If you’re in the Ochos Rios area on a vacation or a cruise ship stop, and if you’re a Bob Marley or reggae music fan, this is a MUST-SEE tour. This tour takes you to Nine Miles, Bob Marley’s place of birth and burial.
The bus tour begins at the Island Village shopping plaza near the cruise ship dock–you can’t miss the Rasta- colored Zion bus. Once aboard, you have your choice of water or rum punch to drink. Once your journey begins, a knowledgeable tour guide will give you lots of information and history about Bob Marley, his music, and the Rastafarian lifestyle. The bus (very bumpy ride) winds its way up in the mountains of the St. Ann parish and the farther up you go, the narrower the road becomes. At one point only one vehicle can pass at a time, and the ride got a little scary for us–but no problem! Our driver’s experience showed, and he safely navigated us to the entrance of Nine Miles. The bus stops along the way so you can take pictures of the breathtaking scenery.
When you get to Nine Miles you will be able to walk around the property, see the mausoleum where Bob Marley is buried along with his brother, the house where he grew up, and see the famous “single bed” that he wrote a song about. There is also a multi-colored meditation rock that Marley used to sit on to write songs. Lots of wonderful picture-taking opportunities and of course a gift shop. There is a lot of walking and climbing of stairs so this isn’t really a tour for those with mobility limitations. A unique aspect of this property is that it is the only location in Jamaica where it is legal to purchase and smoke marijuana.
On the way back, the bus stops at a local Jerk place for a traditional Jamaican lunch – delicious! All in all, the trip takes about 5 ½ hours. It is well worth the price and we highly recommend this tour, whether you’re a Marley fan or not, because it does take you out of the city so you can see the beautiful Blue mountains and greenery of Jamaica.
For more information and pricing of this tour and others from the Ocho Rios area click here!
