De Nails Spa
Travellers Beach Resort
Norman Manley Blvd
Negril
Tel: 1-876-418-7191
- 30USD back massage
- 30USD foot reflexology
- 30USD spa pedicure
- Shellac manicure
- 30USD shampoo and blow
Liquid Yoga
Jessica H, CYT
Negril Tree House
Norman Manley Blvd (beach road)
Negril
Tel: (876) 483-4746
Classes: Tuesday – Saturday at 9:00am
Early Bird Classes Available upon request
Cost:
60 minutes, including guided meditation – $20 USD
Yoga By Land – $15 USD
Nigel’s Jamaican Almond Oil
Website: www.nigelsjamaicanalmondworld.com
- Cold pressed from Jamaican Heirloom Almonds
- Excellent moisturizer
- Great for massages
- Revives skin’s natural glow
- Great for Eczema, psoriasis and itchy dry skin
Sona Duty Free
Contact:
Raghu Roy
876- 957-3151
For All Reggae Marathon Participants:
- Gold and Silver Jewelry 50% off
- Souvenirs and T shirts 10% Off
- Dresses and bags 20% Off
- Cigars 20% Off
- Free gifts !
Time Square
Norman Manley Blvd
Negril
Tel: 876- 957-9263
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.timesquarenegril.com
Reggae Marathon Discount: 5-10% off select items
- Duty Free shopping
- Jewelry and watch boutiques
- Clothing boutiques
- Jamaican gifts and souvenirs
- Cigars and Jamaican Coffee
The Boardwalk Village
Norman Manley Blvd.,
Negril (between Our Past Time and Sandals Resort)
10% off our Heart Healthy Omelette
Comforts of Home Nursing Services
JA: (876) 464-2894
USA: (651) 247-2984
Email: [email protected]
- Pre-registration available
- USA/JA Licensed RN, BLS certified
- Over 30 years of health care experience
- 24-hour hotel calls
- Collaboration with local physicians and health care facilities
- Adult/Child Sitting (Home & Hotel)
- Private Nursing/Travel Care
- Personal Shopping
- Rental Search Assistance
- Excursion Nursing Support
..and much more!