Martha Brae Rafting: Bamboo Raft on 3-Mile River

Glide through Jamaica’s lush herb gardens before a peaceful riverside escape

A half-day private rafting trip from Montego Bay takes you by air-conditioned vehicle to Martha Brae Rafters Village, where you board a traditional bamboo raft and float downriver for 3 miles past Jamaica's native flora and fauna. Your guide leads the raft while you sit back on the quiet water. The package includes a welcome drink, a walk through the herb garden, and a stop for lunch (at your own cost).

Step-by-step itinerary

Rafting and local cuisine experience

• Drive to Martha Brae Rafters Village
• Receive welcome drink and meet captain
• Stroll through herb garden and presentation
• Raft down Martha Brae River
• Enjoy local jerk chicken and pork

The experience

Your driver picks you up at your hotel or cruise port and drives 40 minutes south to Martha Brae Rafters Village in Trelawny parish. The village sits on six acres of manicured grounds on a natural horseshoe island and holds the island's main rafting operation. When you arrive, you get a welcome drink and meet your captain, who will guide the raft for the entire float. Before boarding, take a short walk through the herb garden on the grounds, where staff explain Jamaica's medicinal plants and their traditional uses.

The raft itself is 30 feet of lashed bamboo, poled by your guide rather than paddled or motored. You settle into a seat and float down a peaceful 3-mile stretch of the Martha Brae River, watching the riverbanks and the water's edge for birds and plant life. The current does the work. The float is quiet and slow enough to hear the river and the trees. Your guide handles navigation and can answer questions about what you're seeing.

The Rafters Village has picnic grounds, two shops, swimming pools and a bar if you want to spend time there before or after the raft. Your driver stops for lunch on the return journey, though you pay for your meal separately. The whole outing runs about four hours from pickup to drop-off, with the actual raft float taking up the middle of the day.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transportation from your hotel or cruise port.
• welcome drink on arrival.
• guide for the entire raft float.
• access to the Rafters Village grounds and facilities.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 11:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 30 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by Byrons Jamaica Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a private outing on the water without paddling or physical exertion. The bamboo raft and the guide's poling mean you sit and float while someone else handles the work, so it suits families with young children, older travelers, or anyone who wants to relax on the river rather than work it.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is the Martha Brae River like as a rafting destination?

The Martha Brae is a slow, peaceful river where the current carries the raft without paddling or motors. The 3-mile float passes through native vegetation and wildlife habitat, and the water is calm enough that the experience suits all fitness levels.

How does the bamboo raft work and who operates it?

A 30-foot bamboo raft is poled by your captain using a long pole to push against the riverbed. You sit as a passenger while the guide steers and propels the raft, so you don't need any rafting experience or strength.

What happens at Martha Brae Rafters Village before and after the river?

The village has picnic grounds, a bar, two souvenir shops, swimming pools and restrooms. Before the raft, you walk through an herb garden where staff explain Jamaica's medicinal plants. After the float, your driver stops for lunch (you pay for your own food).

How long is the drive from Montego Bay to the rafting site?

The drive is 40 minutes each way in an air-conditioned vehicle. Your driver picks you up at your hotel or cruise port and returns you there after the full outing, which takes about four hours total.