#TPThursday: Treasure Beach Jamaica

In my post yesterday, I made a brief mention of Treasure Beach Jamaica, a place I’ve written about several times. Treasure Beach is a small community that is located on Jamaica’s south west coast, in the parish of St. Elizabeth. It is a close knit community where everyone knows everyone else. It reminds me of the district, that’s what we call them, that I grew up in – the kind of place we sometimes think no longer exists.

Treasure Beach is a 2-hour drive from Montego Bay, about 3 hours from Kingston. A number of the residents are involved in fishing but as tourism takes hold, more and more people are recognizing it as an option.

One thing I didn’t mention about Treasure Beach is Calabash, the literary festival that takes place there. It returned this year, so did the people who love literature – about 5,000 of them. Treasure Beach really is the perfect spot to listen to literature. Here are a few of the photos I took.

#TPThursday Treasure Beach - Calabash Int'l Lit Festival
#TPThursday Treasure Beach – Calabash Int’l Lit Festival

On the first night, Chimananda Adichie, read from the piece she had written about moving into the house that had been vacated by the legendary Nigerian author, Chinua Achebe. I’d heard her read the same piece in New York at the event honoring Achebe but here in Treasure Beach, it felt new somehow, and different.

#TPThursday Treasure Beach - Calabash Int'l Lit Festival
#TPThursday Treasure Beach – Calabash Int’l Lit Festival

And if the interviewee is boring, there’s this beautiful backdrop to focus on.

Since the festival lasts the weekend, we usually rent a villa.

#TPThursday Treasure Beach Jamaica
#TPThursday Treasure Beach – Calabash Int’l Lit Festival

Doesn’t everyone have breakfast overlooking the ocean?

I can’t mention food and not mention accommodations in Treasure Beach. One cool thing here is that there is only one main hotel, aptly called the Treasure Beach Hotel, the rest is a mix of villas — small, large and luxurious — guest houses and private homes where you can rent a room, especially during the festival. If you’d like to find out more about villa accommodations in Treasure Beach, Jamaica Villa Rentals is a good place to start.

#TPThursday Treasure Beach Jamaica
#TPThursday Treasure Beach Jamaica – Fishermen

The seas were rough most of the week we spent in Treasure Beach. Finally, on Saturday, it became calm and I spotted these fishermen bringing in their catch.

#TPThursday Treasure Beach Jamaica Sunset
#TPThursday Treasure Beach Jamaica Sunset

No matter how rough the seas are, the sunsets in Treasure Beach are always spectacular.

This is my submission to this week’s Budget Travelers Sandbox Travel Photo Thursday Series. Be sure to check out other photo and story entries on their website.

31 comments on “#TPThursday: Treasure Beach Jamaica

  1. Okay that colorful boat in the first photo would be enough to make me want to visit. I can’t even imagine how much fun a literary gathering would be in that venue. . .I am envious of your being surrounded by beauty and listening to such word weavers and talented folks.

  2. What a beautiful place! I would be in heaven if I could have my breakfast overlooking the ocean every morning!

  3. Gosh – what a wonderful place to have any kind of festival, but a literary one would be seem extra special — listening to the words while seeing such pretty scenery. Love your sunrise pic.

  4. What a great view for the literacy festival. I love the boat shot and what a great way to end the day with the sunset!

  5. The boat really is a nice touch, Jackie. I always feel very fortunate being in that setting and listening to authors and poets read their works.

  6. You’re right. That is a spectacular sunset and the beach is beautiful. Not sure which kind of literature would keep me from running straight toward the water 🙂

  7. Oh, gorgeous! I don’t know how much attention I could pay to the authors in that type of setting. It looks incredible!

  8. I like literary festivals and this looks like a spectacular setting for one!
    Have you been to the one in Hay-on-Wye in Wales?

  9. It’s a perfect way to start the day, and if things go bad during the day, you just have to think about breakfast. I bet more people would have breakfast if they were to have it here.

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