Ocho Rios countryside tour: Fern Gully, markets & rural Jamaica

See the Jamaica most visitors miss, from the fern-filled gorge to working market towns

A full-day countryside tour from Ocho Rios takes you off the main tourist route through rural communities and natural landmarks. You drive through Fern Gully, a three-mile gorge lined with over 300 species of ferns in a dark, shaded canopy. Visit Brown's Town, one of St. Ann's biggest inland market towns (best on Wednesday, Friday or Saturday when farmers and vendors fill the streets); and pass through Claremont, Bamboo and Runaway Bay, seeing estate houses, genuine Jamaican architecture and the northern coast where Columbus landed in 1494.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Jamaican countryside and towns

• Visit Fern Gully gorge
• Explore Claremont district
• See Bamboo settlement
• Visit Brown's Town market
• Tour Runaway Bay town

The experience

The tour centers on Fern Gully, a former riverbed that became a paved road after an earthquake around 1907 dried up one of the eight flowing rivers that once fed Ocho Rios. Now it's a three-mile stretch of hardwood trees and ferns: Jamaica has over 500 species, and you'll see at least 300 of them in the cool, dim gorge. The road itself winds through what used to be water, so the landscape has a particular geology most visitors never encounter.

Beyond the gorge, the tour moves through the countryside towns that shape rural St. Ann Parish. Brown's Town is the anchor stop: it's one of the most important inland towns in the parish, and on market days (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday) it fills with farmers and vendors from the Blue Harbour Mountains and beyond. You'll see a genuine Jamaican market town, not a tourist version of one. Claremont, with its fine architectural detail on High Street, shows the wealth that landed estates brought to the area for centuries. Bamboo, a settlement of a few thousand people in the same parish, rounds out the rural picture. Runaway Bay sits on the northern coast 16 kilometers west of Ocho Rios, notable for its natural beauty and its history as an escape route for runaway slaves.

Private transportation is included, along with bottled water, soda and a cold Red Stripe beer. The guide speaks English or German. Children from age 5 are welcome, and infants can sit on an adult's lap. The pace suits all fitness levels.

What’s included

• Private transportation.
• bottled water.
• soda.
• cold Red Stripe beer.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to Friday

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 49 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.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Island Jamaica Excursions

Is this one for you?The tour runs five to six hours with a natural pace through towns and a gorge, so it suits travelers who want to explore beyond the resort without a strenuous hike or early start. Pick a market day (Wednesday, Friday or Saturday) if you want to see Brown's Town at its busiest and most authentic.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years). Children under 5 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 exactly is Fern Gully and why is it three miles long?

Fern Gully is a former riverbed that dried up during an earthquake around 1907, when one of the eight rivers flowing through the Ocho Rios area disappeared underground. The riverbed was paved over and is now a three-mile road lined with hardwood trees and over 300 species of ferns in a dark, shaded gorge. A landscape you won't see in the coastal resort areas.

When should I book this tour if I want to see Brown's Town market?

Brown's Town is liveliest on market days: Wednesday, Friday or Saturday. That's when farmers and vendors from the surrounding mountains and beyond fill the town, so if you want to see an active Jamaican market town rather than a quiet one, aim for one of those days.

How far is Runaway Bay from Ocho Rios?

Runaway Bay is 16 kilometers (about 10 miles) west of Ocho Rios on the northern coast. It's considered one of the most naturally beautiful places on the island and sits near Discovery Bay, where Christopher Columbus landed in 1494.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. Bottled water, soda and a cold Red Stripe beer are provided.