All aboard – Vibes Ahoy!
If yuh ever hear people talk about a bar in di middle of di sea, they are talking about Floyd’s Pelican Bar. Just a mile out from Treasure Beach Jamaica, it stands pon stilts right on a shallow sandbar, with clear water stretching out every side. From shore it looks like a likkle driftwood hut pon di horizon, but when yuh ride out and climb up di steps, yuh see what makes it special.
Di planks are rough, di roof thatch, di benches are simple, but di vibe is strong. Boats are tied up outside, pelicans fly low across di water, and visitors sit wid Red Stripe in hand, reasoning and laughing while di waves lap underneath.
Floyd Forbes, a fisherman from Treasure Beach Jamaica, built it in 2001 because he wanted a spot fi cool out after fishing trips. Instead of staying pon land, he carried wood out to di sandbar and put up a hut. At first it was just fi he and his friends, but soon di story spread. Locals started bringing travelers, more boats pulled up, and before long it turned into one of di most famous bars in Jamaica.
Part of di magic is how yuh reach. Di only way is by boat. Yuh step in, ride out pon calm water, and when di hut comes into view, it feels like yuh are heading fi some hidden treasure. Climb up di ladder, order a drink, and yuh realize quick: dis is a true Jamaican experience.
The Atmosphere
Pelican Bar is about di setting. Di whole structure feels handmade, because it is. Wood planks are under yuh feet, palm leaves are overhead, coolers are stacked wid beer and rum behind di counter. Yuh order a cold Red Stripe or a rum punch, and di bartender serves it wid di kind of ease that fits di place.
Food here is straight from di sea. Fishermen pull up, drop off lobster, conch, or fresh fish, and it goes straight pon di grill. Visitors sit wid plates of steamed snapper or grilled lobster tail, seasoning soaked in, water stretching out as far as yuh can see. It’s simple, but it’s di kind of simple that reminds yuh why Jamaican food and vibes always stand out.
What makes di vibe even stronger is how people connect. Travelers from all over end up sharing one table. Yuh hear laughter in five different accents, but everybody is enjoying di same sea breeze and di same island energy. Some people swim round di bar, some snorkel fi spot tropical fish in di shallow water, while others just sit and take it all in.
How to Get to Floyd’s Pelican Bar
Plenty travelers ask one question: how to get to Floyd’s Pelican Bar? It always comes down to a boat.
- From Treasure Beach, yuh can link wid local captains fi a quick 10–15 minute ride.
- From Black River, it takes longer—closer to 25 minutes—but di journey gives yuh a different view of di coast.
- From Parottee Point, it’s about 10 minutes offshore, making it one of di easiest access points.
Some hotels and tour companies in Negril or Montego Bay also offer day trips, combining Pelican Bar wid other attractions. Di ride itself is part of di experience. Yuh see dolphins sometimes, yuh watch seabirds glide low across di water, and yuh feel Jamaica from a different angle.
Why It Stands Out
People call Floyd’s one of di most famous bars in Jamaica fi good reason.
- Unique location – A bar a mile out to sea, pon stilts over a sandbar.
- Fresh catch – Lobster, fish, or conch cooked right in front of yuh, often pulled from di water that same morning.
- Visitor tradition – Travelers leave carvings, license plates, or flags behind, decorating di bar wid stories from all over di world.
- Authentic vibe – Jamaica straight, unfiltered, and unforgettable.
Things to Do Near Floyd’s Pelican Bar
Most people pair a trip to Pelican Bar wid other stops on Jamaica’s south coast. A few of di best options include:
- Black River Safari – Take a guided ride along Jamaica’s longest river, where yuh spot crocodiles, mangroves, and birdlife.
- YS Falls – One of di island’s most beautiful waterfalls, wid seven cascades, natural pools, and rope swings. Perfect fi swimming or relaxing.
- Treasure Beach – A quiet fishing village wid small guesthouses, likkle restaurants, and calm beaches. It’s di perfect base fi reaching Pelican Bar.
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour – Visit one of Jamaica’s oldest distilleries, see how rum is made, and sample some of di island’s finest blends.
Any of these make it easy fi turn a boat ride to Floyd’s into a full day exploring Jamaica’s south coast.
Tips Before You Go
- Carry cash—there’s no card machine in di middle of di ocean.
- Wear swimwear if yuh plan fi snorkel or swim in di shallow water.
- Go later in di afternoon fi a sunset yuh will never forget.
- Know what fi expect—it’s rustic, small, and busy at times, but di atmosphere is what makes it special.







