Martha Brae River Rafting: Bamboo Raft & Luminous Lagoon

Bamboo raft down a tree-lined river, then a boat through glowing water at night

Raft the Martha Brae River in Jamaica on a private transfer from your hotel, floating down the calm water on a traditional bamboo raft under the shade of overhanging trees, then visit the Luminous Lagoon at twilight to watch the water glow blue and green as the boat disturbs the microscopic organisms that live there. The package includes round-trip transport, entry to both sites, bottled water and an air-conditioned vehicle with a guide who shares the river's folklore.

Step-by-step itinerary

Rafting and Luminous Lagoon tour

• Private transfer to Martha Brae Rafting Village
• Enjoy bamboo rafting on Martha Brae River
• Listen to folklore and observe nature
• Transfer to Luminous Lagoon at twilight
• Boat ride on glowing Luminous Lagoon
• Swim to see glowing water effects

The experience

You start with a private pickup from your hotel in either Falmouth or Montego Bay, a 30-minute drive to Martha Brae Rafting Village. The vehicle is air-conditioned and equipped with WiFi. Your guide talks through the area's history and folklore as you ride, and you can order a beer or fruit punch to relax with on the way. Once at the village, you board a bamboo raft for a slow, peaceful float down the Martha Brae River. The water moves gently, and the banks are lined with huge trees that shade the raft and keep the air cool. Along the way you see the river's flora and fauna, and rocks carved into animal shapes by the water over time.

After the raft ride, the day moves to the Luminous Lagoon near Falmouth, a body of water surrounded by mangroves. At twilight you board a boat and sail out into the lagoon. The water here contains microscopic organisms that produce a bright blue and green glow when the water is disturbed, as the boat moves, its path lights up like fireflies. If you swim, your body glows with each movement. The lagoon is one of only four bioluminescent lagoons in the world and is known as the largest and most brilliant of them.

The entire experience runs four to six hours from pickup to return. Your guide is English-speaking and included with the transfer. Bottled water comes with you throughout the day. Note that the river rafting itself must be purchased separately from the transfer and lagoon visit. The operator handles the transport and entry to both sites, but the raft operator charges its own fee at the village.

What’s included

• Private round-trip transportation from your hotel.
• entry to Martha Brae Rafting Village and the Luminous Lagoon.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• WiFi and air conditioning in the vehicle.
• an English-speaking guide who shares the river's history and folklore.

Options for this experience

2 options

From Falmouth HotelsGuide in English · No fixed timeRound-trip pickup is included

Departing from Montego Bay hotelsGuide in English · No fixed timePickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Pure Vibes Tours Jamaica

Is this one for you?Choose pickup from Falmouth if you're staying near the coast. Choose Montego Bay if you're based there and want to avoid the longer drive. Either way, the private vehicle means no waiting for a group to assemble, and the four- to six-hour window fits a half-day or a full afternoon depending on when your hotel pickup happens.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What is the Martha Brae River rafting experience actually like?

The Martha Brae River raft is a slow, peaceful float on a traditional bamboo raft down calm water. You drift under the shade of large trees that line both banks, see carved rocks and wildlife, and hear folklore about the river from your guide. The pace is leisurely, not fast or technical.

How does the Luminous Lagoon glow, and what do you actually see?

The lagoon contains microscopic organisms that emit a bright blue and green light when the water is disturbed. As the boat moves through the lagoon at night, its wake glows like a trail of fireflies. You can see the outlines of fish moving through the water, and if you swim, your body glows with each movement in the water.

What's included in the private transfer from my hotel?

The private round-trip transfer includes pickup and drop-off at your hotel, an air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi, bottled water, entry fees to both Martha Brae and the Luminous Lagoon, and a guide who speaks English and shares information about the area. You can also order a beer or fruit punch on the ride to the rafting village.

Do I need to arrange the river rafting separately, or is it part of this booking?

The transfer and lagoon visit are included in this package, but the river rafting itself is purchased separately at Martha Brae Rafting Village. The operator's transfer gets you there and covers entry, but the raft operator charges an additional fee for the actual raft experience.