8 Best Day Trips from Montego Bay (With a Private Driver)
From Rick's Café sunsets to river rafting and rum estates: the best day trips from Montego Bay and how to fit several into one day.
By Gabrielle Tours 7 min read
Montego Bay makes a great base for exploring western Jamaica. With a private driver, you can combine two or three of these in a single day, at your own pace. Here are our favourites.
1. Negril: Seven Mile Beach and Rick's Café
Drive: about 1 hr 20 min
Spend the afternoon on Seven Mile Beach, then head to the West End cliffs to watch the cliff divers and the sunset at Rick's Café. It's one of the most popular day trips on the island for good reason.
2. Dunn's River Falls and the Blue Hole
Drive: about 1 hr 45 min to Ocho Rios
Climb Jamaica's most famous waterfall, then cool off in the turquoise pools of the Blue Hole. Start early to beat the crowds (more in our Dunn's River Falls tips).
3. Martha Brae river rafting
Drive: about 40 min, near Falmouth
Drift down the Martha Brae River on a bamboo raft steered by a local raft captain. It's slow, peaceful and a lovely half-day option for all ages.
4. Rose Hall Great House
Drive: about 20 min
A restored 18th-century plantation house just east of Montego Bay, famous for the legend of the "White Witch of Rose Hall." Evening tours have a spooky twist.
5. Luminous Lagoon
Drive: about 40 min, near Falmouth
After dark, the water in this lagoon glows when it's disturbed, thanks to bioluminescent micro-organisms. Boat tours run in the evening, so pair it with an afternoon in Falmouth.
6. YS Falls and the South Coast
Drive: about 2 hr
A full-day adventure to the quieter south coast: the tiered YS Falls with rope swings, a Black River boat safari to spot crocodiles, and fresh peppered shrimp from the roadside stalls at Middle Quarters.
7. Appleton Estate rum tour
Drive: about 1 hr 45 min
Learn how Jamaica's famous rum is made, from sugar cane to barrel, with a tasting at the end. It combines well with YS Falls.
8. Catamaran, snorkeling and sunset cruises
Several operators run catamaran trips from Montego Bay and Negril, with snorkeling stops on the reef and an open bar. We'll get you to the dock on time and pick you up afterwards.
Why go with a private driver?
- Combine stops. Do Rick's Café and Seven Mile Beach in one trip, or YS Falls plus Appleton Estate.
- Go at your pace. Stay longer where you love it and skip what you don't.
- Local tips. Your driver knows the best jerk spots, quiet beaches and when crowds arrive.
Tell us what you'd like to see and we'll build the day around you.
