Martha Brae River Bamboo Rafting from Montego Bay

Float down a legendary river on a bamboo raft, listening to folklore as the current carries you.

A private bamboo rafting tour on Jamaica's Martha Brae River, located in Falmouth 45 minutes from Montego Bay, includes hotel pickup, a complimentary welcome juice, and a visit to Miss Martha's herb garden to learn about Jamaican medicinal plants. The tour is a slow, peaceful float down a calm river under dense tree cover, where you'll see rocks carved into animal shapes and hear the stories tied to the river's legend. Suitable for all ages and fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Martha Brae River Rafting Experience

• Arrive and enjoy welcome fruit juice
• Visit Miss Martha’s herb garden
• Learn about Jamaican medicinal herbs
• Take bamboo raft ride down river
• Observe flora, fauna, and rock carvings
• Listen to folklore about the river

The Experience

How do you get to a river raft tour when you don't have a car? The pickup from your Montego Bay hotel solves that—the driver arrives, you ride 45 minutes to Falmouth, and the tour starts without you having to navigate or arrange transport. On arrival, you get a complimentary welcome juice while the guide walks you through Miss Martha's herb garden, where Jamaican medicinal plants grow and their uses are explained. This isn't a rushed introduction; it sets the pace for the whole experience.

The raft itself is bamboo, and the river is slow-moving. You're not paddling or fighting current; you're sitting on a raft that drifts down the Martha Brae under a canopy of huge trees that line both banks. The shade and the breeze off the water keep you cool. Along the way, rocks carved into animal shapes and other figures rise from the water—some natural, some shaped by hands over time—and the guide shares the folklore attached to each one and to the river itself. The flora and fauna pass by as you float; it's a journey built around observation and listening, not exertion.

The whole tour runs about two hours from start to finish. You're back in Montego Bay in time for lunch or an afternoon activity. Because it's private—just your group and the guide—the pace stays yours, and the guide can linger on the stories and sights that catch your attention instead of moving to a schedule set for a larger group.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned hotel pickup from Montego Bay and return transportation.
• complimentary welcome fruit juice on arrival.
• guided visit to Miss Martha's herb garden with a presentation on Jamaican medicinal plants.
• private bamboo raft journey down the Martha Brae River with a live English-speaking guide.
• all fees and taxes.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by R & R Island Tours and Transfers

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Montego Bay without a rental car—the pickup and private transport mean you don't arrange anything beyond the booking, and the 45-minute drive is handled while you relax. The slow pace of the raft itself suits anyone who wants to float and listen rather than paddle or navigate.

Top questions

What is the Martha Brae River known for?

The Martha Brae River is famous for the legend attached to it and for its slow-moving, calm waters lined with dense tree cover. The guide shares the folklore as you float, and you'll see rocks carved into animal shapes along the banks that are part of the river's story.

How long does the bamboo rafting tour take?

The tour runs about two hours total, including the welcome juice and herb garden visit at the start, plus the raft journey down the river itself.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes air-conditioned hotel pickup from Montego Bay, a complimentary welcome fruit juice on arrival, a visit to Miss Martha's herb garden with a presentation on Jamaican medicinal herbs, the bamboo raft journey down the river, the guide, and all fees and taxes. Transportation is private, so it's just your group.

Is this tour suitable for children or older adults?

Yes, the Martha Brae rafting tour is designed for all ages and all fitness levels. It's a slow, peaceful float with no physical exertion required, and specialized infant seats are available if you're traveling with very young children.

What should I expect from the bamboo raft itself?

The bamboo raft is a traditional vessel that floats down the calm river. You sit on it while the current carries you; there's no paddling or active effort involved. The dense trees overhead provide shade and a cool breeze throughout the journey.