Get the free checklistFree checklist

Adventure park · Montego Bay

Chukka River Outpost at Good Hope, Trelawny: a local's guide

Researched by Michael RainfordPrices & hours checked Sources

No car?

Use Chukka's included transfers from Falmouth, Montego Bay or Runaway Bay, or book through your cruise line from Falmouth port; there's no easy public transport up to the estate.

On this page
  1. My local take
  2. How to get there
  3. What to expect
  4. Local tips
  5. Before you go
  6. FAQ
  7. Sources

My local take

Good Hope is one of the best-known old sugar estates in Trelawny. It was set up in 1744 around a bend in the Martha Brae River, and John Tharp, who bought it in 1767, became the largest slave owner in Jamaica. A probate inventory after his death in 1804 records 484 enslaved people living and working at Good Hope alone. Much of what survives on the hill, including the great house and its outbuildings, dates from his building work between 1790 and 1802. It is worth knowing that history before you go, because the ruins you ride past on a dune buggy are part of it.

Chukka runs the estate’s adventure park, now called River Outpost. The estate’s land, about 2,000 acres in Chukka’s words, runs along the Martha Brae, so most of what you do here is on or near the river: tubing, bamboo rafting and a swim at Adventure Falls, with a zipline, dune buggies and e-bikes on land. My take: it is the better Chukka park for families and cruise passengers in Falmouth, because the river activities are gentle and the estate is close to the port. If you only want a slow raft ride and nothing else, the separate Martha Brae rafting operation at Rafter’s Village is the simpler choice.

Compare it with Martha Brae River rafting at Rafter’s Village, and pair it with an evening at the Luminous Lagoon near Falmouth, or a walk around historic Falmouth. For where to stay, see our Montego Bay guide.

How to get there

Good Hope is inland from Falmouth in Trelawny, up the Martha Brae River valley. Chukka’s map pin puts the outpost just south of Falmouth, so plan on a short drive from the town and the cruise port, and roughly 45 minutes to an hour from the Montego Bay hotels, depending on traffic.

Chukka’s passes include round-trip transfers from Falmouth, Montego Bay and Runaway Bay, with drop-off back at your pickup point. Excellence Oyster Bay, on the coast at Falmouth, is one of the closest resorts. Cruise passengers in Falmouth book Chukka’s Good Hope excursions through their cruise line.

What to expect

Chukka sells Good Hope as park-style passes: you get access to the activities your pass includes, and how much you do is up to you and your time. The Eco Explorer Pass covers the non-motorized activities: e-bike country ride, zipline, river tubing, Appleton rum tasting, a scavenger hunt and Adventure Falls with its waterslide. The Ultimate Explorer Pass adds the dune buggy and bamboo rafting, both reserved on arrival. The Bamboo Rafting BOGO pass is a raft ride on the Martha Brae plus one other non-motorized activity of your choice.

Chukka’s rafting here is on hand-built bamboo rafts with a captain, a drink and a limestone foot massage on the river. The dune buggy trails pass old estate ruins, and the e-bike ride follows country trails across the estate.

On Chukka’s site, the Eco Explorer Pass starts at US$139, the Ultimate Explorer Pass with Dune Buggy at US$179 and the Bamboo Rafting BOGO pass at US$99 per person, all with transfers. Chukka advertises early-booking discounts of 25 to 50 percent for bookings 14 or more days ahead on its main passes. Lockers and aqua shoes are for sale, and so are souvenirs and photos. Prices change often, so check the official site before you book.

The Good Hope great house sits on a hill above the river. The Jamaica National Heritage Trust lists it as private property, and Chukka’s current passes don’t include a great house tour, so ask Chukka when you book if seeing it matters to you.

Local tips

  • Go for the Eco Explorer Pass if your group has young children or nobody wants to drive. The dune buggy is the main reason to pay more for the Ultimate pass.
  • Reserve the bamboo raft and dune buggy as soon as you check in, because on the Ultimate pass both are booked on location.
  • Wear closed-toe sneakers or water shoes; Chukka requires them for the zipline, dune buggy and e-bikes. Bring a towel and a change of clothes for the river.
  • Book 14 or more days ahead to get Chukka's early-booking discount.
  • Bring valid photo ID for check-in, and a driver's license if you plan to drive the dune buggy.

Before you go

  • Good Hope flooded during Hurricane Melissa, and Chukka told the Jamaica Observer its river operations were among the hardest to restore. The park is selling passes again, but Chukka says river flow is seasonal and water activities can be suspended in bad weather.
  • Age and size limits: the minimum age is 6 for rafting, zipline and tubing and 10 for e-bikes, a dune buggy driver must be 16 with a valid license, and the rum tasting is 18 and over. The zipline and e-bikes have a 265 lb limit, tubing 275 lb, and one person on a raft can’t be over 300 lb.
  • Chukka says the park is not wheelchair accessible and not suitable for pregnant women.
  • It can get busy when cruise ships are in Falmouth, and Chukka warns of crowds at peak times.
  • This is a former slave plantation. The estate’s history is part of the visit, even on an adventure day.

Questions people ask

Is Chukka Good Hope open after Hurricane Melissa?

Yes. Chukka is selling Good Hope passes on its website. Chukka told the Jamaica Observer in September 2026 that the site flooded in the hurricane, that it reopened its locations in stages from November to June, and that it has rebranded Good Hope as River Outpost.

How much is Chukka Good Hope?

Chukka’s site lists the Eco Explorer Pass from US$139, the Ultimate Explorer Pass with Dune Buggy from US$179 and the Bamboo Rafting BOGO pass from US$99 per person, with transfers. Prices change, so check before you book.

Is the Chukka rafting at Good Hope the same as Martha Brae rafting?

Both are bamboo rafts on the Martha Brae River, but they are different operations. Chukka’s rafting is part of its Good Hope passes, while the long-running Martha Brae rafting tour leaves from Rafter’s Village and is run by River Raft Limited.

Can you tour the Good Hope great house?

The Jamaica National Heritage Trust lists Good Hope Great House as private property, and Chukka’s current passes don’t include a great house tour. Ask Chukka when you book if you want to see it.

How far is Chukka Good Hope from Falmouth cruise port?

The estate is a short drive inland from Falmouth, up the Martha Brae valley. Chukka includes transfers from Falmouth with its passes, and cruise passengers book the Good Hope excursions through their cruise line.

Sources & updates

Update log

  • — New researched guide; status, prices and limits checked on the operator's site.

Spotted something out of date? Tell me and I’ll check it.

Where to stay nearby

Where to stay in Montego Bay