Unwind on Jamaica’s South Coast: 5 Treasure Beach Hotel & Villa Getaways

Jamaica’s Treasure Beach is a collection of bays along the south coast– Billy’s Bay, Frenchman’s Bay, Calabash Bay, Great Bay and Boatman’s Bay. The quiet area is renowned for community tourism and boutique seaside accommodations. There’s wide public beach access on its shores– kind of like Negril‘s 7 Mile Beach but with less bustle.

Food around Treasure Beach is often made with the freshest ingredients, supplied by resident farmers and fisher folks. For genuine interactions and taste of Jamaica, consider a visit and at least 1 meal from this hospitable coastal town in the ‘bread basket’ parish of St. Elizabeth.

By the way, quick reminder…

Like this article? Pin for future travel plans!

Treasure Beach Hotels 

1. If these sound like your vibe, stay at Katamah Beach Guesthouses…

• Pool with mineral water and lounge.
• Quiet location with multiple conveniences nearby.
• Spend daily movements on beach walks, community strolls and air-conditioned workouts.
• Freedom to make own food in a room with kitchenette

Treasure Beach Hotel: Katamah Beachfront Guesthouses

Katamah is an emerald gem of Treasure Beach where gardens adorn the seaside property. Beachside accommodations lie on a slice of the bay with smooth sands and soothing waves. A flower-lined walkway leads from the mineral pool all the way to the shore gate. The Moroccan-inspired beach and garden rooms feel like cozy homes in the middle of tropical paradise. 

A Katamah getaway is where you slow down and unwind. It’s where one finds time to feel sand between toes, pick up a book or game from the lobby, and meet warm people. My room pick here is the Maya Suite, right by the sea. Sounds of waves coupled with cool temperatures granted me blissful sleep! The property space is also shared with breakfast + lunch spot, Hold A Vibz Cafe. Additional restaurants plus studios, shops and marts are just a stroll away along the peaceful road.

2. If these sound like your vibe, stay at Jakes Hotel…

• Boho-island beachfront bungalows and cottages
• Saltwater pool
• Farm-/sea-fresh foods
• Cornerstone of renowned Treasure Beach events

TReasure Beach Hotel: Jakes

Jakes Hotel has built a reputation over the years for its hospitality, initiatives and renowned events— think Calabash Literary Festival and Jake’s Off-Road Triathlon! This refreshing retreat has amenities like a saltwater pool, open-air yoga studio, 2 daily restaurants plus a bar on site. It boasts sea- and farm-fresh dining, and is a popular food and drink spot in Treasure Beach.  

Colourful rooms are accented with beachy elements like driftwood and sea shells. My Jakes Hotel room pick is the seaside Octopussy bungalow. It’s a 2-level space facing the horizon. The rooftop, where I spent much of my time, is a lounge area that overlooks the water. A stay at Jakes Hotel can be ultra relaxing or eventful (or both!); it’s a place that’s easy to love and hard to leave.

3. If these sound like your vibe, stay at Lashings Boutique Hotel & Villas…

• Choice of villa- and hotel-type spaces with a pool
• Elevated location with panoramic views
• On-site restaurant & bar 
• Art on display with pieces for sale

Treasure Beach Hotel: Lashings

Lashings Boutique Hotel & Villas overlook green landscape and the sea from the hills. The restaurant and Tree Top bar are buzzing evening hangouts and popular for pizza. Rooms are laid out in 2 sector blocks. In my opinion, the best view of the surrounding scenery is from the infinity pool of the hotel section. This pool deck is the chill spot for most guests, dotted with shaded lounge seating, tables and hammocks.  

Each hotel room has a different design, and this section has more spaces and people. A gate separates the villas for a more intimate getaway with its own pool. The villas section has 3 separate bedrooms on the ground floor, a 5-bedroom villa on the 2nd floor, and a 2-bedroom penthouse suite at the pinnacle. 2 out of these 3 floors are reserved for group bookings. My accommodation pick here depends on the desired kind of vacation; I’ve stayed in both a hotel and a villa room. If you wanna be closer to the water there’s also Lashings Beach Club down the hill for meals, live music and seaside stays!

Treasure Beach Villas

4. If these sound like your vibe, stay at Sea Urchin Villa…

• Book entire property or floor
• Couple / group vacation (3 rooms, 2 levels)
• Private rooftop saltwater pool 
• Choice of personal cook or freedom to make own food

Treasure Beach Villa: Sea Urchin

Sea Urchin Villa is a 2-tiered property fronted by a blooming garden. Its layout creates secluded getaways for solo travellers, couples or small groups. Outdoor showers conveniently right outside the rooms can rinse off any sands from the nearby beach. Highly recommend riding 1 of the bicycles available for guests on the property; it’s a fun way to explore the area and get moving! We peddled off the beaten track– informally guided by the villa’s gracious caretaker– to reach a wide, sandy stretch of Great Bay beach. 

There are 2 rooms on the ground floor, with a veranda facing the trees and flowering shrubs, and 1 room upstairs with sea views. My Sea Urchin Villa room pick here is the intimate, top-floor Rooftop Sky Villa. It has its own pool plus a panoramic patio with hammock and outdoor dining space. Such a tranquil spot to admire Treasure Beach vistas… and that, we did!

5. If these sound like your vibe, stay at Turtles Nest Villa…

• Private group vacation (3 villa rooms + 1 detached room)
• Better chance of seeing turtles. 
• Saltwater pool and elevated wooden deck on the beach
• Concierge and option of personal cook

Treasure Beach Villa: Turtles Nest

Here’s a beachfront vacation home filled with sea life decor and playful charm. 4 sea- or mountain-view rooms are located between 2 buildings. 3 bedrooms are in the main villa and 1 accommodation is steps away on the same property. To-dos at Turtles Nest Villa include lounging at the saltwater pool and sandy strolls on the beach, possibly in friendly company of its resident dogs. Once the sun beautifully sets, a Smart TV and games inside tend to come more into play!

While enjoying the space, hot meals can be prepared by the home cook. Cooking isn’t additional cost; guests can provide ingredients or advance grocery compensation for this. My crew opted for the latter and got delectable seafood sourced from the community, with enough to last us for days! Indulge in the spacious dining room or outdoors on the patio / deck.  

Endangered hawksbill sea turtles flock to Treasure Beach– the 2nd largest turtle nesting area in Jamaica. Sometimes the sands of Turtles Nest Villa host these visitors (hence its name). If you hope to cross that off your local bucket list, the best time to spot sea turtles in Jamaica is between June and November. It was here that I 1st saw turtle hatchlings AND a nesting mother; 1 of my most memorable experiences to date!

Which sounds more like your vacation vibe: a Treasure Beach boutique hotel or villa?