The Best Day Tours in Jamaica: Frommer's Picks
ByJamaica is an island nation bursting with culture, charisma, natural wonders, manmade attractions, and fabulous beaches. The more you see, the more you will want to see. Exploring this Caribbean destination is enormously rewarding, but it can be a little challenging if you try to tackle everything on your own. That's why we've assembled this collection of the country's best day tours—some guided, some not—so that you can see Jamaica the smart way.
There’s no denying the Rio Grande Rafting Tour is an unusual way to travel—a local boatman propels you by bamboo pole on a bamboo raft along the winding path of this picturesque river. On a typical journey, you can expect to see wading birds, fishermen, women washing clothes on the bank, and children swimming—all against a backdrop of changing scenery, from swaying grasses to limestone cliffs. The 13-kilometer (8-mile) voyage takes between two and three hours from the starting point at Berridale to Rafters’ Rest, where the Rio Grande joins the sea. It's a laid-back experience for passengers, but quite a workout for the raft captains, so remember to tip them generously for their efforts.
In contrast to the serenity of bamboo rafting, tubing is a boisterous experience organized by Chukka Caribbean Adventures. The company’s tour guides serenade, push, spin, and splash you as the current sweeps your inflatable inner tube along a cool body of water near Montego Bay.