Car Rental or Tours for the Martha Brae River?

Quick summary: For Martha Brae rafting, tours with transportation are often easier than a rental car, especially for cruise passengers docking in Falmouth and resort guests in Montego Bay. Tours handle the driving, timing and parking, and many add lunch, shopping or a second stop like Dunn’s River Falls or Rose Hall. A rental car suits independent travelers spending several days on the north coast.

At a glance	Car rental	Tours
Driving on the left	Your responsibility	Handled for you
Cruise passengers	Tight timing	From Falmouth
Resort guests	Flexible	From Montego Bay
Transfers	Not needed	Roundtrip transfers
Extras	Plan your own	With lunch, With shopping

Compare car rental at Montego Bay Airport

When are tours better?

Situation	Tours
Arriving by cruise ship	From Falmouth
Staying in Montego Bay	From Montego Bay
No car	With transportation
Just the river	Rafting-only tours
Your own guide	Private tours

When is a rental car better?

When you’re staying several days, want to explore at your own pace, and are comfortable driving on the left.

Can you combine both?

Yes. Drive yourself on some days, and book a combined tour like rafting and Luminous Lagoon for evenings, when driving is best avoided. See all tours.

Frequently Asked Questions