Hellshire Beach is one retreat that's close enough to the capital to attract plenty of locals looking for some sun. Particularly well-known as a venue for open-air concerts and festivals, Hellshire Beach can become moderately busy during the weekends. As an upside for travelers looking to avoid tourist traps, the beach is delightfully free of hotels, making it less of a haunt for the zinc-nosed Hawaiian shirt set. Swimming is best at its northern end, where the water is shallow and protected by a rocky barricade. Also known as "Fisherman's Beach," Hellshire is centered amid much good fishing, and on weekends, you'll regularly find vendors walking the beach or setting up stalls to sell fried fish and other foods.

The 16 hectare Fort Clarence Beach Park in Hellshire, St. Catherine is popular for family fun days and picnics, an ideal relaxation spot for residents of Hellshire, Portmore and Kingston.

Originally named after Englishman David Small who built the fort, it was later renamed Fort Clarence, possibly in honour of William Duke of Clarence, King of England from 1830 to 1837. Fort Small along with Fort Johnson played a critical role in the defence of the island during the 18th century.

Fifteen minutes by boat from Port Royal is a small, low-lying island cay with one of the most beautiful beaches in Jamaica. The largest of the many small cays off the coast of Port Royal, Lime Cay is uninhabitable by humans because it is occasionally submerged when the tide comes in. Lime Cay has been the source of many scams and hoaxes whereby the cay is “sold” to unsuspecting buyers as a potential location for a private resort. Don’t be fooled, Lime Cay is a part of Jamaica, and the beaches there are public and open to all who can get out there.

In the northwestern section of the island, this beach stretches for 11km (6 3/4 miles) along the sea and is backed by some of the most hedonistic resorts in the Caribbean.