Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Avia Collinder, Outlook Writer

North of Black River and south of the Santa Cruz mountains, Treasure Beach in St. Elizabeth spreads its golden sands across Great Bay, Calabash Bay and adjoining areas. 'Treasure' is the generic name given to four coves - Billy's Bay, Frenchman's Bay, Calabash Bay, and Great Pedro Bay - that stretch for several miles south of Starve Gut Bay in St Elizabeth.

A very long ride from Kingston or Montego Bay, the journey to this beach is a trip worth taking by nature lovers who are tired of competing for sunbathing space.

On arrival, quickly shed your clothes and shoes and prepare to wiggle your toes in hot sand - golden grains with the burnt-black frosting of some silicate - and race to the shoreline where sand meets aquamarine waters in a foaming crme brlée of breaking water.

Be prepared. Just a few steps away, racing waters tumble shore-wards, planning to catch the unwary mid-stride and send them gasping to their knees.

Those who dare to brave the vigorous waves must first bear the battering of a stiff, south coast breeze which gets worse as the afternoon deepens into evening.

Along the curving shoreline, almond, pine, coconut and royal palms promise a cool respite from the burning sand.

Treasure Beach, once quite rustic, is now slowly changing its character as more and more villas emerge in its cool coves.

Our chosen spot last weekend was the stretch of beach beside Golden Sands resort which is much quieter than that near to the cosmopolitan Jakes - a boutique hotel with self- contained cottages for its guests - and the hunger sating Jack Sprats.

Sunday is an excellent day to visit. At one end of this cove, colourful fishing boats wait idly for their owners and at the other a few tourists - like escapees from upscale resorts - spread their towels under the shadow of thatched huts.

Only a few vendors - we saw two - roam this area, unlike on beaches like Hellshire in St. Catherine where every 10th person you meet among the dozens present is selling something.

We saw one vendor with an eclectic collection of small, green breadfruits and 'herbal' cutting boards. The sole bar had beverages, peanuts and pulsing reggae music slowly vibrating in beat with the idyllic rhythm of the day.

Reluctant to enter the rough surf, 25-year-old Kerry Gayle of St. Catherine satisfied himself with admiring the aquamarine waters from the shade of the bar.

"This is my first visit and I'm impressed," he told Outlook.

" I see this area as a place for a nature lover, someone who wants to get away from the everyday high-energy activities, kick back and just relax, meditating and relaxing and getting in touch with his or her calmer self."

"If you are up for that, I recommend Treasure Beach," he said.