Explore Jamaica’s Untapped Coasts | GearJunkie

Reconsider Jamaica when it’s time to plan a trip built for ocean activity. Start with the surf — it’s friendly around the nearby island nation. That goes for the breaks, which cater well to longboarding beginners, predominantly.

While experienced surfers can still score at select swell exposures, friendly also goes for the lineups. Visiting riders won’t sour at “locals only” attitudes that often prevail in the crowds of well-known surf destinations across the Caribbean and Middle America. Simply put, there’s plenty to go around.

“We don’t have a scarcity mindset in Jamaica,” says Ivah Wilmot, “We have lots of waves here, and it’s pretty consistent … a lot of it is undiscovered.”

Not that the Wilmots haven’t been trying to put it on the map. After Billy “Mystic” Wilmot pioneered Jamaican surfing in the 1970s, his five children (often referred to as the island’s “first family of surfing”) have helped build and transform Rastafarian surf culture into broader means of community-building, basing out of their Jamnesia Surf Camp in Kingston. It helps that the water is always warm. 

“Anybody surfing with you on a given day is your best friend,” Wilmot adds of the relaxed, non-commercial vibes, “as long as (you’re) respectful.”

Find Jamaica’s best coastal adventures by beginning with the surf conditions. The island’s geography makes things simple: The surf worth noting is all on the eastern side. While there are waves year-round, summer brings the wind, and therefore higher swells. Expect 3- to 6-foot waves on average. 

The Northeast Coast has Jamaica’s most famous and reliable surfing spot, Boston Beach. “It’s one of those spots (that’s) good for learning,” Wilmot says. “The beach itself is never [impacted by] any heavy wave action. You can walk in from the beach, and it’s like a swimming pool. The surf spot is like 50 meters off into the water.” 

Boston Beach is a draw for local surfers, pros in the winter when the waves build, and capable beginners — you can rent a board and get a surfing lesson here from a local guide. Bonus: Boston Bay is known as the birthplace of jerk cuisine.

The South Coast is “the capital of surfing” according to Wilmot, and the home to Jamaica’s only surf camp, Jamnesia. Just a 10-minute drive from the airport in Kingston (there’s a wave called Runway), Jamnesia is located on Bull Bay, which is home to plentiful surf breaks close to each other. 

For the beginner, Wilmot recommends Cable Hut or Copa, which are within walking distance from Jamnesia. For the advanced surfer, Wilmot suggests Lighthouse or Makka, known for its long, left reef break. Makka is where surfers compete to earn a spot on the country’s national team. 

Beyond the Surf 

No need to wait for perfect waves to explore the island’s other world-class options for ocean-based adventure. Start on Jamaica’s north coast, where more concentrated tourism infrastructure hosts numerous boat-charter and snorkel-excursion services, then head out to deeper waters. 

• Kitesurfers don’t need to travel far. The north coast from Montego Bay to Bounty Bay abuts ideal waters for kitesurfing — rent equipment for DIY or hire a guide through International Kiteboarding Association-certified Water Network Jamaica. 

• Windsurfing is still going strong in Jamaica, where warm water and steady winds groom the waters near Montego Bay. Head 20 minutes east to Burwood Beach and look for Brian’s Windsurfing, Kitesurfing, and SUP (the name says it all). Take your pick at this safe beach: Its gradual slope, shallow water, and lack of reef make it an easy spot to try your hand at a new sport. 

• SCUBA dive the north coast’s marine parks and wreck sites with PADI-certified operators like Stanley’s Sea Sports, which guides excursions to Widowmaker’s Cave or Basket Reef off the coast of Montego Bay. Having chartered sustainable fishing excursions for over 20 years, the Negril-based Stanley’s also attracts deep-sea anglers eager to land a marlin, tuna, and other abundant game fish.

• Swim secluded beaches and body-surf empty waves along the less commercialized and more community-oriented South Coast — marked by arid plateaus and dramatic cliffs, giving way to the coral-pink and black sands of beaches like Frenchman Beach, one of five bays along Treasure Beach.

• Paddle and dive the protected bays near Portland with the Alligator Head Foundation. The nonprofit developed eco-tourism services with former subsistence fishers trained to lead non-motorized watersports tours (snorkeling, kayaking, SUP, and SCUBA diving) that showcase the local coral reefs and marine wildlife they work to preserve.

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