The White Sand Beach at Morant Point Lighthouse

Lovely White Sand beach near the Morant Point lighthouse

St. Thomas, is not known for white sands beaches, but we have finally found two. These are located just west of the Morant Point Lighthouse which is the most easterly point in Jamaica.

Although some us us have ridden to the lighthouse before, because these beaches are off the beaten path, we had not noticed them before.

We were only introduced to them by Michael Chuck who is an avid bird shooter which takes him into all sorts of hidden crevices in Jamaica.

On Labour Day 2015 when we rode there,  the sea was really rough though. The sand there however is beautifully sparkling and powdery. I understand that there are two hotels being planned for this area but have not heard who the investors are yet.

We had previously frequented the Old Piera area which is also in St.Thomas and has

some really nice beaches. The routine involves driving to Bowden Wharf where they have a oyster growing project right at the entrance.

The wharf itself is now under the control of the army, however they have always been kind enough to allow us to park there and ride north to explore.

The ride from the wharf  is really pleasant, safe and refreshing as we mostly stay on the  unpaved intervals between the cane fields associated with the Duckenfield Sugar factory. So there are no vehicles racing around as when we have to travel on on  the regular roads.

Breezy Tower 

We ride past Breezy Tower in Old Piera which appears to have been some form of storage tower from the olden days when St. Thomas was booming with sugar cane plantations. Unfortunately, no one I have ever asked about this structure knows for sure what it is and why it is there.

It was near there that I stopped to buy water on this trip and met Odane  who lives in Kingston but was in Rocky Point for the weekend. He was picking  hog plums and when I begged him some, he cheerfully obliged. Boy there is something about us Jamaicans when we go to the country. It is as if we immediately wash off  some of the standoffish and selfishness and become so nice and generous!

The nearby beach at Rocky Point also has a wonderful beach and we used to go there quite a bit, although the sand flies there can get quite fierce. However, the sea  there is much calmer than the one near the lighthouse and you can safely walk far out  as it is extremely shallow like at Negril.


 On Labour Day 2015 when we returned to the area, we discovered that one of the signs to the Lighthouse had an interesting twist to it, probably German, as written on the arrow was a big LYTEHOUS! Despitethe spelling however, all else remained the same.

Photos by Omar Downie.