Martha Brae River in Montego Bay, Jamaica
The Martha Brae River in Jamaica got its name because it's located in a village called Martha Brae.
This village is on a 6-acre large horseshoe-shaped island.
This village was built by early Spanish settlers who wanted to stay close to the river.
Being close to the river provides a constant water supply and a convenient way to get to the seaports by the river.
This town was once home to many early Spanish settlers but it has become a very quiet town with the Martha Brae river being the main attraction.
The Martha Brae River provides water for many acres of sugarcane and citrus groves.
Legend has it that Martha Brae got its name from the story of the Taino witch who was tortured by Spanish settlers until she revealed the secret of where there was a chest of gold hidden along the river.
After telling them where the gold was, the Taino witch used her witchcraft to change the path of the river, making the gold impossible to find by the gold hunters.
She then sealed the entrance to the cave which is where the gold is hidden to this day.
Rafting on The Martha Brae River in Jamaica is one of the most relaxing things you'll ever do.
It is located on the north coast of Jamaica in a parish called Trelawny.
You'll peacefully coast down this 3 mile river on a handmade bamboo raft.
Relax and take in the scenery.
You'll be surrounded by beautiful trees and exquisite wildlife.
No worries though, none of the wildlife in this area is dangerous.
The sound of the river flowing along with the woodpeckers pecking away and the various exotic birds you'll come across, will make this experience unforgettable.
Take your camera out.
You'll enjoy looking through these photos later.
Whether you're looking for Romance, or making this day a family outing, this is sure to be a day you'll remember.
The rafts may look unstable, but you'll be surprised at how well balanced they are.
Getting on and off will be a breeze.
The seats are well padded so this will be a comfortable journey.
Even if you cant swim, you can still come and enjoy the ride.
Life vests are provided just in case, but chances are you wont need them.
The depth of the river is only 4 feet most of the year anyway so you can relax.
Only in rainy season does it get up to around 12 feet.
The captain of your raft is very knowledgable about the river and the surrounding area so feel free to ask him anything you want.
Be sure to ask him to point out Jamaica's national fruit, the ackee.
If you're in Jamaica, I'm sure you've tried it.
So now you can see how it grows.
Or if you’d prefer a romantic getaway, he’s far enough to the front of the raft for you to have some privacy.
And they know the drill.
He wont be turning around to take peeks at you.
There are about 80 rafts with well trained rafting guides on site so you'll never have to go there and wait.
Many of these guides are talented craftsmen so be ready to get offered some of their crafts for sale.
The prices are usually much cheaper than people expect so have a look.
There are bars on site, so grab yourself an ice cold Red Stripe beer.
You'll also come across a natural herb garden that has some of the worlds most sought after healing herbs.
This will be the perfect romantic day for you and your significant other but if you bring children along, they'll get a thrill from being on the raft.
Rafting on the Martha Brae, the island’s #1 rafting attraction is located approximately three miles inland from the town of Falmouth, birthplace of one of Jamaica’s former Prime Minister, Hugh Shearer.
The attraction is a mere twenty miles from Montego Bay and forty miles from Ocho Rios.
The embarkation area, “Rafter’s Village”, encompasses six acres of beautifully manicured lawns situated on a natural horseshoe island.
It offers a fully appointed recreational facility which includes picnic grounds, a full service bar, two souvenir shops, swimming pool and modern restrooms.
Before embarking on the tour, guests can also take a stroll through “Miss Martha’s Herb Garden”, a presentation of Jamaica’s herbs famous for their medicinal and healing properties.
Established more than forty years ago, Rafting on the Martha Brae boasts a complement of eighty five licensed and experienced raft captains.
Thirty-foot long bamboo rafts are boarded from a concrete pier, under the supervision of a licensed dispatcher.
The raft ride is operated over a three mile stretch of the beautiful Martha Brae River and lasts approximately one hour.
Once on the raft, guests can learn about “The Legend of Martha Brae” or enjoy an exhilarating swim.
T he attraction has over the years played host to a number of celebrities including HRH Queen Elizabeth II, heavy weight champion Lennox Lewis, Chuck Norris, Dionne Warwick, Spike Lee, former NBA star Patrick Ewing, Jane Seymour of “Doctor Quinn- Medicine Woman” fame, Kenny Rodgers, the late Johnny Cash and world 100 meter champion Usain Bolt.
The disembarkation area Known as “Martha’s Rest” houses a souvenir shop, bar, lounge area and restrooms.
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