The Negril West End Cliffs

South of Negril's seven-mile beach the coast changes completely: the sand ends and low limestone cliffs run for several kilometres out to the lighthouse at the island's western tip, undercut by the sea into caves and arches with water beneath them deep enough to jump into. The cliffs are lined with small hotels and properties, most of which allow access to their ladders and ledges for the price of a drink, and the snorkelling straight off the rock is the best around Negril. Because the coast faces west and there is nothing between here and Central America, the sunset is unobstructed, and watching it from the cliffs has been the evening ritual here since the 1970s.

What you actually see

• The jump ledges - drops of various heights into deep clear water.
• The sea caves - undercut chambers and arches along the cliff base.
• Snorkelling off the rocks - the clearest water around Negril.
• The sunset - unobstructed to the west, watched from the cliff edge.

When to go

December to April is drier and calmest, with the clearest water for snorkelling. Sunset is the event and the cliffs fill in the hour before it. Mornings are quiet and best for swimming and jumping.

Honest expectations

The jumps are unsupervised and people are hurt and occasionally killed here; check the depth yourself, never jump where you have not looked, and do not jump after drinking. Access to most ledges is through private property with a minimum spend. Swell makes the water below dangerous with little warning. The road along the cliffs is narrow with heavy scooter traffic.

Nearby

Negril's beach is ten minutes north; the lighthouse is at the far end of the road.