Floyd’s Pelican Bar is one of Jamaica’s best-loved oddities, a driftwood shack on stilts standing in shallow turquoise water on a sandbar about a kilometre off the south coast. It was built in 2001 by a local fisherman, Floyd Forbes, from salvaged timber and has grown into an international landmark, scrawled with messages from visitors all over the world. A short boat ride from the fishing beach at Parottee takes you out to the bar, where you can order cold Red Stripe, rum punch or fresh fish, stand knee-deep in warm water and watch the pelicans and the fishing boats go by. The sandbar is shallow enough to wade, and visitors often spend an hour or two swimming, drinking and chatting. The day trip we link combines the Pelican Bar with the Black River Safari, so you see crocodiles in the morning and a sandbar at lunchtime. It is a long day from Montego Bay but a memorable one, and it shows a quieter side of Jamaica far from the resort strips.
How it works
The tour leaves your Montego Bay hotel in the morning and drives south and west to Black River, which takes around two and a half hours. After the river safari, the group continues to the coast for the boat ride out to the Pelican Bar. Food and drink at the bar are normally paid for individually, so bring cash in small notes, and check what your tour includes for lunch and the boat transfer before you book.
The sandbar boat ride is short, but conditions at sea can change, so the trip may be adjusted in rough weather.
What to expect
The bar itself is basic and delightful, a simple wooden structure with a few tables, a counter and a lot of handwritten graffiti. The menu centres on cold drinks and freshly cooked fish, and the atmosphere is cheerful, unhurried and sociable. You can wade and swim in the shallow water around the stilts, and the surrounding sea is a vivid shade of blue.
There are no changing rooms or shops, so wear your swimsuit under your clothes and bring a towel and a dry bag for your phone. Be sure to wear sun protection, as there is little shade.
Making the most of it
Aim for a calm day and ask your guide about sea conditions, since waves can make the boat ride bumpy. Bring water shoes if you want to walk on the sandbar, and take cash for drinks and tips for the boat crew. The trip is best for adults and older children who can handle a long day on the road.
If you want a shorter outing, choose a combination with Appleton Estate or Black River only, but if you can manage a full south-coast day, the Pelican Bar is the highlight and gives a sense of Jamaica beyond the resorts.
Good to know
The bar is small, and drinks and seafood are cooked to order, so service can be relaxed rather than quick. Wear a sun hat and a light cover-up, since the sandbar has little shade and the sun reflects off the water. The boat captains know the conditions well, so follow their advice about when to go and when to wait. Visitors who prefer not to be on the water can skip the boat ride and enjoy the rest of the south-coast day, but most people agree that the bar is the highlight.
What to expect
The experience
A full-day tour from Montego Bay that combines the Black River Safari with a boat ride to the stilted bar on the sandbar.
Best time
Calm, sunny days, with the bar visit at lunchtime or in the afternoon.
How long
A full day, with roughly two and a half hours each way by road, an hour on the river and an hour or two at the bar.
Tips
Wear your swimsuit, bring cash for drinks and fish, and use plenty of sun protection.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Travellers who want a quirky, off-the-resort day of wildlife, sea and an unforgettable bar.
- Families
- Older children enjoy the boat ride and wading, though the long drive and the bar setting suit teenagers better than toddlers.
- Couples
- A relaxed afternoon with a cold drink, turquoise water and a very different view of Jamaica.
- Pair with
- YS Falls or Appleton Estate, if you choose a longer south-coast tour.
- Time needed
- A full day from Montego Bay.
Good questions
Where is Floyd’s Pelican Bar?+
It stands on a sandbar about a kilometre offshore from the fishing beach at Parottee, on the south coast of St. Elizabeth. You reach it by a short boat ride.
Who built the Pelican Bar?+
A local fisherman, Floyd Forbes, built it in 2001 from driftwood and salvaged timber. It has since become a famous landmark.
Can you swim at the Pelican Bar?+
Yes, the water around the sandbar is shallow and warm, and most visitors wade or swim. Check conditions with your boat captain first.
How far is the Pelican Bar from Montego Bay?+
It is a long drive, around two and a half hours each way, so most visitors take a full-day tour that also includes the Black River Safari.
What should I bring to the Pelican Bar?+
Bring a swimsuit, towel, sun protection, water shoes and cash for drinks and food. A dry bag for your phone is useful on the boat.
