Long Bay

Long Bay faces open Atlantic on the far eastern side of the island, and unlike the reef-sheltered north coast it takes swell directly, which gives it the most consistent beach break in Jamaica and a shoreline of coarse golden sand backed by coconut palms with almost nothing built on it. A village of a few hundred people sits behind, with guesthouses, cook shops and a bar or two, and the pace is very slow. It has been a quiet stop for independent travellers and surfers for decades and has resisted development, partly because the road east is long and rough and partly because the sea is too rough for the resort model.

What you actually see

• The beach break - the most consistent surf on the island.
• The empty sand - a kilometre and a half with almost no building on it.
• The village - guesthouses and cook shops behind the palms.
• The east coast drive - one of the least travelled roads in Jamaica.

When to go

December to April is drier and brings the biggest north swells for surfing. Summer is calmer and better for swimming. The east coast catches weather from the Atlantic year-round and is greener and wetter than the rest of the island.

Honest expectations

The surf and undertow here are strong and there is no lifeguard; drownings have happened and swimming needs care and local advice. Facilities are minimal, with limited food options and patchy power and water at times. The road from Port Antonio is slow and potholed. There is no nightlife and very little to do beyond the beach, which is the point.

Nearby

Reach Falls is 20 minutes; Port Antonio is 45 minutes west.