Jamaica Archives | Rum Therapy

May 16, 2021June 24, 2021

Jamaican Jerk Chicken

If you’ve ever spent time in Jamaica, you’ve probably heard of jerk, a method of seasoning and cooking meats, such as chicken, pork, fish, beef or goat. We had our first jerk at Scotchies, in Jamaica, a restaurant well known for their delicious jerk meats. Grab a Red Stripe and watch them barbecue the delicious specials in traditional style over pimento wood.

Unfortunately, we can’t get back to Jamaica as frequently as we’d like, so we recently looked up recipes for jerk chicken. The only ingredient we had difficulty finding was a Scotch Bonnet Pepper. Habaneros can be used alternately as they have a similar heat rating, but for the most authentic Jamaican jerk taste, use Scotch Bonnet Peppers if you can find them!

As we didn’t have pimento wood or a charcoal grill to barbecue the seasoned chicken, we opted for a gas grill and the chicken turned out well. Hmmm, maybe we’ll try smoking them next time!

If you’re dying to enjoy a jerk meal and can’t get to Jamaica for the real deal, give this recipe a try. Or – if you’re really short on time, you can purchase Walkerswood Traditional Jamaican Jerk Seasoning!

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Print Recipe

Jamaican Jerk Chicken

Ingredients

3 pds Chicken (quartered, bone in, skin on)

Jerk Seasoning

2 Limes (juiced)
1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
2 tbsp Soy Sauce
2 Shallots (peeled and cut in half)
8 Scallions (use entire scallion after removing the roots)
1/2 c Vegetable Oil
4 Scotch Bonnet Chili Peppers (use Habanero if you can't find Scotch Bonnet)
2 inch piece Fresh Ginger (peeled and finely chopped)
1/4 c Fresh Thyme Leaves
6 Garlic Cloves
1 tbsp Black Pepper
1 tbsp Salt
2 tbsp Ground Allspice
2 tbsp Dark Brown Sugar

Instructions

Combine all seasoning ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend into a paste.
Pat dry chicken pieces then spread the paste all over the chicken. Cover the seasoned chicken, or place in a plastic bag and refrigerate for at least 12 hours or overnight.
Before grilling, bring chicken to room temperature.
Allow the grill to heat up to 300 degrees, then place chicken on the grill.
Cook chicken for 35-45 minutes (depending on the size of the pieces – even longer for large pieces), turning every 10 minutes or so. Chicken will become nicely browned and juices will be clear. Take off the grill and serve with a side such as rice and peas.

And for more delicious rum recipes, visit our Rum Recipe Directory

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Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

November 15, 2015June 6, 2019

Sunday Serenity: Seven Mile Sunset

A perfect sunset can leave a permanent impression on your soul…Rum Therapy

Sunsets over the sea can be stunning and we’ve had the chance to witness a few during our travels, but one area that seems to have more than its fair share of sunset stunners is Seven Mile Beach, Jamaica.

During our stay on Seven Mile Beach, we were treated to a colorful variation of a sunset like this almost every night depending on the clouds and weather. Seven Mile Beach sunsets definitely made an impression on us.

Have you witnessed a sunset that left a permanent impression on you? Tell us about it!

To see more posts on Jamaica and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

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Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

January 21, 2015November 7, 2020

Bob Marley Rum Drink

We sampled our first Bob Marley Drink – a shooter which was actually lit on fire before we drank it (don’t try this at home!!) during the Bob Marley Nine Mile Tour. We enjoyed several others as a frozen drink during our Jamaican get-a-way and have included a link to a recipe for that version too. Cheers!

Print Recipe

The Bob Marley Shooter

Adapted from our our visit to the Bob Marley Nine Tour.

Course: Drinks

Servings:

Ingredients

1 oz. Creme de Menthe
1/2 oz. Banana Liqueur
1/2 oz. Overproof Rum (we used Wray & Nephew, a Jamaican rum)
1 oz. Grenadine

Instructions

Pour the grenadine into a shooter glass.
Layer the rum and banana liqueur by carefully pouring it over the grenadine over the back of a spoon.
Followed that with a layer of Crème de Menthe.

The Bob Marley Frozen Drink
Find the recipe from Secrets Montego Bay on their blog

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

June 16, 2014August 4, 2021

10 Things You Really Should Experience While in Jamaica

One of the largest islands in the Caribbean, Jamaica has something to offer just about everyone. From its beautiful beaches to its lush green mountains, travelers to Jamaica can find a variety of things to see and do. Although experiencing all of Jamaica could take quite a long time, if you’re only there for a short vacation, there are a few things that you just shouldn’t miss and in our opinion, these are a few of them.

Eats:
Jamaica has a wide variety of cuisine choices from traditional Jamaican fare to modern plates, but there are a few dishes we think you should search for:

copyright Rum Therapy — Steamed Snapper and Shrimp

1. Fresh fish and seafood
From Red Snapper, Lobster, Shrimp, Conch, Eel, and Squid to Shark you can find savory choices that are grilled, steamed, roasted or prepared ala escovitch. The savory tastes are something you won’t soon forget. One of the places best known in Jamaica for seafood is Little Ochie, located on the islands south coast.

2. Jerk
A style of cooking native to Jamaica. Traditionally, jerk seasoning (a mixture of Scotch Bonnet peppers and allspice and can also include other spices such as nutmeg, thyme, garlic, cloves or cinnamon) is dry-rubbed or marinated on chicken and pork. Today you can also find the seasoning used on dishes such as fish , beef and lamb. You can find jerk seasoned dishes in most restaurants in Jamaica, and Scotchies with 3 locations in Jamaica is known as a good place to try some authentic jerk. Try this recipe for Jamaican Jerk Chicken!

3. Fruit
Jamaica is a beautiful and fertile island and in addition to some of the better known tropical fruits such as banana, papaya, mango and pomegranate, the island bountifully grows such interesting fruits as ackee (the national fruit of Jamaica and can be poisonous until it ripens), breadfruit, sorrel, soursop, stinking toe, naseberry, jackfruit, hog plum and mammy.

Fresh fruit stands and local vendors can be found selling their freshly picked goods and will even tell you how to prepare the fruits or look for many of them in local restaurants.

Another Jamaican staple that we enjoyed during our visit was Jamaican Jerk Patties. Try this recipe for Jamaican Beef Patties!

Drinks:
You’ve got to have something to wash all of that wonderful Jamaican food down with and here are a few very good choices.

4. Rum
Rum. Yum. Home of some of the best rums in the Caribbean, be sure to sample any of the local rums – some of which can stand on their own (Appleton Reserve, 12 and 21 Year) and others that are best in a mixed cocktail (Wray and Nephew Overproof). If you’re a fan of rum cream, be sure to enjoy some Sangster’s Jamaican Rum Cream. Heck, you might want to bring home a bottle too.

Try this recipe for an Authentic Rum Punch!

And – if you’re a real fan of Appleton Estate Rums, or rum in general, you might want to consider a tour of the Appleton Rum Factory. The estate is not easy to get to, but you get to see the beautiful Jamaican countryside on the way along with fields and fields of sugarcane – and you get to sample many of the rums in the Appleton Estate Family.

5. Blue Mountain Coffee
Grown at 5,500 feet about sea level in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica, the coffee beans grown for Blue Mountain Coffee are nurtured by a constant mist and nutrient dense soil. The coffee is rich and smooth and is served in many Jamaican establishments, including resorts and hotels. You can also buy beans in local shops to take home.

6. Seven Mile Beach
Jamaica is a large island and known for beautiful beaches. If you only have the time to see one beach while in Jamaica, you should consider Seven Mile Beach in Negril. Yes, Seven Mile Beach is dotted with hotels, bars, restaurants and sometimes has a good amount of beach “vendors” who try to sell you everything from jewelry to fruits (and other crops), to services such as parasailing, but most times a polite “no thank you” will do if you are not interested.

Seven Mile Beach is, however, nearly seven miles of soft, white sand with crystal clear, calm water that can enjoyed while walking, wading, swimming, floating, paddleboarding, and kayaking. Seven miles of beautiful.

7. Live Music
Most of us are well aware of the reggae roots in Jamaica, but Jamaicans have been a powerful source of other types of World Music as well. Although many of the resorts offer live music events and some restaurants and bars as well such as Alfred’s in Negril, be sure to watch for any festivals and street dances that may give you the opportunity to experience live roots, jazz, blues, dub, folk, and more.

8. Waterfalls
With lots of moisture and mountains, you’re bound to get some waterfalls and Jamaica has several great ones to explore. Dunn’s River Falls, close to Ocho Rios, is the most popular waterfall in Jamaica and can get quite busy with cruise shop excursions – so, if you have the time, you might want to wander a little further to YS Falls or Mayfield Falls to experience the beauty without the crowds.

9. Bars
You’ve heard of some of Rick’s Cafe and Floyd’s Pelican Bar and the Margaritaville’s in Negril, Ocho and Mo Bay, but don’t overlook some of the great local and not so famous bars in Jamaica that are great places to mingle with the locals as well and other tourists and perhaps get a taste of the real Jamaica. Find them on many of the beaches or in some of the smaller towns you may pass through.

10. All-Inclusive Resorts
Some people absolutely love the all-inclusive vacation concept and if you’re one of them, Jamaica is one of the islands that excel in All-Inclusive Resort offerings such as Jewel Runaway Bay. From opulent to budget minded, there are resorts geared to make your vacation as stress free as possible by including food, beverages and watersports in your accommodation packages.

Enjoy your Jamaican Vacation!

To see more posts on Jamaica and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

June 6, 2014May 17, 2021

Scotchies, Jamaica

If you want to try authentic jerk cuisine while vacationing in Jamaica, you should consider a visit to Scotchies. Scotchies has three locations in Jamaica, the original restaurant is just outside Montego Bay and the others can be found outside of Ocho Rios and Kingston.

We visited the Scotchies close to Ocho Rios during a stay in Runaway Bay.

The aroma hit us as soon as we got out of the car. Smoky, barbecue deliciousness…mmm…could hardly wait.

Jerk chicken, pork and fish are barbecued in the traditional style over pimento wood.

Awww – shoot! Just missed the Pork Rum Ribs.

We ordered 1/4 lb of chicken and 1/4 lb of pork. There were also some delicious sides such as rice & beans, festival (a delightful slightly sweet cake or roll that is said to be a perfect accompaniment to spicy jerk dishes), and roasted breadfruit. Foregoing the sides for a Red Stripe (we were only 3 days into our all-inclusive stay at Jewel Runaway Bay and already had minimal room for a full meal!), we sat down at the bar to enjoy our foil wrapped and succulent jerk.

Plenty of room to sit outside and dine as well.

Beautiful grounds and great food. We especially dug the jerk pork. So good. Next time we’ll leave room for the sides too – hmmm. Or maybe just more meat…

To see more posts on Jamaica and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC.
All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

March 18, 2014March 18, 2014

Beaches Negril Resort & Spa, Jamaica

We are lucky enough to have spent many great years traveling with our two fun and adventurous kids, but now they’re grown and we travel as a couple – or with friends, most of whom have grown children of their own. So how did we end up at Beaches Negril Resort & Spa, chosen as the #1 Hotel for Families in the Caribbean for 2013?

Well, due to unforeseen circumstances during a trip last fall to Jamaica, we did – and loved it!

One of 2 pools at Beaches

We were a little skeptical at first, thinking it would not be a relaxing 5 days, listening to screaming kids and sitting amidst a Disney type of environment, but we didn’t find that to be the case at all. Perhaps because Beaches Negril sits on a lushly landscaped 20 acres right on Seven Mile Beach, it seemed as if there was room for kids to be kids and for adults to relax and enjoy the sunshine and scenery.

What did we enjoy about our stay at Beaches? We’ll show you!

Welcome rum punch (made with Appleton of course!) while checking in

Open air lobby

Waiting area just off of lobby

Well -appointed, comfortable room with mini bar, coffeemaker and deck

All-inclusive! Choose from a variety of delicious offerings at 7 specialty restaurants

Cafe de Paris offered specialty coffees and fresh pastries, desserts and ice cream

Plenty of room and not very crowded

Friendly bartenders at 6 bars (2 swim up bars)

Lounge chairs and lounge beds on the beach for total relaxation

Right on beautiful Seven-Mile Beach

Use of a variety of water toys

Rum with a view

And the thing we liked most about our time there…

Seeing families enjoy spending time together while enjoying the beautiful Caribbean.

Although we were traveling without kids, we enjoyed our stay at Beaches Negril Resort & Spa. Looking for an adult-only resort? Beaches Resorts are the family friendly properties of Sandals Resorts. Sandals Negril Beach Resort and Spa is also located on beautiful Seven-Mile Beach and offers an all-inclusive adult only experience.

Find Beaches Negril Resort & Spa on our Jamaica Map

To see more posts on Jamaica and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy Beaches, Bars & More, Tropical Travel Guide, 2014
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

March 11, 2014December 18, 2019

Which Island Should I Choose for My Vacation?

We love to talk tropical travel and we love that you ask our opinion! But, the hardest question for us to answer is actually the one we get asked the most, “Which Island Should I Choose For My Vacation?”

Why is that a tough question? Although we’ve yet to meet an island we don’t like for some reason or another, everyone has such different vacation tastes. Some want the best beaches, others want shopping or luxurious accommodations or absolute solitude. The best fishing, snorkeling, rum, diving, sailing, hiking, historical sites, foliage….the list goes on and on. We’ve been trying to come up with a method to help people select destinations based on different criteria, but decided the best thing to do is what we already do – show you the islands through our photos and let you know what we’ve enjoyed – then you can see what areas you might be interested in visiting!

Below we’ve listed many of the islands we’ve recently been to and just a few key words of what we’ve really enjoyed about that island. Some are links to articles we’ve written on that destination with additional pictures. There are many additional GREAT things about each of these islands, but here are a few tips to start with.

Ready for a little tropiciation? Let’s go to the islands!

Some of the attractions/hotels/features on islands affected by Hurricanes Irma and Marie in the Fall of 2017 may have changed from when we initially wrote about them. If you have questions on their current condition, please contact us.

Shoal Bay, Anguilla

Anguilla
(see map)
Stunning, white sand beaches, Shoal Bay, Rendezvous Bay, Dune Preserve, excellent dining, great beach bars (see several in Sandy Ground), Gwen’s Reggae Grill, live music, luxurious accommodations, easy to explore on your own

Antigua
Many (365 they say!) gorgeous beaches, Half Moon Bay, Dickenson Bay, Shirley Heights, Antiguan Smile Rum Drink, English Harbour Rum

Bahamas
Find a place to get “off the grid” in one of many out islands, beautiful white and pink sand beaches, bonefishing and other fishing, snorkeling, peace and quiet, conch, variety of accommodations, swimming with the pigs, swimming with nurse sharks

Champer’s Restaurant

Barbados
Excellent dining, Superb beaches, Crane Beach, Mount Gay & other Rum Factory Tours

White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands

British Virgin Islands
(for individual maps of the British Virgin Islands, use the drop-down on the Island Map feature on our home page)

Fantastic sailing destination, secluded and beautiful beaches, Anegada Lobster Dinner on the beach, fantastic beach bars, Jost Van Dyke, White Bay, Willy T, Virgin Gorda, The Baths, Smuggler’s Cove, roti, easy to explore on your own, Sandy Spit, sunsets, Painkillers, Bubbly Pool, snorkeling, floating, Cane Garden Bay, full moon parties, crystal clear water, driving on Tortola, North Sound Virgin Gorda

Corales Golf Course

Dominican Republic
(see map)
Excellent golf, reasonably priced all-inclusive resorts, Mamajuana, Coco Loco, long stretches of pretty beaches,
The 3 B’s – Bermudez, Brugal and Barcelo Rums

Jewel Runaway Bay Resort

Jamaica
(see map)
All-Inclusive Resorts, Jerk Seasoning, 7 mile Beach, Floyd’s Pelican Bar, Blue Mountain Coffee, Waterfalls, Appleton Rum and Rum Factory Tour, Bob Marley Nine Mile Tour, Jamaican Smile, red snapper, Dirty Banana

Gustavia Harbour

St. Barthelemy
(see map)
Great place to yacht watch, high end shopping, excellent dining, beautiful beaches, homemade vanilla infused rhums, overlook of Gustavia Harbour, watching planes land on the very short runway!

Orient Beach, St. Martin

St. Maarten/St. Martin
(see map)
Gorgeous beaches on both the Dutch and French sides, clothing optional on some French side beaches, nightlife, great beach bars, watch planes land over your head at Sunset Beach Bar, Karakter Beach Bar, Marigot Market, Sarafina’s Bakery, street festivals in Grand Case, duty free shopping, we found it easy to explore on our own, wide range of accommodations, excellent dining options – especially in Grand Case, busy cruise ship stop – but because of that, there are many activities to choose from

Saltwhistle Bay, Mayreau

St. Vincent and the Grenadines
(see map)
Excellent sailing destination, beautiful remote islands, gorgeous quiet beaches, filming location for some parts of the Pirates of the Caribbean, Sunset Very Strong Rum, Tobago Cays, excellent snorkeling, turtles, clear turquoise blue water, Happy Island, Mopion, a few exquisite resorts, not busy, Petit Tabac

Pumpkin Bluff Beach, North Caicos

Turks and Caicos
(see map)
Spectacular white sand beaches, quiet and remote, great snorkeling, variety of accommodations, long beach walks, conch shells, sand dollars, cave exploring, Bambarra Rum, da Conch Shack, bonefishing, conch stew, fried conch, exploring secluded cays

Hawksnest-1-(600) Hawksnest Bay, St. John

US Virgin Islands
No passport needed for US citizens going to St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas – each island has it’s own personality and they’re easy to explore on your own

St. Croix (see map)
Buck Island, Cruzan Rum Factory Tour, Cruzan Rum,
Sandy Point Beach and Wildlife Preserve, Cruzan Confusion, Mt. Pellier Domino Club, seaplane from St. Croix to St. Thomas

St. John (see map)
Every beach on St. John, cheeseburgers at Skinny Legs, hiking, snorkeling, exploring the shops, restaurants and bars in Cruz Bay

St. Thomas (see map)
Megans Bay, the view and banana daiquiris at Mountain Top, Paradise Point Skyride, Bushwackers at the top, Duffy’s Love Shack, Lindquist Beach at Smith Bay, variety of accommodations, Bones Rum

Banana-Daiquiri.-Ojpg View of Magens Bay (and a Banana Daiquiri) at Mountaintop, St. Thomas

So – any ideas on where YOU would like to go next?

For even more island posts, be sure to check out our Blog Directory by Island!

January 27, 2014June 24, 2021

Appleton Rum Factory Tour, Jamaica

Deep within the beautiful Jamaican countryside lies Appleton Estate, home of the family of wonderful Appleton rums. During our recent trip to Jamaica, we made the long trip from Negril through the lush fields of Nassau Valley, to take a tour and learn more about Appleton rums.

During the drive to Appleton, we passed by fields and fields of sugarcane, as well as mangoes, bananas, breadfruit and peanuts.

The estate itself sits on a beautiful site in lush Nassau Valley, close to the Black River.

We arrived at Appleton, were greeted by the friendly staff, paid our tour fee ($25 per person) and ushered into the bar, where we were offered a rum punch.

While sipping the tasty punch, we watched a brief video on the history of Appleton Estate and it’s rum.

Our tour guide then led us outside then to the estate grounds, where we were shown how donkeys were used to help squeeze the sugar cane and many other historical artifacts that have now been replaced with modern technology and processes.

We climbed the lookout tower to get a great view of the surrounding estate, countryside and limestone hills that protect the estate.

The tour moved on to the area where the distilling and aging take place.

Photography was not permitted in the actual distilling area, but we were able to snap some pictures in the aging area, where the rum is aged and rests for for many years in oak barrels.

After learning about the different distillation processes and examining the aging areas, we had the chance to press our own sugarcane and sample “wet sugar” (molasses) out of a copper pot.

A few more pictures of the grounds and we headed in to the best part (in our opinion) of the tour – the rum tasting.

We were given the opportunity, and encouraged, to try all of the rums that are somehow connected in the Appleton Rum Family including Wray & Nephew Overproof and Rum Cream, Coruba, Jamaican Blue Mountain Mist Coffee Liqueur and several Appleton Rums such as V/X and Genesis (white).

Unfortunately, the wonderful aged rums, Appleton Estate, Appleton 30 and Appleton 50 were not available for sampling. We though about bringing some of the Appleton 50 home and probably would have it we had more room in our suitcase… ;)

Is the Appleton Rum Factory Tour right for you? The cost of the tour is $25.00 per person (which includes a small complimentary bottle of rum to take with you). We paired the Rum Factory Tour with YS Falls and Floyd’s Pelican Bar, which made it an affordable experience for us. The cost of getting to Appleton can be high from Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril, but if you enjoy rum and would like to learn more about a premium rum manufacturer, the estate it’s produced on and have the opportunity to sample different rums in their portfolio, you will probably really enjoy this tour. We did.

Find Appleton Rum Estate on our Jamaica Map

To see more posts on Jamaica and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

January 11, 2014May 29, 2019

Floyd’s Pelican Bar, Jamaica

Floyd’s Pelican Bar was at the top of our must see list during our recent trip to Jamaica and we’re SO glad that we got to experience it.

This seriously cool bar sits on wooden stilts about 3/4’s of a mile from shore in Parottee Bay on the SW side of Jamaica. Built by local fisherman Floyd Forbes who apparently dreamed of building a bar out to sea on stilts – his dream bar first opened in 2001. Floyd named his bar “Pelican Bar” because of the many pelicans that hang out on the reef around the bar.

Our trip to Floyd’s was part of a great day of touring that we set up with Carlton of Turner Taxis and Tours. It was our last stop of the day after playing at YS Falls and touring the Appleton Rum Factory.

Carlton brought us down to Basil’s Bar in Parottee where we caught a ride on a fishing boat to Floyd’s. From here you can just barely see Floyd’s in the distance.

Our ride to Floyd’s

The ride from Basil’s took about 15 minutes and the water was calm and beautiful. The fee was $15 roundtrip per person.

Pulling up to Floyd’s we were amazed at the construction. It truly was built from planks of wood and stilts placed in the shallow water and it looked as if it would blow over in a rainstorm, but it was just one of the most interesting places you’d ever imagine seeing – especially that far out to sea.

Our boat dropped us off at the front steps and told us they’d be back to pick us up later…

What’s so special about Floyd’s Pelican Bar? We’ll try to show you through pics. Floyd’s is not large, but it seems every square inch has something interesting or unusual to check out. People from all over the world have left their mark or a memento during their visit.

The Pelican Bar was destroyed in 2004 by Hurricane Ivan and although Floyd didn’t carry insurance to re-build, other area businesses helped out with donations of wood and labor.

Out of the back of the main bar, Floyd has added an addition – a sun deck of sorts. Great place to enjoy a cold Red Stripe or some rum, and chat with the locals and others that have made their way to the Pelican Bar.

The water around Floyd’s is only a few feet deep and a great place to float, snorkel or ease your way in after enjoying a few beers (there’s no restroom at Floyd’s!) If it’s too busy to find a seat inside or on the sun deck, you can just lounge in the water with your beverages!

Apparently the lobster and fresh fish dinner’s are very tasty and if you’d like to dine while there, ask your driver to call ahead.

Be sure to bring a memento such as a t-shirt, flag, cap, etc. to leave marking your visit, or ask Floyd if he can help you find a place to carve your names and the date visited. We left a Rum Bum Cap and also gave Floyd a Rum Therapy decal. He promptly stuck it to a wooden plaque behind the bar, shook our hands and said “respect”.

The Rum Therapy Decal proudly sits behind the bar!

We grabbed another Red Stripe and sat down on the “front porch” to take in the surroundings before our boat arrived to take us back.

As we got in the boat and looked back at The Pelican Bar, we turned to each other and said, “That was just cool”. Don’t know what it is. The vibe, the attitude or the fact that someone had a dream to build a bar out to sea and saw it through. Yep, it certainly was cool. Thanks Floyd.

To see more posts on Jamaica and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC. All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

January 3, 2014June 6, 2019

Bob Marley Nine Mile Tour, Jamaica

“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.”
Bob Marley

If you’re in Jamaica and you’re a big fan of Bob Marley, you might find it well worth the long, rather expensive trek to Nine Mile, Jamaica to visit the birthplace and resting place of the legendary reggae musician.

While staying in Runaway Bay during our recent Jamaica trip, we hired a driver to take us to Scotchies to sample what we heard was some of the best jerk on the island. While driving to Scotchies, our driver Rodney asked if we were going to make the trek up to Nine Mile. He proceeded to tell us about the tour and then said for an extra $100, he’d take us up himself.

We’d already looked into taking a tour through our hotel or renting a car and driving up ourselves, and honestly, $100 seemed like a pretty good deal for a private ride there and back so we agreed. It turned out to be a great decision.

From Scotchies (close to Ocho Rios) it was a little more than an hour and a half drive to Nine Mile. The drive was scenic, passing through several small towns and incredibly lush Jamaican mountainside – a stark contrast from the busy tourist areas and a part of Jamaica that many people don’t get the chance to see.

Rodney was a good tour guide – full of information about his country, and stopped whenever we wanted to take a picture or just check out the view. We were so glad we didn’t rent a car and try to find Nine Mile on our own. There weren’t many signs and the roads were quite windy and bumpy.

Shortly after arriving in the town of Nine Mile, we pulled up to two massive gates which opened up to let us in and then quickly shut behind us.

From the parking lot, we walked up to the gift shop to pay our entrance fee (about $19 pp) and made our way up to meet our tour guide.

Before the tour, we were given the opportunity to enjoy some food or a beverage in the bar and we opted for a specialty Bob Marley shot (we got to keep the shot glasses). Our bartender masterfully layered our glasses with red, yellow and green and then lit them on fire!

We were instructed to stick a straw in the glass and suck it right down, which we did, and thankfully the flame extinguished itself before ingested!

Shortly thereafter, we met our tour guide who led us and two others to our first stop – a room containing many of Bob’s awards, including gold and platinum albums, paintings of Bob and a piano he used to play.

From there, we moved to a stage where we enjoyed some music from local musicians.

And then through another gate and up to the house where Bob Marley lived…

It’s requested that shoes are removed prior to entering the house and mausoleum.

Entrance to Bob’s childhood home

The room mentioned in Bob’s song “Is This Love”

We’ll be together, with a roof right over our heads,
We’ll share the shelter, of my single bed.

Mt. Zion Rock or Pillow Rock – a place Bob would sit to read his Bible and get inspiration for his songs. Pillow Rock is mentioned in his song “Talkin’ Blues”.

Cold ground was my bed last night
And rock was my pillow, too.

Bob was laid to rest inside one of the mausoleums on property along with his guitar. At the request of his mother, his half-brother was laid to rest with Bob.

All in all, we spent about $172 to drive to Nine Mile and take the tour – which is less than we would have spent on a larger tour. ($100 taxi, $36 entry fee, $26 for two specialty shots, $5 tip for musicians, $5 tip for tour guide)

Although the Nine Mile experience is a bit expensive, we felt the opportunity to see the places that influenced the reggae legend and learn more about the man who stood for peace, respect and freedom was… priceless.

Find the Bob Marley Mausoleum on our Jamaica Map

To see more posts on Jamaica and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory