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Jamaica🇯🇲 | festivalsCalabash International Literary FestivalFree entry, seaside readings, poetry and dub, Treasure Beach | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Calabash International Literary
👌 Worth visitingfestival ranked #6
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Calabash is free to attend, and it has been since it began in 2001, so the only money you spend is getting there and sleeping nearby. It runs at Jakes Hotel in Treasure Beach, on the south coast of Jamaica in St. Elizabeth Parish, a long drive from both Kingston and Montego Bay. Expect poetry, fiction and some music over a weekend, under open sky on a seaside stage, with writers, locals and a lot of Jamaican diaspora. Book beds early, because Treasure Beach is small and fills fast. Arrive by midday, since the last shared taxis out of Black River thin out by late afternoon. Skip the long hotel-bar lines and eat in the village. I still connect it with the hush that falls over a crowd before a poet starts, broken only by frogs and surf. Readers and talkers will love it. Anyone wanting a party will not.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #6 festival in JamaicaThe unique appeal for travelers

Calabash International Literary Festival gives you a rare thing on a Jamaican route: a crowd that came to listen. Reading sessions mix Caribbean and international writers, and the audience is unusually easy to talk to. Strike up a conversation in the seating area and you will likely end up at a table with a novelist or a teacher from Kingston. It beats hunting for that kind of company at a resort. The other draw is the setting. Treasure Beach is a string of fishing coves with guesthouses run by local families, so the weekend feels like a village hosting visitors rather than a venue swallowing them. Since entry is free, a few nights of simple lodging is the real outlay, which is far cheaper than a ticketed music festival. It also pairs well with a south coast loop, giving your trip a fixed … read more 👉
Calabash International Literary Festival gives you a rare thing on a Jamaican route: a crowd that came to listen. Reading sessions mix Caribbean and international writers, and the audience is unusually easy to talk to. Strike up a conversation in the seating area and you will likely end up at a table with a novelist or a teacher from Kingston. It beats hunting for that kind of company at a resort. The other draw is the setting. Treasure Beach is a string of fishing coves with guesthouses run by local families, so the weekend feels like a village hosting visitors rather than a venue swallowing them. Since entry is free, a few nights of simple lodging is the real outlay, which is far cheaper than a ticketed music festival. It also pairs well with a south coast loop, giving your trip a fixed anchor between Black River boat trips and the Pelican Bar sandbar.

💡 HighlightsTop highlights of Calabash International Literary

  1. Readings at Jakes Hotel: The main stage sits by the sea at Jakes in Treasure Beach, and the best sessions start in the evening with the surf audible behind each voice.
  2. Poetry and dub performances: Jamaican poets often perform with rhythm and patois, and you hear how the language really sounds when read aloud.
  3. Fiction and memoir sessions: Novelists read short passages and take questions, which makes it easy to find new Caribbean authors to buy afterward.
  4. The book table: Titles by featured writers sell here, and authors will sign them, so it is the best place to pick up Jamaican and Caribbean books.
  5. Treasure Beach village evenings: After the program, guesthouse porches and local bars fill with festival-goers, and conversation goes on well into the night.
Calabash International Literary Festival is … read more 👉
  1. Readings at Jakes Hotel: The main stage sits by the sea at Jakes in Treasure Beach, and the best sessions start in the evening with the surf audible behind each voice.
  2. Poetry and dub performances: Jamaican poets often perform with rhythm and patois, and you hear how the language really sounds when read aloud.
  3. Fiction and memoir sessions: Novelists read short passages and take questions, which makes it easy to find new Caribbean authors to buy afterward.
  4. The book table: Titles by featured writers sell here, and authors will sign them, so it is the best place to pick up Jamaican and Caribbean books.
  5. Treasure Beach village evenings: After the program, guesthouse porches and local bars fill with festival-goers, and conversation goes on well into the night.
Calabash International Literary Festival is best started with the Jakes readings, because the main stage is where the weekend's atmosphere is set and you meet the people you will keep running into.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do near Calabash International Literary Festival

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Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?When is the celebration of Calabash International Literary Festival?

Calabash International Literary Festival runs for one weekend in late May or early June (recent editions have been held around late May), from Friday evening to Sunday night, at Jakes Hotel in Treasure Beach, on Jamaica’s south coast in St. Elizabeth.
  • Best day: Saturday and Sunday evenings carry the headline readings and music on the seaside stage, while Friday is looser and easier to settle into.
  • Weather: Expect 25 to 32°C (77 to 90°F), strong sun and the odd short, heavy shower. Bring a hat, sunscreen, a light rain layer and mosquito repellent for the evening sessions.
  • Booking: Reserve beds two to three months out, since Treasure Beach has limited rooms and prices can climb 20 to 40 percent that weekend.
  • Crowds and roads: Arrive Friday before dusk, because the roads in from Mandeville and Black
… read more 👉
Calabash International Literary Festival runs for one weekend in late May or early June (recent editions have been held around late May), from Friday evening to Sunday night, at Jakes Hotel in Treasure Beach, on Jamaica’s south coast in St. Elizabeth.
  • Best day: Saturday and Sunday evenings carry the headline readings and music on the seaside stage, while Friday is looser and easier to settle into.
  • Weather: Expect 25 to 32°C (77 to 90°F), strong sun and the odd short, heavy shower. Bring a hat, sunscreen, a light rain layer and mosquito repellent for the evening sessions.
  • Booking: Reserve beds two to three months out, since Treasure Beach has limited rooms and prices can climb 20 to 40 percent that weekend.
  • Crowds and roads: Arrive Friday before dusk, because the roads in from Mandeville and Black River are winding and poorly lit. Leave Monday morning to avoid shared taxis filling up.
Book transport back to Kingston or Montego Bay before the festival starts.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: not recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: not recommended for travelingMARMarch: not recommended for travelingAPRApril: not recommended for travelingMAYMay: not recommended for travelingJUNJune: not recommended for travelingJULJuly: not recommended for travelingAUGAugust: not recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: not recommended for travelingOCTOctober: excellent for travelingNOVNovember: not recommended for travelingDECDecember: not recommended for traveling

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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

Treasure Beach itself is where you want to be, and its separate bays let you pick your own pace. The area is made of several small communities spread along about 5 km of coast, with no big resorts, so the whole place is a village that happens to be hosting a book festival.
Frenchman’s Bay is the most social base for solo backpackers. It has the fishing beach, a handful of small guesthouses and bars within walking distance, and it is a short stroll or quick ride to the festival grounds. Calabash Bay is quieter and good if you want sleep between sessions, with simple lodgings and beach access. Billy’s … read more 👉
Treasure Beach itself is where you want to be, and its separate bays let you pick your own pace. The area is made of several small communities spread along about 5 km of coast, with no big resorts, so the whole place is a village that happens to be hosting a book festival.
Frenchman’s Bay is the most social base for solo backpackers. It has the fishing beach, a handful of small guesthouses and bars within walking distance, and it is a short stroll or quick ride to the festival grounds. Calabash Bay is quieter and good if you want sleep between sessions, with simple lodgings and beach access. Billy’s Bay and Great Bay are calmer still and suit those who prefer early nights.
Safety is generally good in the main bays when you use common sense. Walk in groups after dark on unlit roads, and arrange a local licensed taxi for late returns rather than walking between bays. Book early, as rooms fill up. If everything nearby is taken, Black River, about 30 to 40 minutes away by road, is a fallback, though getting back late is harder.
Best hostels in Jamaica


Best quality hotels in Jamaica

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Travel costs and budget guide for Calabash International Literary

Calabash International Literary Festival costs most backpackers about US$90 to 175 per day, since entry is free and most of the money goes on a guesthouse bed in high season.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival ticketsUS$0All festival events are free and open to the public.
AccommodationUS$50 to 90 per nightSimple guesthouse rooms in Treasure Beach book out early in festival weekend, with rates rising noticeably.
Local transportUS$10 to 25 per dayShared minibuses from Black River cost a few dollars; local taxis between bays run roughly US$5 to 15.
Food & drinksUS$25 to 45 per dayCookshop meals cost US$6 to 12; seafood plates and festival drinks cost more. Pay in Jamaican dollars or US cash.
Miscellaneous expensesUS$5 to 15 per dayBooks, sunscreen, repellent, tips and ATM fees add up.
Total
… read more 👉
Calabash International Literary Festival costs most backpackers about US$90 to 175 per day, since entry is free and most of the money goes on a guesthouse bed in high season.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival ticketsUS$0All festival events are free and open to the public.
AccommodationUS$50 to 90 per nightSimple guesthouse rooms in Treasure Beach book out early in festival weekend, with rates rising noticeably.
Local transportUS$10 to 25 per dayShared minibuses from Black River cost a few dollars; local taxis between bays run roughly US$5 to 15.
Food & drinksUS$25 to 45 per dayCookshop meals cost US$6 to 12; seafood plates and festival drinks cost more. Pay in Jamaican dollars or US cash.
Miscellaneous expensesUS$5 to 15 per dayBooks, sunscreen, repellent, tips and ATM fees add up.
Total Daily BudgetUS$90 to 175About US$130 for a typical day using the high-season bed.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🍲 FoodWhat to Eat & Drink

The festival grounds at Jakes keep food simple and local, so plan to eat well on Jamaican staples rather than anything fancy. Expect jerk chicken and jerk pork off the grill, fried fish with bammy or festival (a sweet fried dumpling), rice and peas, and plenty of fresh seafood.
For authenticity, go for the fish. Treasure Beach is a fishing community, and snapper or lobster in season comes out of boats you can see on the beach. Pepper shrimp from Middle Quarters, up the road, is a classic snack. Try pimento-smoked meat if you spot it.
To drink, there is cold Red Stripe, Appleton Estate rum in punches and with ginger beer, fresh coconut water and sorrel or ginger drinks. Try a rum cocktail while the poets read.
Carry cash in small notes for beach vendors and local cookshops, since cards are patchy … read more 👉
The festival grounds at Jakes keep food simple and local, so plan to eat well on Jamaican staples rather than anything fancy. Expect jerk chicken and jerk pork off the grill, fried fish with bammy or festival (a sweet fried dumpling), rice and peas, and plenty of fresh seafood.
For authenticity, go for the fish. Treasure Beach is a fishing community, and snapper or lobster in season comes out of boats you can see on the beach. Pepper shrimp from Middle Quarters, up the road, is a classic snack. Try pimento-smoked meat if you spot it.
To drink, there is cold Red Stripe, Appleton Estate rum in punches and with ginger beer, fresh coconut water and sorrel or ginger drinks. Try a rum cocktail while the poets read.
Carry cash in small notes for beach vendors and local cookshops, since cards are patchy outside the main venue. Portions are generous, so sharing a plate with a new friend works well. Lines can build between sessions, so eat early or during a lull.

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Calabash International Literary Festival takes place over one weekend in late May or early June, from Friday evening through Sunday night. The venue is Jakes Hotel in Treasure Beach, on the south coast of St. Elizabeth. Exact dates shift slightly from one edition to the next, so check the official announcement before booking.
Attending Calabash International Literary Festival is free, since all events are free and open to the public. Budget US$50 to 90 per night for a guesthouse bed in Treasure Beach and roughly US$25 to 45 daily for food and drinks. Most backpackers spend about US$90 to 175 per day all in.
Calabash International Literary Festival needs no tickets, since all events are free and open to the public. Arrive early for a good seat at the main evening readings. Rooms in Treasure Beach also fill up two to three months ahead, so reserve your bed at the same time.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Jamaican festivals near Calabash International Literary

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We 💚 feedbackWhat to keep in mind

Calabash International Literary Festival works best as the middle of a south coast loop, with Black River’s river safari on the way in and a few quiet days among Treasure Beach’s coves afterward. I would book lodging first and plan everything else around it. Do not expect nightlife.

✈️ When did I visit Jamaica?
As part of my 1.5 year travel around the world trip, I visited Jamaica in May 2016.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Jamaica, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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