Jamaica lists 60 public beaches with free access

The Jamaican government has officially listed 60 public beaches across the island that provide free access to the public, aiming to counter damaging online claims of restricted access. Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has been vocal about these allegations, stating they harm Jamaica's reputation and incur costs for the government to rectify.

"Jamaica’s public bathing beaches provide free access to our sandy coastline for Jamaicans to enjoy, with recognised locations across the island," the Ministry of Tourism announced on social media. The ministry emphasized that these beaches are open to everyone for various activities, including swimming, sunbathing, and fishing, without any entry fees.

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Jamaica’s public bathing beaches provide free access to our sandy coastline for Jamaicans to enjoy, with recognised locations across the island.

More than half of the 60 designated beaches are situated along Jamaica's northern coast, spanning parishes like Hanover, St. James, Trelawny, St. Ann, St. Mary, and Portland. Notable locations include Orchard/Old Steamer in Hanover, Sunset Beach in St. James, Rio Bueno in Trelawny, Priory/Fantasy in St. Ann, Pagee/Frontier in St. Mary, and Hope Bay in Portland.

St. Elizabeth parish boasts the highest number of free public beaches with nine locations, including Great Bay and Fort Charles. Other parishes with listed free beaches are Westmoreland, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St. Thomas, and Kingston and St. Andrew, which has one public beach, Copacabana.

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From swimming and sunbathing to fishing, water sports or simply enjoying the coastline, these public bathing beaches are open to everyone with no entry fee required.