ATV Rafting & Blue Hole from Ocho Rios: Jamaica's North Coast

Three activities in one afternoon: ride, paddle, and swim your way through Jamaica's interior

An ATV, bamboo raft and waterfall hike combined in one outing from Ocho Rios, with hotel pickup and a guide who speaks English or Spanish. You ride an ATV for 45 minutes to an hour through mountain trails and coastal overlooks, then paddle a bamboo raft down a local river where you can take the helm, and finish with a guided hike to Blue Hole's tiered pools for swimming and jumping.

Step-by-step itinerary

ATV tour and river activities

• Travel from hotel to ATV location
• Overlook ocean coastline from peak
• Ride ATV through mountain trail
• Return to hotel after ATV tour
• Go bamboo river rafting with captain
• Hike river at Blue Hole secret falls
• Jump and swim in pools at Blue Hole

The experience

You start at your hotel in Ocho Rios and travel by air-conditioned van to the ATV staging area. The ride itself lasts 45 minutes to an hour, climbing through lush foliage to the highest peak in Ocho Rios for views across the entire north coast, then descending through mountain trails that cut across the grounds of two of the island's oldest sugar plantations. The route is designed for moderate fitness. You control the machine and set your own pace on the backroads.

After the ATV portion, the guide takes you to a local river where you board a bamboo raft with a captain. The setup lets you ride as a passenger or take over the helm yourself. The choice is yours for that stretch. This is not a white-water run. It's a gentle float that gives you the feel of the river without the intensity.

The final stop is Blue Hole, a guided hike through the river valley to a series of natural pools stacked in different sizes. You walk the riverbed, swim between pools, and jump into the deeper ones. The whole outing, from hotel to hotel, runs 2 to 3 hours. Entry to Blue Hole is included. Lunch is not. A guide fluent in English or Spanish stays with the group throughout.

What’s included

• Driver and guide in English or Spanish.
• air-conditioned van transport.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• ATV rental for the mountain ride.
• bamboo raft with captain.
• entry to Blue Hole and the guided waterfall hike.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except SaturdayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (11 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 38 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Suzette Tours Jamaica

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to try three different ways of moving through Jamaica's landscape in a single afternoon. The combination works because the van handles the longest distance, the ATV covers the elevation and views, and the raft and hike finish on foot and water, so you're not doing the same thing twice.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (under 5).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the ATV ride like if I've never done one before?

The 45-minute to one-hour ride follows mountain trails and backroads through the sugar plantation grounds, climbing to coastal overlooks and descending through tropical foliage. You need moderate fitness to handle the machine and the terrain, but the pace is yours to control.

Can I actually steer the bamboo raft, or do I just sit in it?

You can choose to ride as a passenger with the captain or take the helm yourself for part of the float. The river is calm, so either way is manageable.

How deep are the pools at Blue Hole, and is swimming required?

Blue Hole has several pools of different sizes stacked together. You hike between them and can swim and jump into the deeper ones, but the activity is optional. You can wade or stay dry if you prefer.

What should I bring or wear for the whole day?

Wear clothes you don't mind getting wet and bring a change if possible. Water shoes or sandals with a strap work better than flip-flops on the rocky river sections. Sunscreen and a light layer help on the ATV ride, where you're exposed to sun at elevation.

Does the tour wait for people who are slower on the hike to Blue Hole?

The guide leads the group at a moderate pace through the river hike. The route is not technical, but it does involve walking over rocks and wading, so a basic level of fitness helps everyone stay together.