Doctor's Cave Beach

Doctor’s Cave Beach stretches for 660 feet (200 meters) along Montego Bay, just one mile (1.6 kilometers) from the downtown area. The soft white sand and turquoise water make it popular with families.

The beach takes its name from Dr. Alexander James McCatty, a British doctor who ran a sanatorium nearby in the late 19th century. The beach was his own private property, and guests entered via a cave. It’s still a privately owned beach, but the public are allowed to enter for a small fee.

Rent a lounge chair and umbrella, and relax with a drink from the beach restaurant. Local seafood is a menu favorite food and drinks are delivered to your chair. Later, take a swim in the calm water or rent snorkeling equipment and head a little farther out. The water is warm all year, with temperatures between 78 and 84 F (25 and 28 C).

Snorkeling is popular at Doctor’s Cave Beach. Take a quick boat ride out past the shallows to the reef, about 300 feet (92 meters) from the shore. See lionfish, turtles, stingrays and parrot fish swim beneath the clear blue water. You might also spot small sharks and barracudas. There are large coral formations further down.

Snorkels and flotation devices can be rented on the beach for a few dollars. Boats leave regularly from the shore, but make sure to leave a small tip for the boat captain or dive master.

The rental lounges and umbrellas are popular, especially in summer, so get there early to secure one. Otherwise, find shade under the tall coconut palms that line the beach. There are showers and change rooms at the edge of the beach.