Martha Brae Rafting: Bamboo Raft for Two on Jamaica's River

Pole your own bamboo raft down the Martha Brae instead of watching from a tour boat

Bamboo rafting on the Martha Brae River in Jamaica pairs hotel pickup and transport with a 30-foot raft that holds two travelers and a captain. You climb aboard, learn to pole the raft downstream, hear the legend of Martha Brae from your captain, and stop to photograph the river scenery. The raft captain handles the current. You handle the pole and the pace.

The experience

Hotel pickup means you don't need a car or a ride to the Martha Brae departure point. The driver collects you from your hotel, resort, villa or Airbnb lobby and takes you there by air-conditioned vehicle, covering the round-trip transport. On the way, your driver talks through the island's history, food worth trying and landmarks you'll pass: context that makes the river itself make sense when you get there.

The raft itself is 30 feet long and built to hold two travelers plus one licensed captain. That size is the whole point: it's small enough that you're not crowded, large enough that the captain can pole it safely. You climb aboard and spend the next hour and fifteen minutes moving downriver. The captain teaches you how to pole (how to plant the bamboo pole in the riverbed and push), so you're not just sitting. You get a turn at it. The river flows into the Caribbean, and the scenery is the kind people stop to photograph: the water, the banks, the light through the trees. Your captain knows the legend of Martha Brae and tells it while you're moving. Life vests are provided.

The whole outing takes about four hours from pickup to drop-off. Eighty-five licensed captains work the river, so the operation runs daily. Bring cash if you want to buy souvenirs at the end.

What’s included

• All fees and taxes.
• air-conditioned round-trip transport from your hotel, resort, villa or Airbnb.
• raft fee for two travelers.
• life vest.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (16 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 90 years) · Youth (10 to 15 years) · Child (5 to 9 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 26 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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by YoutoursJamaica

Is this one for you?Book this if you're staying in a hotel without a rental car and want to actually operate the raft instead of watching a guide do it: the hotel pickup solves the transport problem, and the two-person raft size means you're not competing with a crowd for a turn at the pole.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 15 years); Child (5 to 9 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

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 do I actually do on the bamboo raft?

You climb aboard the 30-foot raft with your captain and learn to pole it downriver yourself, planting the bamboo pole in the riverbed and pushing to move the raft. The captain handles the current and steers. You handle the pole and get to feel how the raft responds. You'll have time to take photographs, hear the legend of Martha Brae, and watch the river flow toward the Caribbean.

How many people fit on one raft?

Each bamboo raft holds a maximum of two travelers plus one captain, so it's a private experience. You're not sharing the raft with strangers or a large group.

What is the Martha Brae River like?

The Martha Brae flows through scenic countryside and eventually empties into the Caribbean Sea. The river has been a rafting destination since 1970 and is known for its calm, clear water and the banks lined with vegetation. The raft ride lasts about an hour and fifteen minutes.

Do I need to know how to swim or have rafting experience?

No. The Martha Brae rafting experience is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Life vests are provided, and your captain is licensed and experienced. Children are welcome from age five.

What's included in the price?

Hotel or resort pickup and round-trip air-conditioned transport, the raft fee, a life vest, and all taxes and fees are included. Lunch and alcoholic beverages are not included. If you're arriving on a cruise ship, there is an additional $25 USD pier fee for access to the cruise dock for pickup.