Royal Palm Reserve

Negril


Officially closed to the public, the 289-acre Royal Palm Reserve stretches along the southern side of the Great Morass, and consists of three distinct swamp forest types: royal palm forest, buttonwood forest and bull thatch forest. They’re all home to butterflies, doctorbirds, herons, egrets, endangered black parakeets, Jamaican woodpeckers and countless other birds. Swing by and the on-site caretaker can show you round. Take Sheffield Rd east of Negril for 6km and turn left after the golf course.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Negril attractions

1. Jurassic Park

2.82 MILES

Between Negril and Little Bay, a mildly potholed back road passes through the village of Orange Hill, (in)famous around the island as a major marijuana…

2. Negril Hills

2.96 MILES

This range of low-lying hills rises inland of Negril’s West End. The raised limestone upland is wild and smothered in brush. Tiny hamlets sprinkle the…

3. Long Bay Beach Park

3.12 MILES

Toward the north end of Seven Mile Beach, this beach is more peaceful and far less crowded than the sand further south. Here you’ll find more sugary sand…

4. Seven Mile Beach

3.36 MILES

Seven Mile Beach was initially touted on tourism posters as ‘seven miles of nothing but you and the sea.’ True, sunbathers still lie half submerged in the…

5. Kool Runnings Adventure Park

3.36 MILES

If you prefer your water fun doled out in a theme park, descend on this 2-hectare collection of different experiences, from the main water park with flume…

6. Barney's Flower & Hummingbird Garden

3.6 MILES

At the south end of West End, follow the signs to this private garden, where Jamaica's endemic hummingbirds flit between the firecracker flowers,…

7. Bloody Bay Beach

4.19 MILES

A splendid option in between two large all-inclusives, with no facilities and few people, save for a few savvy travelers and a smattering of locals…

8. Blue Hole Mineral Spring

4.43 MILES

This popular sinkhole, an 8km drive southeast from the A2, has long been a feature on the landscape, and has recently become even more popular with the…