My local take
Long before tourists, bamboo rafts carried produce from the Trelawny plantations down the Martha Brae to the port at Falmouth. Recreational rafting started here in the 1970s under the Jamaica Tourist Board, and River Raft Limited has run it since 1985. The idea hasn’t changed: you sit on a padded seat on a 30-foot bamboo raft while a licensed captain poles you about three miles downriver, telling stories as you go, including the legend of Martha Brae, the Taino woman the river is named for.
This is not white-water rafting. It is slow, quiet and green, which is the point. My take: it suits couples and families who want something gentle, and it is the easiest river trip from Montego Bay.
Other guides nearby: Rose Hall Great House, on the way back toward Montego Bay, and Rocklands Bird Sanctuary, in the hills south of Montego Bay. Chukka also runs bamboo rafting on the Martha Brae from Chukka’s River Outpost at Good Hope, as part of its adventure passes. For the wider area, see our Montego Bay guide.
How to get there
Rafter’s Village is in the Martha Brae community, inland from Falmouth in Trelawny. The operator puts it about 3 miles, or 10 minutes, from Falmouth. It gives approximate drive times of 30 minutes from Montego Bay, 45 minutes from Runaway Bay, an hour from Ocho Rios and an hour and a half from Negril.
From the Rose Hall hotels, such as Iberostar Selection Rose Hall Suites, you’re already on the Falmouth side of Montego Bay, so plan on roughly half an hour east along the coast road toward Falmouth. From the Coral Spring resorts near Falmouth, such as Ocean Coral Spring, it’s around 20 minutes or less. Many visitors come on a tour with hotel pickup, and the operator has promotional reps in hotels along the north coast, Montego Bay and Negril.
Without a car: Book a licensed taxi or a tour with hotel pickup from Montego Bay, Falmouth or Runaway Bay; there's no easy public transport to Rafter's Village from the resort areas.
What to expect
You start at Rafter’s Village, on a natural horseshoe island in the river. The operator offers a complimentary fruit drink on arrival, and you can walk through Miss Martha’s Herb Garden, a display of Jamaican medicinal herbs. There are gift shops, two bars and a restaurant, and the operator’s site also lists a jerk shop and a Tarzan swing.
A licensed dispatcher sends you off on a 30-foot bamboo raft. Each raft takes two adults and a small child (ages 3 to 9), and life vests are handed out at the boarding pier. The ride covers about three miles and lasts around 1 hour 15 minutes, depending on the state of the river. Captains are licensed and CPR certified, and they’ll usually let you try poling the raft. The ride ends at Rafter’s Rest, with a bar, gift shop, restaurant and photo shop.
Booked online, a raft for two adults costs US$110 plus US$11.20 in online fees. Walk-ins are welcome and are processed in order of arrival, and the operator takes cash and major credit and debit cards. Group rates are available by phone.
Local tips
Book online for a set price per raft, rather than walking in, especially if you’re coming by taxi. Online tickets for the same day close, so book at least a day ahead.
Wear a T-shirt, shorts and sneakers. That’s the operator’s own dress-code advice, and your feet may get wet.
Bring small cash for drinks, souvenirs and a tip for your captain.
Go in the morning if you can. It is cooler on the river, and you have the afternoon free for the beach.
Jamaican residents should call (876) 952-0889 for the current local rate and bring valid ID.
Before you go
- With one small child per raft, a family of four needs two rafts, and two rafts cost twice as much.
- The operator says there is no weight limit, but the seat is narrow, and a larger guest may find the ride uncomfortable.
- The riverbanks are still growing back after the 2025 hurricane, so the scenery is thinner in places than older photos show.
- Expect to be offered drinks, crafts and photos at Rafter’s Village and Rafter’s Rest. Say no politely if you don’t want anything.
- Older guides, including the old version of this page, give lower prices and later hours. Use the operator’s current online price.
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Questions people ask
Is Martha Brae rafting open every day?
Yes. The operator sells raft rides online for every day, including public holidays, and runs from 9 am to 4 pm.
How much is Martha Brae rafting?
Booked on the operator’s site, a raft for two adults costs US$110 plus US$11.20 in online fees. Jamaican residents with valid ID pay a local rate. Prices change, so check before you go.
How long is the Martha Brae rafting trip?
The ride itself takes about 1 hour 15 minutes over a three-mile stretch of the river, depending on the river conditions. Allow two to three hours with check-in and the herb garden.
Is Martha Brae rafting safe for non-swimmers and children?
Life vests are provided at the boarding pier, captains are licensed and CPR certified, and the river trip is slow and calm. A raft takes two adults and a small child aged 3 to 9.
How far is Martha Brae from Montego Bay?
The operator puts it about 30 minutes’ drive from Montego Bay and about 3 miles from Falmouth. It is about an hour from Ocho Rios and an hour and a half from Negril.
Sources & updates
- Rafting on the Martha Brae: official site and online booking (price per raft, what's included) · checked
- Rafting on the Martha Brae: About (history, facilities, drive times) · checked
- Rafting on the Martha Brae: FAQ (hours, raft capacity, life vests, payment, captains) · checked
- Jamaica Gleaner: Rafting on Martha Brae eyeing comeback after Hurricane Melissa (Nov 2025) · checked
- Jamaica Observer: Rafting to resume on Martha Brae (Dec 2025) · checked
- Jamaica Observer: How Dis Mek: River rafts (Aug 2026) · checked
Update log
- — Rewritten as a researched guide to Martha Brae River rafting; facts re-checked. Post-hurricane status and current online price added; old prices and hours removed.
- — Linked the new Chukka Good Hope guide.
- — Link refresh: Added Ocean Coral Spring as a nearer resort.
- — Removed repeated advice
- — Trimmed hurricane references to where they change the advice
Spotted something out of date? Tell me and I’ll check it.