River Rafting On The Martha Brae | 4 Reasons It's Worth It
River rafting on the Martha Brae is one of the most popular experiences that people flock to in Jamaica and for good reason; it’s amazing. I booked my experience through my resort, but you can also book through Viator or Airbnb experiences. On average it’s about $125 to do it and that typically includes transportation from your resort to the river. The drive from the Rose Hall area is around twenty minutes so it’s not very far at all. On the property there’s a bar, shops, a garden and then of course the river as the main attraction. You are required to wear a life jacket; however they do allow you to take it off for photos once you’re on the raft. Here are four reasons to consider going:
1. It’s relaxing.
It’s such a serene and relaxing experience that doesn’t require you to do anything but sit back and enjoy yourself. I enjoy being in nature, especially by water, so I spent my time breathing in fresh air, listening to the gurgling of the river, taking in the surroundings, and simply appreciating being there.
2. It’s a great photo opportunity.
I’m sure if you're thinking about going, you’ve seen the many pictures on social media of people on the raft. It’s a unique photo opportunity that you won’t get many other places. In addition to it being a memorable experience itself, you can grab incredible photos to mark the memory.
3. You’ll learn a bit of history and culture.
My guide’s name was Damian and he was such a sweet person. I had a lot of questions and he had a lot of answers. The river is about three miles long so you have a while to talk. The water is about four feet at the shallowest, and about thirty five feet at the deepest. The bamboo used to make the rafts is imported, planted by the river, and grows an astonishing 2-4 inches a day, which is great because one raft only lasts about six months until it has to be discarded. Along the way I saw bananas, plantains, breadfruit trees, almond trees, birds of paradise, and more. I really appreciated learning about how they use all of the vegetation and resources that are readily available to them.
4. Find an authentic souvenir.
At the end of my experience, I bought this handmade cup from my guide Damian. It’s very special because he handmade it himself. When I visit a new place, I like to find handmade souvenirs like this that are one of a kind, and luckily I didn’t have to look far for this one; it was brought right to me. Though Damian has made many of these, no two of them are exactly alike and I love that in a memento.
