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Sea bar on a sandbar · South Coast

Floyd’s Pelican Bar, St Elizabeth: a local's guide

By Michael RainfordBorn and raised in JamaicaPrices & hours checked Sources
Thatched stilt huts of Floyd's Pelican Bar standing in shallow turquoise sea
On this page
  1. My local take
  2. How to get there
  3. What to expect
  4. Local tips
  5. Before you go
  6. FAQ
  7. Sources

My local take

Floyd’s Pelican Bar is a wooden shack on a sandbar about a mile out in Parottee Bay, built by a fisherman named Floyd in 2001 and reached only by boat. When the 2025 hurricane destroyed it, owner Denever “Floyd” Forbes rebuilt it with help from Red Stripe and the Treasure Beach community.

It suits people who want a few hours on the water, a cold beer, a swim off the sandbar and a sunset. It isn’t a restaurant with a menu and a fixed schedule; it’s a fisherman’s bar that became famous. My take: keep your plans loose. Spending your money here, with the boat captains and at the bar, goes straight back into the community.

If you’re in St Elizabeth for a few days, swim at YS Falls, or drive east to Little Ochie in Alligator Pond for seafood on the beach. For more, see my South Coast guide.

How to get there

You can only get to Pelican Bar by boat. The Jamaica Observer reports that boat tours run from Treasure Beach, Black River and Parottee Bay, and local captains ferry visitors out every day. From Treasure Beach, a Treasure Beach hotel that arranges boats puts the ride at about 25 minutes each way. From Parottee Bay the hop is shorter, since the bar sits about a mile offshore.

Getting to the coast first: from Montego Bay, Treasure Beach and Black River are about two and a half hours by road, and from Negril about two hours. Those are estimates, not timed routes, so leave extra time. Some full-day tours from the north coast combine Pelican Bar with YS Falls and the Black River.

Without a car: Take a licensed tour or a JUTA taxi to Treasure Beach, Black River or Parottee Bay, then a boat out with a local captain. Some north-coast tours include the boat ride.

What to expect

The bar is a simple structure of salvaged wood on a sandbar, with the sea all around it. It serves beer and seafood to fishermen and visitors who come out by boat. Most people take a dip off the sandbar between drinks. The bar runs on solar power.

There’s no published menu, price list or opening hours, so ask what food is available that day. Food and drinks are paid for at the bar, separately from the boat.

Local tips

  • Go for the late afternoon. One Treasure Beach hotel that arranges trips sends captains out at about 3 pm and brings people back around 6 pm, in time for the sunset.

  • Agree the boat price, and the time you want to come back, before you get in the boat.

  • Bring cash in small notes for the bar, the boat and tips. Don’t count on card payments out at sea.

  • Wear swimwear under your clothes and bring a dry bag for your phone. You’ll get wet getting in and out of the boat.

  • Use the bathroom before you leave shore. The bar is a shack on a sandbar, and facilities are basic.

Before you go

  • It’s boat-only, so it isn’t suitable for anyone who can’t climb in and out of a small boat or gets badly seasick.
  • Weather decides everything. Captains won’t go out in rough seas, and during hurricane season, June to November, plans can change at short notice.
  • The rebuilt bar is smaller than before, so it can feel full when several boats arrive together.
  • Sun and alcohol at sea are a strong mix. Bring sunscreen and a hat, and keep drinking water handy.
  • Power on shore at Parottee was still out in April 2026, so services nearby may be limited.

Questions people ask

Is Pelican Bar open?

Yes. The Jamaica Observer found it operating in May 2026, with a smaller team than before. There are no published opening hours, so confirm with your boat captain on the day.

How do you get to Pelican Bar?

Only by boat. Tours run from Treasure Beach, Black River and Parottee Bay. From Treasure Beach the boat ride is about 25 minutes each way.

Where is Pelican Bar in Jamaica?

On a sandbar about a mile off Parottee Bay in St Elizabeth, on the South Coast between Black River and Treasure Beach.

Can you swim at Pelican Bar?

Yes. The bar sits on a sandbar, and most visitors take a dip between drinks. Only swim when the sea is calm, and watch for boats coming in.

Sources & updates

Update log

  • — Rewritten as a researched guide; facts re-checked. Bar destroyed by Hurricane Melissa and rebuilt; status updated.
  • — Re-checked the Jamaica Observer reopening report (dated Feb 4, 2026; no Jan 31 date found in Observer coverage) and reworded the status line; FAQ now answers 'Is Pelican Bar open after the hurricane?'.
  • — Removed repeated advice
  • — Trimmed hurricane references to where they change the advice

Spotted something out of date? Tell me and I’ll check it.