![[PRIVATE]Dunn's River & Martha Brae Rafting - Entrance & Lunch](https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/attractions-splice-spp-720x480/06/6b/71/cb.jpg)
The Full Martha Brae Day
A Martha Brae rafting with lunch package adds a Jamaican meal to the river experience — typically jerk chicken or jerk pork (slow-smoked over pimento wood — the defining flavour of Jamaican cuisine), rice and peas, festival (fried cornmeal dumplings), coleslaw, and fresh tropical fruit or juice. The lunch is served at a restaurant near the rafting village or at a jerk centre along the north coast, and the meal adds a culinary dimension to the river excursion.
The Jamaican jerk tradition is worth understanding: the technique (marinating meat in Scotch bonnet peppers, allspice, thyme, garlic, and other seasonings, then slow-smoking over pimento/allspice wood) has its origins in the Maroon communities — escaped enslaved Africans who developed the preservation and cooking method in the Blue Mountains. The flavour — smoky, spicy, aromatic — is Jamaica’s most important culinary contribution, and eating authentic jerk near the river is a more culturally connected experience than the resort buffet version.
Frequently Asked Questions
What food is included?
Typically a jerk chicken or jerk pork lunch with rice and peas, festival, and a drink. Some packages offer fish or vegetarian options. Communicate dietary requirements when booking.
Is the lunch at the rafting village or elsewhere?
It varies by operator — some serve lunch at the Martha Brae Rafting Village, others at a jerk centre or restaurant along the coast. The jerk centre experience (outdoor cooking over pimento wood) is the most authentic format.
Is the lunch good?
At the best operators and jerk centres, yes — authentic Jamaican jerk prepared in the traditional method is one of the great food experiences in the Caribbean. Quality varies between operators. Reviews mentioning the food specifically are worth checking.