Martha Brae River Rafting from Ocho Rios: Bamboo Raft Journey

Bamboo raft, calm river, no paddling required

A half-day rafting tour from Ocho Rios takes you 40 minutes from Montego Bay to Martha Brae Rafters Village, where you board a 30-foot bamboo raft for a 3-mile drift down the Martha Brae River with a live guide. The village sits on 6 acres with pools, a bar, herb garden and picnic areas; a welcome drink and local jerk chicken lunch are part of the day. Children from age 3 are welcome, and the tour suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Rafting and local cuisine experience

• Pickup from Montego Bay
• Travel 40 minutes to Martha Brae
• Receive welcome drink and meet raft captain
• Stroll through herb garden
• Raft 3 miles down Martha Brae River
• Enjoy local jerk chicken and pork

The Experience

The 30-foot bamboo raft is the whole point. You're not paddling or fighting current—the raft captain poles you downriver while you sit back and watch the banks slide past. The Martha Brae is narrow and shallow enough that the water stays calm, which is why this tour lands families and people who want the river without the adrenaline. You get your own captain, not a shared guide splitting attention across a dozen rafts.

The day starts with pickup from your Montego Bay hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle. The 40-minute drive takes you to Martha Brae Rafters Village in Trelawny, where the real setup begins: a welcome drink, a walk through the herb garden, a chance to meet your captain and get your footing on the raft before you push off. The village itself has pools if you want to swim before or after, a bar, souvenir shops, and restrooms. Lunch is local jerk chicken and pork, served at the village.

The 3-mile float takes you through the river's quietest stretch. No rapids, no white water—just the sound of the water and whatever birds are working the trees. The whole tour runs about 5 hours from pickup to drop-off, which leaves the rest of your day open if you're staying in Montego Bay or heading to another part of the island.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your Montego Bay hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• a welcome drink at Martha Brae Rafters Village.
• access to the 6-acre village with swimming pools, herb garden, bar and restrooms.
• a 30-foot bamboo raft with a live English-speaking captain for the 3-mile river journey.
• and a lunch of local jerk chicken and pork.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Byrons Jamaica Tours

Is this one for you?The 5-hour commitment leaves your morning or afternoon free depending on when you depart, and the calm river means no swimming ability or paddling experience is needed—it's built for anyone who wants to float a river without the intensity. Book this if you're traveling with young kids or prefer to relax on the water rather than work it.

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Top questions

How long is the actual time on the water?

The Martha Brae River journey itself is a 3-mile float that takes roughly an hour, depending on water level and current. The full tour is 5 hours from hotel pickup to return, which includes the 40-minute drive each way and time at the village before and after the raft.

What's included in the tour?

The tour includes pickup and drop-off from your Montego Bay hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle, a welcome drink at the village, the 3-mile bamboo raft journey with a captain, access to the 6-acre village with its pools and facilities, and a lunch of local jerk chicken and pork.

Can I bring my young children?

Children are welcome from age 3 and up. Specialized infant seats are available if you need them, and the calm river makes it a safe option for families with small kids.

What is the Martha Brae River like?

The Martha Brae is a tranquil, shallow river with no rapids or white water. The raft captain poles you downstream at a relaxed pace, so you're floating rather than paddling, and the narrow banks give you close views of the vegetation and wildlife along the water.

Do I need any special fitness or swimming ability?

The tour suits all physical fitness levels. You're sitting on the raft while the captain does the work, and swimming ability is not required—though the village has pools if you want to swim separately.

What should I bring?

Bring sunscreen, a hat or cap, and a change of clothes or a towel. Water shoes or sandals that won't slip are helpful on the raft, and a waterproof bag for your phone and valuables is a good idea.