Montego Bay: Rockland Bird Sanctuary & Hummingbird Feeding Tour

Hand-Feed Jamaica's National Bird in the Anchovy Hills

You get picked up from your hotel, driven to the sanctuary in the Anchovy hills, hand-feed endemic hummingbirds and other species for about an hour, walk through the garden with a guide, and return to Montego Bay. The whole outing takes roughly 2–3 hours door-to-door, and you never have to arrange transport or worry about finding the place yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Rockland Bird Sanctuary

• Hotel pick-up in Montego Bay
• Drive 20 minutes to Anchovy
• Arrive at Rockland Bird Sanctuary
• Feed hummingbirds from bottle
• Walk garden with guide
• Observe various endemic birds
• End tour and return

The experience

You're driving out of Montego Bay toward the hills, leaving the coast behind, and the landscape shifts: less resort, more green. Twenty minutes inland, the road narrows into Anchovy, a small community where Rockland Bird Sanctuary sits tucked into a quiet property that feels more like someone's garden than a tourist stop. The air-conditioned vehicle gets you there without the hassle of navigating yourself, and when you arrive, the pace slows down completely. This is not a rushed circuit. The whole experience (feeding, walking, watching) takes about an hour, which is exactly how long it needs to be.

The main event is the hummingbirds. You'll hold a bottle of sugar water and wait for them to land on your finger: the Red-billed Streamertail (locals call it the Doctorbird) and the Jamaican Mango, both found nowhere else on earth. They're small, fast, and the moment one actually perches on your hand is the kind of thing you don't forget. But there's more than just hummingbirds. The sanctuary is home to Jamaican Orioles, Woodpeckers, Todies, and a dozen other species, some endemic to the island, others that migrated here and stayed. Birds move between the trees and the ground, and you feed them too. They're used to it, unafraid, which is why the whole thing works.

After the feeding, your guide walks you through the garden to show you the trees and herbs that keep the birds coming back. It's not a long walk, but it grounds the experience in something real. This isn't a cage or an enclosure, it's a working habitat. The setting is genuinely peaceful, the kind of place where you can hear the birds and the leaves without competing noise. Hotel pickup means you don't rent a car or negotiate a taxi fare, and the return journey gives you time to process what you've just done.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle, the 20-minute drive to Rockland Bird Sanctuary in Anchovy, entry to the sanctuary, the chance to hand-feed hummingbirds and other bird species, a guided walk through the garden to learn about the trees and herbs, and return transport to your hotel.

Options for this experience

4 options

Up to 15 per booking · Guide in English09:00 and 12:00

Up to 15 per booking · Guide in English09:30

Up to 15 per booking · Guide in English08:30 and 10:00

Up to 30 per booking · Guide in English10:00

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 12:00

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (17 and older) · Child (7 to 16 years) · Infant (3 to 6 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 11 pickup points.

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.

Paid on siteUS$ 30

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Road Travel Jamaica

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Jamaica's endemic birds and hand-feed hummingbirds without renting a car or figuring out the route yourself. The pickup and transport are what make a morning in the hills feel effortless.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 16 years); Infant (3 to 6 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

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.

What time should I go to see the most birds?

Peak feeding time is between 6am and 9am, when birds are most active. Tours can run anytime during the day, but early morning offers the best viewing.

How long is the drive from Montego Bay?

About 20 minutes to reach the sanctuary in Anchovy.

Will I definitely see hummingbirds?

Hummingbirds are a regular part of the experience, and you'll have the chance to hand-feed them. Other bird species vary by season and time of day.

What's included in the tour?

Hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport to and from the sanctuary, entry to Rockland Bird Sanctuary, and a guided experience including bird feeding and a garden walk.

Can I feed the birds myself?

Yes. You'll hold the bottle and let hummingbirds perch on your finger to feed. Other birds also eat from your hand during the tour.

How long does the tour last?

The sanctuary visit itself is about 1 hour. Total time from hotel pickup to return is typically 2–3 hours depending on distance and traffic.

What if I'm not a bird expert?

You don't need to be. The guide explains what you're seeing, and the main draw, hand-feeding the hummingbirds, requires no prior knowledge.