Jamaica is a land known for its natural beauty, incredible food, and friendly locals – understandably it’s one of the top vacation spots for adventurers all around the world!
Every time I visit, there’s something new to discover, but I have to say there’s one way to explore Jamaica that reigns supreme: by ATV. On ATV, I can access some of the most beautiful spots that just aren’t possible with a larger vehicle and just isn’t feasible by foot.
So, I’ve gone ahead and taken it upon myself to carefully handpick the top Jamaica ATV tours I’ve experienced so you can have just as much fun (or more) as I’ve had! Let’s jump right in!
Best ATV Tours in Jamaica
Rasta Cultural ATV Safari from Montego Bay | Chukka ATV, Horse Ride, Zipline & Catamaran at Ocean Outpost Park | ATV Jungle Ride and Sunset at Rick’s Cafe from Montego Bay | |
---|---|---|---|
Location: | Hotel pickup and drop-off included | Hotel pickup and drop-off included | Hotel pickup and drop-off included |
Start: | 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 1:30 PM | 8:30 AM | 12:00 or 1:00 PM |
Duration: | 3 to 4 hours | 9 hours | 7 hours |
Includes: | Fuel surcharge, bottled water, food tasting, lunch, driver/guide, use of bicycle | Horseback Ride in the Caribbean, ATV Safari Excursion, Catamaran Cruise w/ Snorkeling, Ocean Zipline Adventure | ATV Ride, professional guide, transportation, visit to Ricks cafe in Negril |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Jamaica ATV Tours For 2024
- Rasta Cultural ATV safari from Montego Bay
- Chukka ATV, Horse Ride, Zipline & Catamaran at Ocean Outpost Park
- Atv Jungle Ride and Sunset at Rick’s Cafe from Montego Bay
- Atv Jungle Ride from Montego Bay with Transportation
- Dunn’s River Falls Climb plus Ziplines, ATV, Horse Ride & Swim from Montego Bay
Best Jamaica ATV Reviews
1. Rasta Cultural ATV Safari from Montego Bay
- Duration: 3 to 4 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 1:30 PM
- Includes: Fuel surcharge, bottled water, food tasting, lunch, driver/guide, use of bicycle
I know that there’s a lot to see and do in Jamaica, and it’s easy to fill up the itinerary quickly. However, the Rasta Cultural ATV Safari from Montego Bay Tour is easy to fit into even the busiest of schedules and well worth it!
It combines good food, rural exploration, and a local guide to show you all the hidden gems while regaling you with tales of each site! I truly appreciate when tours include a hotel pickup and drop-off so I don’t have to fret about worrying how I’m going to get to the starting point.
They picked us right up from our hotel in Montego Bay, then headed off for around an hour to Roaring River where we went on a fascinating tour with our expert guide.
I’m a huge coffee lover so one of the highlights of this tour was getting to see the coffee actually being roasted by hand and learning all about their techniques.
After our tour, we met up with our ATV guide who provided us a briefing and quick lesson on how to drive them (a driver’s license is required to drive) before setting off on our adventure!
Expand To See More
We zoomed through the deep, green forests, neverending fields and farms, and eventually ended up at a beautiful natural mineral pool where we got to go for a quick swim to cool off! We even got to see a ganja field, which was surprisingly super interesting!
I absolutely loved being able to try some of the fresh fruits picked right from the trees, as well as the fresh fruit juice which tasted amazing!
The chef thoughtfully prepared everything for us, and the kindness and friendliness of everyone during the whole tour really made it something special. If you’re looking for a way to experience and learn about the parts of Jamaica tourists don’t often get to see, this should be one at the top of your list.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
2. Chukka ATV, Horse Ride, Zipline & Catamaran at Ocean Outpost Park
- Duration: 9 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 8:30 AM
- Includes: Access Pass to Chukka’s Ocean Outpost Park in Sandy Bay Complimentary, Horseback Ride & Swim in the Caribbean Sea (please note weight limits), ATV Safari Excursion, Party Catamaran Cruise with Snorkeling & Swimming, Ocean Zipline Adventure
On the other end of the spectrum, I have had the pleasure of taking a tour that’s perfect for those seeking a comprehensive, full-day event.
The Chukka ATV, Horse Ride, Zipline & Catamaran at Ocean Outpost Park Tour is a 9-hour experience ideal for those who love exploring and enjoy getting the adrenaline pumping! This is one of the best ways to have some fun while exploring Jamaica’s incredible natural beauty, and maybe get in a bit of partying!
While I only went with other adults, I find that this trip would be perfect for bringing the entire family (including kids) along as it’s never boring, always engaging, and every activity has options that work well for people of all ages.
We started out by being picked up right from our hotel at around 8:30 in the morning, then headed straight to the zipline location where the staff gave us an easy-to-understand safety briefing and guidance on how to get fitted properly for a helmet and harness.
We had a fantastic time zipping through the canopy of the jungle – not only did I love the beautiful mountain and river views, we even saw plenty of wild animals throughout!
Expand To See More
After, we headed down to the Great River where we got to enjoy the beautiful little rapids, still pools, and everything in between. A lot of people just enjoyed taking in the river views from the river bank, which looked quite nice and calming, too.
After that, we dried off with a wild and fun ATV ride through the Jamaican backcountry, which was just as exciting as it was beautiful!
I loved zooming down the trails of an old estate and heading up through the bumpy mountain terrain where we were rewarded with stunning panoramic vistas at Reading Heights.
After all that, we fueled up with a traditional Jamaican meal right at the Jungle Outpost, which was truly delicious!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. ATV Jungle Ride and Sunset at Rick’s Cafe from Montego Bay
- Duration: 7 hours
- Departure: Hotel and AirBnB pickup and drop-off
- Departure Time: 12:00 or 1:00 PM
- Includes: ATV Ride, professional guide, transportation, visit to Ricks cafe in Negril
Rick’s Cafe is one of those legendary places that everyone has probably seen or at least heard of on the Travel Channel. Undoubtedly the best way to experience it is through the ATV Jungle Ride and Sunset at Rick’s Cafe from Montego Bay Tour!
This magical experience seamlessly combines high-energy adventure with some leisurely time in paradise, and at this price, there’s no comparison!
Just like the other tours, they conveniently came right to our hotel to pick us up and the driver was very nice and professional. As it’s 7 hours it’s a full-day tour, but throughout the day, they made sure to make stops to try local dishes and ensure our comfort the entire time.
I always say that the staff can easily make or break a tour, and in this case, they really enhanced every aspect of the experience. Our first stop of the day was right in the jungle, where we met with the ATV crew and received a comprehensive lesson and safety briefing.
Expand To See More
They were great about answering any and all of our questions, before heading off on the ATVS through a mesmerizing jungle path as fast as we wanted! Our guide did a great job at pointing out critters to us, along with many tropical plants that we’d never seen before.
We were then taken over to Negril, where we arrived at Rick’s Cafe just in time to enjoy the gorgeous red-and-orange sunset setting the entire sea aglow.
We got to watch the cliff jumpers send themselves over the edge of where we were watching out from, and we even enjoyed dancing to a live DJ! Everything was simply perfect, and I would recommend this tour to anyone who’s going to Jamaica!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. ATV Jungle Ride from Montego Bay with Transportation
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM
- Includes: All Fees and Taxes, Air-conditioned vehicle
This is yet another excursion I’d highly recommend for those who don’t have the entire day for one tour. The ATV Jungle Ride from Montego Bay with Transportation tour is an all-inclusive experience that is sure to add some adrenaline to any day!
It’s perfect for teenagers and even younger kids who may get bored easily, yet equally as fun for any adults involved, too!
The adventure starts out just like the others, with a convenient hotel pickup so none of us had to worry about booking separate transportation or figuring out how to get there.
One thing I will recommend is that you dress prepared for a lot of mud, so if you have any old gym shoes and/or socks you don’t mind discarding after, that’s even better! You know kids love getting muddy, so you can rest easy knowing they’re going to enjoy it!
I also recommend this tour if you’re looking for one of the best ATV tours in Jamaica on a budget – I was actually surprised at what a quality experience we had for the price.
Expand To See More
The guides are very professional and gave us a thorough, easy explanation and lesson on how to safely use the ATVs. The coolest part was that we got to check out the missile adventure park which is like a jungle, and a track unlike any other in the entire country.
It is about 1.5 hours each way from Montego Bay, so the ride itself is relatively fast but a great way to try riding ATVs for the first time.
Our driver even regaled us with history lessons about Jamaica as we drove around, stopping at a souvenir shop at our request, which I thought was really nice. Overall, it was a fantastic experience and one of the best for the price!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Dunn’s River Falls Climb plus Ziplines, ATV, Horse Ride & Swim from Montego Bay
-
- Duration: 6 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 9:00 AM
- Includes: All Admission Fees (Horseback Ride, Zipline, ATV and Dunn’s River Falls Climb), Well-appointed air-conditioned vehicles, English Speaking Driver/Guide
This full-fledged Jamaican adventure is perfect if you’re short on time or it’s your first time on the island and really want to get the maximum experience!
The Dunn’s River Falls Climb plus Ziplines, ATV, Horse Ride & Swim from Montego Bay tour not only shows you some of the most beautiful natural attractions but lets you partake in them! It’s definitely one for those who love an adrenaline rush, or need something a bit more high-energy than a cookie-cutter tour.
It starts off with the guide picking us up from our hotel, and I loved the fact that the vehicle transport was air-conditioned and spacious so we were all nice and comfortable.
The driver is also the guide, who told us all about the history of Jamaica and other interesting facts as we cruised on. I’m not sure if every tour follows the same itinerary, but our first stop of the day was Dunns River Falls, which was truly breathtaking!
After that, we had fun at the beach where we had the opportunity to ride horses calmly along the shores and even in the beautiful blue waters!
Expand To See More
They gave us the option to take a swim in the ocean, but the waterfall climb was probably the part where we all got the most wet so you’ll dry off throughout the day.
The ATV ride helped with that, though it’s important to remember to bring your driver’s license if you want to drive one! The entire staff throughout the tour was so helpful and nice, which only enhanced the day from the very get-go.
I find it’s one of the best tours to take, whether you’re going by yourself, with a friend group, or with the entire family! It’s a lot of fun, a lot of sightseeing natural locations, as well as a lot of learning about Jamaican culture and history!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Jamaica Tour Guide
Let me go ahead and give you some valuable tips and secrets I’ve learned from years of traveling to Jamaica!
Getting There
Air – Getting to Jamaica is quite easy, and seems to be becoming only more convenient as time passes. By air, you have Norman Manley International Airport near Kingston, Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, and their newest Ian Fleming International Airport close to Ocho Rios resort area which is ideal for smaller planes.
Just about every time I’ve arrived in Jamaica, I’ve come through Sangster. However, I’ve noticed that regardless of the airport, each one has plenty of top Jamaican attractions just minutes away.
Sea – By sea is one of the most amazing ways to travel to Jamaica, as the ports upon arrival are quite simply welcoming and just feels “authentic” if that makes sense. Montego Bay, Ocho Rios Falmouth, and Port Royal are the bigger cruise ship ports. Port Antonio is breathtaking and will be the port you arrive to if on a smaller cruise ship.
Getting Around
Public Transportation – Jamaica has a fantastic public transportation system that consists of both buses and mini busses! They connect pretty much every village and town and they’re super affordable (around 150-170 JMD). The public buses will have a public passenger vehicle plate while tourist buses will have a Jamaica Union of Travelers Association (JUTA) sticker.
Taxi – Taxis start at 225 JMD and charge 725 JMD per kilometer, which can add up fast.
Scooter – I noticed that scooters and motos have grown a ton in popularity in recent years! They vary widely in cost – around 4,500 to 9,200 JMD per day.
Bike – Bikes honestly aren’t ideal, if I’m honest. I’d almost suggest against it, as it’s not exactly the safest due to the roads and the drivers.
Car Rental – Car rentals can definitely be worth it, as they are around 4,500 to 6,000 JMD per day if you’re going to rent for multiple days. Just know that you’ll have to be at least 21 years old and have an International Driving Permit to do so.
Where to Stay
White Sands Negril – This is the epitome of relaxation, with direct access to the amazing 7 Mile Beach! Excellent ocean views, delicious meals, beautiful decor, and access to resort facilities and amenities make it a very “easy” stay.
Jakes St. Elizabeth – This is a very “authentic” atmosphere with the Pelican bar right here, along with plenty of opportunity to take art and cooking classes, go out fishing, and much more.
GoldenEye – As the place where Ian Fleming though up many of the James Bond novels, you can imagine it’s quite something else. Fantastic villas and cottages, tranquil setting, and direct beach access makes it a top luxury pick.
Hermosa Cove – This one is perfect for families, with just 9 carefully designed villas that all include kitchens and private pools. Do yourself a favor and try their amazing seafood restaurant, too!
Secrets St. James Montego Bay – This posh seafront resort comes with plenty of ocean views, 9 restaurants, various pools, and amazing service.
Restaurants and Eating Out
Ivan’s Bar & Restaurant, Negril – Located at Catcha Falling Star Resort, it’s known for its romantic, candlelit dining right near the edge of the cliff for incredible views over the ocean. Expect classic Caribbean cuisine with a kind of modern twist, like jerk chicken! The reggae music and fantastic service is top-notch, too. Hot tip: get the crabcakes.
Rockhouse, Negril – Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, there’s always something delicious to munch on at Rockhouse. The smoked marlin sandwich is something I crave all the time, and I love their fresh juices and wide array of creative cocktails made with fresh, local ingredients.
Sugar Mill, Montego Bay – This is one of the best dinners I’ve ever had, and I highly recommend the snapper poached in coconut ad saffron! The location itself is beautiful – as it’s literally inside an old sugar mill!
Scotchie’s, Montego Bay – This place is perfect for a relaxed, casual meal (or if you’re super hungry and can’t wait!). The quick and friendly service is unbeatable, and their jerk pork wraps are so tasty! It’s a great place to grab a beer and just relax with some good food.
The Houseboat Grill, Montego Bay – This eatery is simply legendary, with everyone from The Grateful Dead to the Beach Boys to Aretha Franklin having performed here. It’s literally located on a Houseboat, but most of the time you forget as it doesn’t move that much, typically. Snapper fillet, lobster, and lemon caper pasta are some of their most popular dishes.
Nightlife and Entertainment
Jamaica has some of the best nightlife I’ve experienced, with friendly people and fantastic service. Rick’s Cafe is actually a fantastic place to go at night, but I mentioned it below already, so let’s cover some other places.
Pier One – Believe it or not, this is not the home goods store that was so popular in the 90s and 2000s. Rather, this is an open-air restaurant/bar/club that is always filled with locals and tourists. The waterfront restaurant has some of the best views in the country, and the Jamaican-style lobsters and rum cocktails are incredible.
The Jungle – Located in Negril, the Jungle just sounds cool, doesn’t it? I’d been recommended this place by a friend and it did not disappoint. It’s not so much a tourist hotspot, but rather a place I notice that locals tend to go to more. With reggaeton blasting through the Soundsystem, multiple bars, and delicious food upstairs, you have all you need for a great night out.
Kingston Dub Club, Kingston – Only open on Saturdays, this is a glimpse of the authentic Jamaican music scene. There are tons of local and international reggae artists that come to perform here, and it’s located on a hill with amazing views of the city.
Margaritaville, Montego Bay – Who can forget a trip to the notorious Margaritaville when in Jamaica?! It has beautiful views of the Caribbean, incredible jerk dishes, and obviously amazing margaritas. Oh, and the dancehall music only adds to the fun atmosphere.
Usain Bolt’s Tracks & Records – Located in Kingston and Montego Bay, these places are so cool! Depending on when you go, you may even get to see the new location in Ocho Rios opening up. Great food, fantastic drinks with VIP booths, massive TVs, and live music, there’s something for everyone here.
Weather
Attractions
Rick’s Cafe – Rick’s Cafe is found on one of the tours on this guide, and it should absolutely be a stop you make on your trip to Jamaica. Founded in the 70s by Richard Hershman, it’s now known as one of the top 10 bars on the planet. With breathtaking ocean views, iconic cliff jumper watching, and amazing cocktails, it’s no wonder why!
Dunn’s River Falls – These are some of the most beautiful falls I’ve had the pleasure of seeing, cascading over 600 feet above the ground! On one of the tours mentioned, we were even able to hike up them which offers undoubtedly the best views. We also went ziplining here, which was incredible! You not only get the best views of the falls, but get to see the rainforest and plenty of native animals!
Rum Distilleries – Rum is one of the country’s largest exports, and Appleton Estate is located right there in St. Elizabeth! They’ve been producing delicious rum since the 1700s and taking a tour lets you learn how its produced. Plus, you get to try plenty of samples, and who doesn’t love free rum?!
Beaches – If you’re going to Jamaica, I’m willing to bet a big reason why you were attracted to the country is its beautiful, powdery beaches. I love Doctor’s Cave Beach, with its white sand, clear blue waters, and plenty of good vibes. However, Cornwall Beach and Seven Mile Beach are another couple of my favorites which are a bit more secluded.
Tips
1. Avoid Spring Break – I don’t know how to express this enough. If you want to have the best time and save the most money, avoid going in March or April, which is when the US has spring break. It’s going to be significantly more expensive, from flights and hotels to food and tours. Not to mention, everything will be packed full of tourists.
2. Pay in Jamaican Dollars – This is another way to really save some money! The exchange rate is significantly better.
3. Buy Souvenirs at Supermarkets – Getting souvenirs at souvenir shops or tourist areas costs so much more! There are plenty of cool things to buy locally, right at a supermarket. I brought some bags of coffee for my loved ones (and let’s be honest: myself, too), as well as some local hot sauces I really thought were cool.
4. You can travel during hurricane season – It may sound scary, but it’s often going to be the cheapest time to go. Hurricane season oftentimes is actually quite temperate and pleasant.
Sites Seen
Tour Guides
Value
The Rasta Cultural ATV safari from Montego Bay is our Editors Choice for the best Jamaica ATV tour