Best Day Trips from Montego Bay

Montego Bay and the surrounding area is the ideal tropical retreat, with stunning beaches, plantations, waterfalls, gardens and countryside for a lively or relaxed getaway. Let's take a look at the alternatives to keep in mind.

Carla Yaquer

Carla Yaquer

9 min read

Best Day Trips from Montego Bay

Montego Bay | Jeremy T. Hetzel

Excursions in Montego Bay give you a taste of all that the area has to offer, but tours from 'MoBay' - the name by which Jamaicans know the city - take you on an in-depth exploration of the island's treasures.

Discover YS Falls and Dunn's River, which offer some of the most breathtaking views on the island. Immerse yourself in Jamaica's music scene with the Bob Marley Life Tour to learn about the origins of the famous "One Love". Visit the Blue Mountains, full of secret waterfalls and serene rivers, and more. In this article you will find the tours you should not miss with their prices, duration and details to choose the option of your liking.

1. Bob Marley Nine Mile Tour from Montego Bay

Nine mile| ©Paige Ackerman
Nine mile| ©Paige Ackerman

Let's see, this Caribbean island is also known as Bob Marley's island, of course among the must-do tours in Jamaica to get the most out of the country is a visit to Bob Marley's House.

Located in Nine Mile, 8 Rivers, this is a tourist destination that attracts fans from all over the world. Booking your Bob Marley tour brings you closer to immersing yourself in the life and legacy of the leader of the Rasta revolution.

Exploring this former residence, you discover the 'One Love' amongst the singer's personal items and unique memorabilia such as his recording studio, awards, first editions of his records, guitars and more. Plus, you get up close to the space where his remains are laid to rest. With your day trip to the Bob Marley Museum you can connect intimately with the artist, his inspiration, lifestyle and the origins of his message.

Interesting details

  • Price: From €115 per person.
  • Duration: 7-8 hours.
  • What you need to know: This is the ideal tour for reggae and music lovers in general. If you're looking for inspiration, this is the tour for you.
  • What the tour may include: This type of tour from Montego Bay usually includes a shuttle service to your accommodation, private guide and a walk in the mountains of the area at 3,000 metres above sea level.
  • Pros: Montego Bay and Nine Mile are 2 hours apart and the walk is worth it. On the other hand, getting to know the deep green mountains of the area is delirious, so the day looks promising when you choose this type of excursion.
  • Cons: Often offered in English only. Food and drink are not usually included.

Book the Bob Marley tour

2. Jamaica Blue Mountains Tour

Blue Mountains| ©THEKINGOFPOP2013
Blue Mountains| ©THEKINGOFPOP2013

The Blue Mountains bike tour typically starts with a pick-up from your accommodation to take you to the top of the mountains at about 2,256 metres. You then receive your bike to begin the dizzying descent. Cycle through fields and coffee plantations. Explore tropical trails that lead to idyllic waterfalls. Dive into crystal clear waters, refreshing and revitalising your senses.

This type of expedition takes you to discover the magic of southern Jamaica. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015, it encompasses a series of trails, shelters and settlements and is now known as theNanny Town Heritage Trail, or theBlue and John Crow Mountains, one of the places where the ancient Taino people hid from the colonisers.

At the end of the walk, after exploring Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Trelawny, you'll be driven back to your accommodation.

Details of interest

  • Price: From €181 per person.
  • Duration: 8 - 12 hours.
  • What you need to know: Anyone who can ride a bike is welcome. The level of difficulty is basic. As an added bonus, the penultimate month of the year is the Jamaica Coffee Festival, although you can do the tour all year round, so make it one of your must-do things to do in Montego Bay in October.
  • What the tour may include: Transfer to and from your accommodation in Montego Bay. A farm tour. Brunch. Lunch. Drinks. Bike rental with helmet. Professional guide service.
  • Pros: The tour works to disconnect from the city because the way is through winding trails of the Blue Mountains. If you're travelling as a family or with friends, it's a great way to share a day in Montego Bay. It's an all-inclusive style tour.
  • Cons: It is of the tours that start earlier in the morning to make the most of the day, so, the pick-up time is most likely to be around 06:00 in the morning.

Book the Blue Mountains Bike Tour

3. Negril + Rick's Café Tour

Sunset at Rick's Café| ©Bencito the Traveller
Sunset at Rick's Café| ©Bencito the Traveller

Booking a tour to Negril prepares you to visit an area with plenty of water sports, adventures and pubs. The typical itinerary for this type of tour usually starts with a pick-up from your accommodation and a 60-minute drive to the west of Jamaica.

Once in Negril, it's straight to one of the beaches in the area. Seven Mile Beach is often the meeting point. Here you'll have the opportunity to dive into the crystal clear waters and snorkel with your snorkel and discover the variety of multicoloured fish that live around the coral reefs. If you prefer a dose of adrenaline, you can ride the waves in a speedboat, or rent a jet ski.

If you feel like relaxing, you can enjoy the sun on a sun lounger with umbrella included or walk along the soft white sand of the beach. You can also swim in the nearby Pirate's Cave.

To finish off, they usually take you to the famous Rick's Café. It is considered one of the best beach bars in the world. From its terrace, you can witness one of the most spectacular sunsets in Jamaica. Enjoy live music, sip delicious cocktails and soak up the party atmosphere at this iconic venue.

Interesting details

  • Price: From €141 per person.
  • Duration: 6 - 10 hours.
  • What you need to know: The tours to Negril are quite varied. There's the daring adventurer option: because you can take a safari. You have the beach and good vibes option, by choosing a cruise that ends at Rick's Café. Finally, there's the travelling explorer 's alternative of what? Combined attractions. Thanks to its strategic location, you can visit Negril in conjunction with YS Falls, or the Appleton Rum Estate.
  • What the tour may include: Shuttle service to and from your accommodation. Professional local guide. Bottled water.
  • Pros: The tour is ideal for enjoying Negril's most famous beach in a relaxed plan as well as getting a taste of the area's lively nightlife while enjoying the sights and drinks at Rick's Café.
  • Cons: Food and drinks are usually at an additional cost. Groups can be large.

Book a tour to Negril

4. Dunn's River Falls Tour from Montego Bay

Dunn's River Falls| ©Dan Arsenault
Dunn's River Falls| ©Dan Arsenault

Among the 6 most beautiful waterfalls in the Caribbean are Dunn's River Falls, so a visit to Dunn **'**s River Falls is often included in the best day trips from Montego Bay.

The classic itinerary usually starts with a pick-up from your accommodation and then takes you to the village of Ocho Rios, where the 180-metre high waterfalls welcome tourists and locals alike on a daily basis.

The water flows over small terraces that serve as stepping stones to reach the top. Want to try your hand at climbing them? The tour guides are trained to help you climb. The reward at the top is the panoramic views. You can also enjoy a natural hydro-massage thanks to the water pressure at that point, or stay in the pools on each floor.

Afterwards you usually have some free time to explore and refresh yourself with the sound of tropical birds in the background. At the end, depending on which way you choose to visit the falls, either by land with a trip to Dunn's River Falls or by sea with one of the Montego Bay catamaran cruises, you recharge your batteries with the tour before returning to your accommodation.

Details of interest

  • Price: From €61 per person.
  • Duration: 4-8 hours.
  • What you need to know: The rocks at Dunn's River Falls are slippery. Wear beach shoes or socks to avoid accidents.
  • What the tour may include: Professional guide service. Transport to and from the hotel. Lunch. Rum punch. Catamaran ride.
  • Pros: You can choose between half-day or full-day experiences at reasonable prices.
  • Cons: Often only available with English speaking guides and Jamaican patois.

5. Mystic Mountain Tour from Montego Bay

Mystic Mountain| ©Dr. Jose G. Lepervanche
Mystic Mountain| ©Dr. Jose G. Lepervanche

Mystic Mountain tropical theme park tours take you to explore the Jamaican rainforest with a movie sled ride and zipline adventure included. After picking you up from your hotel, it continues with a scenic drive to Ocho Rios. Once at the adventure park, you will be met by a guide who will take you on the Sky Explorer, a chairlift that will lift you over 200 metres above the tropical vegetation.

Then comes the most thrilling moment: the sleigh ride! Aboard this Jamaican bobsleigh rollercoaster you will ride down a 1,000-metre-long track on the mountainside. Control your speed with a handbrake and experience the thrill of sliding through the dense jungle.

The Sky Explorer is inspired by the famous Olympic bobsleigh team from Jamaica, the only Caribbean country to participate in the Winter Olympics. And the fun doesn't stop, the next activity is the 5-span zip line through the treetops.

Other activities at your disposal are: wall climbing, roller coasters and climbing nets. At the end of the tour, you have time to splash around in the park's infinity pool or go on the water slide, which guarantees fun and laughter. You can also enjoy a delicious meal at the park's restaurant while the hummingbirds flutter around you.

Interesting details

  • Price: From 63 € per person.
  • Duration: 7 - 9 hours.
  • What you need to know: For people in wheelchairs there are special alternatives. The maximum weight allowed on the zip line and chairlift is 136 kg.
  • What the tour may include: Shuttle service to and from the hotel or villa. Entrance to Mystic Mountain. Chairlift ride. Zip line experience. Bobsleigh experience.
  • Pros: This park has everything for family fun. Plus, you can add the Dunn River waterfall rides.
  • Cons: Meals and drinks are not usually included. Sometimes tours may only include some of the activities, the rest would be an additional cost.

6. YS Falls Tour

YS Falls| ©Jakob Hjalmar Hólm
YS Falls| ©Jakob Hjalmar Hólm

Venture through the mountains and along Jamaica' s scenic south coast with a tour to YS Waterfalls, a set of natural pools set among rocks surrounded by the Jamaican jungle.

Generally, after pick-up at your accommodation, you will be driven through the mountains, where the imprint indicates that you are about to make your way through the jungle. You will arrive at the YS farm, a working cattle and horse farm that is home to these impressive waterfalls. Deep in the hills, you will encounter a natural spectacle: 7-tiered waterfalls that reflect the beauty and power of nature.

With the help of a private tour guide, you will make the most of every moment as you soak in the waters of mineral pools fed by underground springs, surrounded by lush vegetation.

This tour gives you the opportunity to explore YS Falls in a safe and exciting way. At your disposal are activities such as zip-lining, swimming in the heated pool, walks through the 7 gardens and climbing the waterfalls.

Details of interest

  • Price: From 120 € per person.
  • Duration: 7 - 8 hours.
  • What you need to know: This type of tour often combines a visit to Negril or Floyd's Pelican Bar to learn about and taste rum at Appleton Estate, the island's official drink.
  • What the tour may include: Transportation to and from your accommodation. Professional guide service. Entrance to the YS Estate. Walk to Floyd's Pelican Bar. Tour of Negril.
  • Pros: Entrance to the farm includes the waterfall tour and most of the activities.
  • Cons: Groups can be large. While the drive to YS Falls can be a little long (2 hours from MoBay), the experience is worth every minute.

Tips for an excursion from Montego Bay

Water Bottle| ©Steve Johnson
Water Bottle| ©Steve Johnson
  • Time of transfers. Be aware that you may have to spend the whole day out. Trips may take longer than expected, especially if you have to pick up other clients from their accommodation. However, while some trips to Jamaica may involve long bus rides, they are certainly worth it.
  • Language. Most tours are offered in English, however, many people on the island speak or at least understand Spanish so don't worry about communication if your languages are English or Spanish.
  • Footwear. As a general rule, comfortable clothing and footwear is recommended. Also, in Montego Bay, especially if you've booked a tour to the waterfalls, it's best to get a pair of beach shoes, as the rocks are quite slippery.
  • Carry cash. Although many activities and services accept credit cards, it's always useful to carry cash for tips, additional expenses or local purchases that don't accept cards (a common issue, especially at the beach).
  • Be respectful of the environment and local culture. This is a rule to follow in Montego Bay and in any destination, but it's always good to remember that as much as we like to explore, we share the same interest with millions of others, so a minimum of respect is advisable. Follow the guidelines of the tour guides and be careful not to damage the environment or historic structures.