Doctor's Cave beach
One of Jamaica's most famous beaches - Doctor's Cave, same as "Cave beach" or "Dr. Cave Bathing Club", ows its name to British doctor A.D. McCutty. He opened it to the public by arranging a small private club on the northeast coast of the Carribean Sea in 1906. Club members could only get to this beach by passing through a cave that was later destroyed by a tropical storm, but left its mark on the name. Today Doctor's Cave Beach is a publicly accessible city beach, part of Jamaica's second largest city, Montego Bay.
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Beach description
Popular with visiting tourists and local Aboriginal people, the public beach of Doctor's Cave Beach has won a good location in the center of Montego Bay (Gloucester Avenue, Hip Strip), as well as the availability of:
- calm sea with transparent water of turquoise shade and clean bottom;
- stripes of white coarse sand, reaching up to 200 m wide in some places;
- cozy and relatively calm atmosphere - no intrusive vendors and super loud music;
- developed infrastructure around the beach - shops, upscale hotels with mineral water pools, restaurants serving local delicacies;
- scenic views of the Carribean coast with palm trees, mountains, and sea.
Year-round water temperature - 25-28° C, the absence of large waves, debris on the bottom, and the depth starting just 3-4 m from the shore, make it a convenient place for swimming. Locals enjoy visiting Doctor's Cave Beach, so it is often crowded by lunch, and there are no umbrellas sunbeds available.
You can reach the beach by walking, taxi or using the hotel's delivery services.
When is the best time to go?
In Jamaica, the temperature is kept in the range of 20-30 degrees year-round. Rains take place in May-June and September-November. It is best to come from December to March: it is very warm at this time, and the rains will not bother you.
Video: Beach Doctor's Cave
Infrastructure
Doctor's Cave Beach work daily from 9:00 to 17:00. Anyone who has paid for the entrance can have a pleasant time on it. At the beach you can rent a lounge chair, umbrella, diving and snorkeling equipment for an extra fee. The comfort of visitors is ensured by comfortable changing cabins, showers with toilets, an observation deck, and many benches standing in the shade.
Many beachfront hotels have been built in the immediate vicinity of Doctor's Cave Beach, among which the 3-star hotel is particularly comfortable Polkerris Bed & Breakfast.
While resting on the beach, lovers of active vacation have a choice of water activities:
- boat trips on the sailing yachts, and boats with clear bottom;
- water skiing and kayaks;
- a water trampoline and sea bicycle;
- snorkeling and diving.
The beach area is a part of the Montego Bay Marine Reserve, providing a unique opportunity to explore the fauna of the nearby reefs. You should hire local boaters to get to them. Lovers of calm rest will appreciate the cuisine of the beach restaurant and the range of drinks in the bar.
Weather in Doctor's Cave
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The best time for a vacation on the beach of Doctor's Cave is the period from December to June, and the worst due to heavy storms and rainfalls is October. There are several things to consider when planning a visit to the beach.
- the size of the entrance fee is $6 USD. You can also pay entrance fees in Jamaican dollars.
- Rental of sunbeds, chairs, sun loungers and diving equipment is paid separately. The cost of renting each accessory is $6. A great way to save on the beach expenses is to bring a towel or bedding, a mask with a tube and other equipment.
- It is prohibited to bring your alcohol to the beach. Food and drinks ordered from the bar are brought directly to the sunbeds by helpful waiters.
- There is a wi-fi in Doctor's Cave Beach. Besides, security guards and rescuers are constantly on duty to provide the safety of vacationers.
Being quiet a lively place, especially during the days of cruise ships, this beach is not suitable for families with children and tourists looking for privacy, but it is sure to appeal to young people and fun companies.