Treasure Beach is on the south coast of Jamaica, in the parish of Saint Elizabeth, roughly midway along the island’s southern shore and sheltered behind the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Coordinates are approximately 17.89° N, 77.78° W.
How far is Treasure Beach from the airport?
- Montego Bay (Sangster International, MBJ) — roughly 2.5 to 3 hours by road. This is the airport most visitors use.
- Kingston (Norman Manley, KIN) — a similar distance, but a less scenic and generally less pleasant drive.
Allow more time than the distance suggests. The final stretch is rural road, and journeys here take longer than a map implies.
How far from other places in Jamaica
- Black River — about 30–40 minutes west. The parish capital, and the nearest hospital.
- Santa Cruz — about 40 minutes inland. The nearest town of any size for supermarket shopping and banking.
- Negril — roughly 2.5 hours.
- Kingston — roughly 2.5 to 3 hours.
- Ocho Rios — roughly 3.5 hours.
How to get there
- Private transfer — simplest, and worth it if you are landing late. Arranged in advance.
- Rental car — fine if you are comfortable driving on the left on rural roads. Avoid unfamiliar roads after dark.
- Route taxis — cheapest by far, but impractical with luggage or children over that distance.
More detail in our FAQ on which airport to fly into and getting to the villa from the airport.
Is Treasure Beach one beach?
No. It is the name given to a six-mile stretch of coastline made up of four fishing coves — Billy’s Bay, Frenchman’s Bay, Calabash Bay and Great Pedro Bay. They are spread far enough apart that which one you stay in genuinely matters.
Which cove is which?
Billy’s Bay is the quietest of the four and where Butterfly Hill sits. Frenchman’s Bay and Calabash Bay are the more social coves, with most of the bars, restaurants and guesthouses, and Great Pedro Bay is the wide, working fishing beach at the western end. Our guide to the four coves goes through each one.
What is near Treasure Beach
- Floyd’s Pelican Bar — a bar on stilts in the sea, reached by boat from the coast. See how to visit.
- Black River Safari — a boat trip on the river to see crocodiles and birds. See what to expect.
- YS Falls — a series of waterfalls and swimming pools inland, a half-day trip.
- Lovers’ Leap — a high cliff with views over the sea, with a lighthouse.
For the full list, see things to do in Treasure Beach.
How to find it on a map
Search for Treasure Beach, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica in your map app, or use the coordinates above. The four coves run along the coast road. Mobile signal on the way can be patchy, so download the offline map for the south coast before you leave the airport, and ask your driver or host for the last turns if you are driving yourself.
Is it a good place to base yourself?
It suits travellers who want a quiet fishing community with locally owned places to stay and eat, not a resort strip. It does not suit anyone who wants nightlife, shopping or a short airport transfer. If you are comparing it with Negril and Montego Bay, read which suits you.
Want to know what the place is actually like? Our complete guide to Treasure Beach covers the four coves in detail, what there is to do, where to eat, when to visit and honestly who the area suits. See also where to stay in Treasure Beach.