Montego Bay Bamboo Rafting & Limestone Foot Massage

Summary

Great River Rafting Tour with Local Massage Experience

Get ready to float along Jamaica’s Great River on a private bamboo raft with your own guide, try a traditional limestone foot massage right on the water, and hear local stories as you drift past historic estates. Includes everything for an easy half-day escape you’ll remember long after your feet touch dry land again.

What’s the experience like?

“You ever had your feet scrubbed with limestone while drifting under breadfruit trees?” That’s what our guide, Andre, asked as he pushed the bamboo pole into the riverbed. I just laughed — honestly, I didn’t even know what limestone felt like except maybe in old buildings. The Great River was quieter than I expected, almost glassy, with little ripples where the raft moved. There was this faint smell of wet earth and something sweet in the air — maybe from the mangoes stacked by the riverbank. Andre pointed out an old stone wall from when this whole estate was a plantation; you could almost imagine the history clinging to the moss.

The bamboo raft itself felt sturdy but kind of alive, creaking gently as we floated between parishes. It was just me and my friend (they only do two per raft), and sometimes we’d go silent except for Andre humming bits of reggae under his breath. At one bend, he pulled over to this shallow spot where another local waited with a bucket and a chunk of pale limestone. The foot massage part — okay, it’s weird at first, all cool grit and pressure on tired feet — but after a few minutes I stopped caring about looking silly and just let it happen. My feet actually did feel soft afterward (I kept poking them in disbelief). If you want more than that, they’ll offer a full body massage too, but honestly I was happy just sitting there watching sunlight flicker through the leaves.

There’s food if you want it — jerk chicken grilling somewhere nearby sent up these smoky clouds that made my stomach growl — but we mostly just drifted and listened to stories about the river dividing parishes and how people used to cross here generations ago. Sometimes you forget how much you can learn from someone who grew up right on these banks. The whole thing took maybe an hour or so? Time got slippery out there. I still think about that quiet stretch of water when city noise gets too much.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Rafting and Limestone Foot Massage

• The estate with preserved plantation buildings
• Rafting on the Great River and limestone foot massage

Top questions

How long does the Montego Bay bamboo rafting tour last?

The rafting experience usually takes 1–2 hours depending on group size and if you add a full body massage.

Is lunch included during the Great River rafting tour?

No lunch is included, but food like jerk chicken is available for purchase along the river.

Can children join the bamboo rafting & limestone foot massage?

Yes, infants and small children are welcome; they can sit on an adult’s lap or use a stroller.

Do I need to book with someone else or can I go solo?

You can book solo but there’s a surcharge; each raft holds two people minimum otherwise.

Is pickup included for this half-day Montego Bay tour?

No hotel pickup is mentioned; check with your provider before booking for transport options.

What’s included

Your day includes drifting down the Great River on a private bamboo raft with a local guide, plus a traditional limestone foot massage right by the water’s edge. Food is available for purchase along the way if you get hungry. If you’re traveling alone there’s a small surcharge; otherwise rafts are set up for two people at a time so everyone gets plenty of space to relax.