Martha Brae River Rafting Private Tour from Montego Bay

Float a bamboo raft down a tree-lined river, then steer it yourself for the best shots

A private bamboo raft tour on Martha Brae River near Montego Bay includes hotel pickup, entry, a local captain and three to four hours on the water. You ride a 50-foot raft built for two, drift under massive trees, listen to the river's folklore, spot carved rocks along the banks, and get the chance to take the helm and guide the raft yourself. The captain handles the current. You handle the moment.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private bamboo rafting tour

• Drive to Martha Brae River
• Board 50 feet bamboo raft
• Raft down calm slow-moving river
• Enjoy flora, fauna, and carved rocks
• Listen to folklore stories
• Drink, smoke, and play music on raft
• Man and guide your own raft
• Buy souvenirs on river banks
• End rafting at finishing point

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your hotel or port in Montego Bay. A 30-minute drive gets you to Martha Brae Rafting Village in Falmouth. Once there, you board a 50-foot bamboo raft with a local captain who knows the river and its stories. The raft holds two people, so this is genuinely private: no strangers, no schedule pressure, no one else's pace. The river itself moves slowly and calmly, which is the whole point. You are not fighting current or white water, you are drifting under the shade of enormous trees that line both banks.

For the next hour or more, you float downstream watching the landscape change. The vegetation is thick and lush. The rocks along the water's edge are carved into shapes: animals, faces, things the river has inspired over time. Your captain shares the folklore attached to the river, the stories that made Martha Brae a destination. You can drink, play music, smoke if you want to. The raft is yours for the duration. Vendors appear on the banks selling fresh fruit and souvenirs, and you can buy from the water if something catches your eye. The pace is slow enough that you can actually talk, notice things, take photographs without rushing.

At some point during the float, you get to take over and steer the raft yourself. A chance to be the captain for a few minutes and get the photos you want without someone else in the frame. It is not difficult. The river is calm and your guide is there. Then you hand it back and settle in for the rest of the ride to the finishing point. The whole experience takes three to four hours from pickup to dropoff, and the return to your hotel is included.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel or port in Montego Bay.
• entry to Martha Brae Rafting Village.
• bamboo raft ride for two people with a local captain.
• air-conditioned vehicle for pickup and dropoff.

Options for this experience

4 options

From FalmouthGuide in English · 11 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 13:30Pickup is included

From Grand PalladiumGuide in English · 9 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 12:00Pickup is included

From Runaway BayGuide in English · 13 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00Pickup is included

From Montego BayGuide in English · 11 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 13:00Pickup 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 day13 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Child (2 to 8 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Jamaica Terrific Travel Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a private float without sharing the raft or the captain's attention: the slow pace and the chance to steer yourself make it different from a shared group experience, and the three to four hours gives you time to actually absorb the river instead of rushing through it.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 8 years); Infant (under 2): free.

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.

How far is Martha Brae River from Montego Bay?

Martha Brae River is located in Falmouth, Trelawney, about a 30-minute drive from Montego Bay. Hotel pickup and dropoff are included, so you do not arrange the transport yourself.

What is the bamboo raft like, and how many people ride on it?

The raft is 50 feet long and built for two people. It is a private tour, so you and your party are the only ones on it. The local captain poles the raft downriver and handles the navigation.

Can I steer the raft myself during the tour?

Yes. You get the chance to take the helm and guide the raft yourself for photos and a few minutes of being your own captain. The river is calm and your guide is with you, so it is straightforward even if you have never done it before.

What will I see and do on the river?

You float under the shade of large trees, see rocks carved into animal shapes and other figures along the banks, and listen to the folklore and stories your captain shares about Martha Brae River. You can buy fresh fruit and souvenirs from vendors on the banks, and you are free to bring music, drinks or whatever you want for a relaxed float.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes hotel or port pickup and dropoff in an air-conditioned vehicle, entry to Martha Brae Rafting Village, the bamboo rafting fee for two people, and a local captain who guides the raft and shares the river's stories.