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Lighthouse and viewpoint · Negril

Negril Lighthouse: a local's guide

By Michael RainfordBorn and raised in JamaicaPrices & hours checked Sources

Tower access unconfirmed; the lighthouse can be seen from West End Road. I couldn't confirm it's open right now. Check before you go; the guide below has open alternatives.

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

The Negril Lighthouse stands at Negril Point, the far western tip of Jamaica, on the West End cliffs. It is a working light, kept by the Port Authority of Jamaica, and the Jamaica National Heritage Trust lists it as a heritage site. It was built in 1894 by a French firm and is one of the first concrete lighthouses in Jamaica, standing on a water-filled tank that steadies the tower in an earthquake. The Tourist Board calls it the tallest structure in the parish.

It is a stop, not an outing. You pull in on West End Road, look at the tower, walk to the edge for the view along the cliffs and out to sea, and move on to dinner. My take: go for the setting and the sunset, and treat a climb as a bonus if someone offers.

The lighthouse sits just south of Rick’s Café, so the two make an easy West End evening. For the sand side of town, see Seven Mile Beach; boat trips there sometimes stop at Booby Cay, though I couldn’t confirm those trips are running. For hotels and the rest of the area, see my Negril guide.

How to get there

From Negril town: Take West End Road out of town along the cliffs. The lighthouse is about 4 km from the Negril roundabout in a straight line (map distance), and roughly 700 meters past Rick’s Café. If you are staying on the West End, at a cliff hotel such as The Cliff Hotel, it is a short ride or a walk along the road.

From Seven Mile Beach: Drive back through town to the roundabout and out along the West End. Allow extra time late in the afternoon, when traffic heads for Rick’s and the sunset spots.

From Montego Bay: Negril is roughly 80 km west of Montego Bay along the coast road through Lucea (approximate). Nobody makes the trip just for the lighthouse; add it to a Negril and West End day tour.

Without a car: Route taxis run along West End Road from Negril town; for a fixed trip, use a licensed taxi (red PP plates) and agree the fare first. Many Negril day tours stop here on the way to Rick's Café.

What to expect

The tower. A white, round, reinforced concrete tower with a lantern and gallery on top. The Jamaica National Heritage Trust gives its height as 66 feet above the ground, with the light about 100 feet above sea level, flashing every two seconds. It was first lit by gas, switched to acetylene in 1956 and has run on solar power since 1985. Other sources give slightly different heights; the tower is tall enough either way to be the landmark of the West End.

The grounds and view. The lighthouse sits on a grassy plot set back from the cliffs. From the area around it you look south and west over open sea, and along the West End’s low limestone cliffs. It is a working navigation light, not a museum: there is no visitor center, gift shop or café, and no published opening hours or entry fee.

Climbing it. The Tourist Board’s listing says the superintendent will lead visitors up the 103 steps and that locals offer informal tours for a small fee. Other listings say access is to the grounds only. The stairs are steep and narrow.

Local tips

  • Come about an hour before sunset, look at the lighthouse, then move on to a cliff bar or restaurant for the sun going down.

  • Carry small Jamaican dollar notes in case someone offers to take you up the tower, and agree the amount before you start.

  • Wear shoes with grip. The limestone near the cliff edge is sharp and uneven.

  • Combine it with a West End swim or lunch rather than making a special trip.

Before you go

  • Visitor access to the tower isn’t official or guaranteed, and I found no recent update on it. You may only see it from the grounds or the road.
  • There are no facilities: no restrooms, no shade structures and nothing to buy at the lighthouse itself.
  • Keep children well back from the cliff edges near the point. There are no railings along most of the West End cliffs.
  • West End Road is narrow, with no proper sidewalk in places. Take care walking it, especially after dark.

Questions people ask

Can you go up the Negril Lighthouse?

Sometimes. The Jamaica Tourist Board says the superintendent will lead visitors up the 103 steps and that locals give informal tours for a small fee, but other listings say access is to the grounds only. There are no official hours or fees, so treat a climb as a bonus, not a plan.

Is the Negril Lighthouse open to visitors?

You can see it from West End Road and the grounds at any time. It is a working Port Authority light, and I found no official notice about visitor access to the tower, so count on seeing it from the road and grounds, not on going inside.

When was the Negril Lighthouse built?

In 1894, by a French company, according to the Jamaica National Heritage Trust and the Tourist Board. It is one of the first concrete lighthouses in Jamaica and stands on a water-filled tank that helps keep the tower stable in an earthquake.

Is the Negril Lighthouse near Rick's Café?

Yes. It is on the same West End Road, roughly 700 meters south of Rick’s Café (map distance), so most people see both on the same evening.

Sources & updates

Update log

  • — New researched guide; history and access checked against the Tourist Board, JNHT and Port Authority listings. Tower access since Hurricane Melissa unconfirmed.
  • — Removed repeated advice
  • — Trimmed hurricane references to where they change the advice

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

Where to stay nearby

Where to stay in Negril