Jamaica is one of the Caribbean islands I really want to visit for the many reasons that makes this piece of earth unique. The culture, in general, is just a great deal, adding nature views... I imagine all the green shades, all the bluest sky tones, the smells. Nature in Jamaica looks like how I see paradise. This should be just a nice and light post about beaches in Jamaica I want to visit, but then...
I asked for tips for a girlfriend who went there a few times and stayed with locals. I have to admit I’ve been romanticizing the moment I’ll go to Jamaica a lot, kinda naive, kinda stupid. My heart got a bit broken when she told me:
“Some of the beaches you can’t access at all because they won’t let Jamaican people into the hotels, which is the only access to the beach. It happens to me a few times; they thought I was local and then wouldn’t let me in until I started speaking English.” She is a Black woman from the diaspora just like me, and she just looks too local to have access? Whaaat?
Hello again, colonialism, capitalism. When I think you’ve crossed all the limits too much, you remind me you are still passing...
I did know, but there are over 50 beaches in the island, and <<only a dozen public are operational, and even some of those charge visitor fees. Another 22 public beaches need rehabilitation, and four are being upgraded. The two beaches nearest the capital, Kingston, are in need of rehabilitation, according to NEPA.>> Rebekah Kebede, Reuters
“There are fewer and fewer beaches that ordinary people can go to, even with a fee. They are sort of disappearing behind walls, gates and fences,” said Diana McCaulay, chief executive officer of Jamaica Environment Trust (JET).”
In Barbados, (AKA Rihanna’s country :P), the beach is public property, since the coast is public land. Local citizens are not forbidden from accessing the beaches, and they have amidst its thriving tourism industry. I’m going to Barbados, but I’m still going to Jamaica anyway.
Go check @Iriediva, a travel writer, blogger, single-mom that brings the perspective I believe the most: of a local woman of color. She is gorgeous, has a gorg daughter, really nice reflections, a lot of tips about blogging and making money with it, and also this great blog: https://jamaicandawta.com/
See some dreaming destinations I’ll go whenever I have the chance to swim in these waters:
Figure from <https://www.roadaffair.com/best-places-to-visit-in-jamaica/>
“Winnifred’s Beach is public, has ample trees for shade, they’re big enough to accommodate lots of people and it’s just beautiful. The water is so clear and shallow for a good distance out, making it perfect for families with small children
The local people in the neighborhood have set up their livelihood etc here offering craft wares, art, food and other supplies. The government wants to put up cottages, recreational activities, a guard post and of course a ticket office.”
by @iriediva
Image From <https://www.brawtaliving.com/>
“Hellshire Beach is a cultural treasure in St. Catherine, the parish bordering Kingston and St. Andrew. There’s no cost to enter Hellshire beach. It’s a fishing village and many of the fisherfolk and their families live on site. That means there’s an abundance of vendors on the property all trying to make a living.
It’s about 20 minutes outside the city of Kingston and loved by locals. You won’t find many tourists here. What you’ll find is an abundance of culture in this fishing village that unfortunately is suffering from a receding shoreline.”
by @iriediva
Image from <Flickr>
Boston Bay Beach
“It will cost you $200 per person Jamaican dollars to get into Boston Beach. That’s less than US$2 each. Boston Bay is a small beach in Portland Jamaica where surfers flock to catch a wave, albeit a small one. Surfing isn’t big in Jamaica because we don’t usually get those big waves you can ride forever but we still manage to catch the small ones and have a blast.
There’s a jerk shack right inside Boston Bay.
Beach as well so kill two birds with one stone, enjoying a day at the beach and an authentic jerk lunch while you’re at it.”
by @iriediva