Nine Mile tour from Montego Bay: Birthplace and mausoleum

Stand where Bob Marley slept and wrote his songs in the hills of Nine Mile

A guided tour from Montego Bay to Bob Marley's Nine Mile, the birthplace and resting place of the reggae legend in the hills of St. Ann. The tour includes hotel pickup, entrance fees, a professional Rastafarian guide, and stops at Rose Hall Great House and Greenwood Great House on the drive. The 2½-hour journey each way passes through Jamaica's countryside; once in Nine Mile, you visit his first home, the rock he used as a pillow, Mount Zion where he drew songwriting inspiration, and the Ethiopian church where his body was laid to rest with his guitar.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour Bob Marley's Nine Mile from Montego Bay

• Drive through Jamaican countryside
• Pass by Rose Hall Great House
• Pass by Greenwood Great House
• Stop at Columbus Park in Discovery Bay
• Arrive at Bob Marley's Nine Mile village
• Visit Bob Marley's birth home and bed
• See the rock Bob Marley used as pillow
• Tour Bob Marley's mausoleum and resting place
• Visit Mount Zion inspiration spot
• Enter Ethiopian church and pay respects
• Return to Montego Bay

The Experience

The drive from Montego Bay takes roughly 2½ hours through Jamaica's countryside, passing Rose Hall Great House—an early 18th-century plantation home where your guide slows down so you can photograph the architecture—and Greenwood Great House, built at high elevation and known for its peaceful atmosphere rather than the haunted reputation of Rose Hall. Your professional driver and Rastafarian guide handle the route and the history; you sit back and watch the landscape change as you climb toward the mountains of St. Ann.

Nine Mile itself is a small village much as it was when Bob Marley was born there on February 6, 1945. His first home still stands, and inside it is the very bed he slept in as a child and during his later "cooling out" visits back from Kingston. You'll see the rock he used as a pillow to relax on, walk the grounds where he played, and visit Mount Zion—the hilltop spot where he drew the inspiration for many of his songs. The Ethiopian church where his body was laid to rest with his guitar sits nearby; remove your shoes before entering as a sign of respect. At 3,000 feet elevation, the village offers views of continuous mountain peaks and fresh mountain air that shaped the man and the music.

The tour also includes a brief stop at Columbus Park in Discovery Bay, where relics and artifacts mark the spot where Christopher Columbus landed in 1494. Hotel pickup and drop-off from Montego Bay hotels are included, along with all entrance fees and local taxes. Your guide answers questions throughout the day and provides context on Rastafarian culture and the reggae legend's life. The full outing runs about 7 hours from your hotel.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Montego Bay hotels.
• entrance fees and local taxes.
• professional driver and Rastafarian guide.
• transportation in an air-conditioned minivan or bus.
• visits to Bob Marley's birthplace, his first home with original furnishings, Mount Zion, and the Ethiopian church where he rests.
• photo stops at Rose Hall Great House and Greenwood Great House.
• views from 3,000 feet elevation across the mountain peaks of St. Ann.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendly

Operated by SNL Jamaican Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to understand Bob Marley's roots and the landscape that inspired his music—the guide is Rastafarian and the full day (roughly 7 hours with drive time) gives you time to walk the grounds, sit with the history, and visit every site connected to his life in Nine Mile rather than rushing through a shorter version.

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Top questions

What exactly is inside Bob Marley's home in Nine Mile that I'll get to see?

Bob Marley's first home contains the bed he slept in as a child and during his adult visits back from Kingston, as well as the rock he used as a pillow to rest on. The house is preserved much as it was in his early days, and your Rastafarian guide walks you through the space and shares stories about his life there.

Is there food or drinks available during the tour?

Food and drinks are available at an additional cost during the tour. You can purchase them at stops along the way, but they are not included in the tour price.

How long is the drive from Montego Bay to Nine Mile?

The drive from Montego Bay to Nine Mile takes approximately 2½ hours each way. The route passes through Jamaica's countryside and includes photo stops at two historic Great Houses on the way.

What is Mount Zion and why is it part of the tour?

Mount Zion is the hilltop spot in Nine Mile where Bob Marley drew inspiration to write many of his songs. It's included in the tour so you can stand in the place that shaped his creative process and understand the connection between the landscape and his music.

Do I need to remove my shoes anywhere during the tour?

Yes, you should remove your shoes before entering the Ethiopian church where Bob Marley's body was laid to rest with his guitar. This is a sign of respect observed at the site.

What happens at Columbus Park in Discovery Bay?

Columbus Park is a brief photo stop in Discovery Bay, the town where Christopher Columbus landed in 1494. The park displays old relics and artifacts from that era, and your guide provides the history of the site during the stop.