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Rastafari Indigenous Village
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Rastafari Indigenous Village

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Rastafari Indigenous Village
4.5
About
From the moment we meet you at Montego Bay Gardens, you'll know this is a special place. A space we have created to connect you to Rastafari, to make universal human connections, and to preserve and protect our Rasta culture of humanity. As we trud (journey) together across the River and through the bamboo glade, you become attuned to the energy of water, air, living things. Savor coconut water served in a calabash bowl when you arrive at Rasta Village. After learning about Rasta philosophy and liberty in the Big Hut, you're invited to meet and talk with community members in their different cottage enterprises and see their hand-make drums, soaps, jewelry and art. First Man nurtures the organic permaculture medicinal herb farm. Our time together ends, for today, with an interactive spiritual drumming session with community members. You depart enriched, renewed, and engaged with life.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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49 within 3 miles
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
117 reviews
Excellent
95
Very good
17
Average
1
Poor
3
Terrible
1
debbie-ann C
Kingston Parish, Jamaica16 contributions
Blessed Experience 🙏🏾
Jul 2023 • Friends
Words cannot express my experience at RIV. It was outstanding. This tucked away community embodies One Love. The community is passionate about Rasta culture and philosophy including harmony with nature. Everything was a blessing for me: purchasing a drum from King Totto, exposure to Tebah's kindness and dance and drum skills and eating Cardolisa's food (absolutely amazing ital food! Wow! Cardo, please bring your Ital restaurant to Kingston! I am not vegan/vegetarian and I did not miss meat one tiny bit). Stephanie's kindness and hosting came from her heart and Firstman and Queen I's skillful facilitation of my first enagagements with plant medicine was an experience I will never forget. The children were also so sweet. It will take me many months to process and overstand the deep blessing of my experience here. Many months! If you are attracted to the idea of going to RIV, please go. You will not regret it. My hope is that more Jamaicans like myself will enagage with RIV, because I left with such deep pride in my culture and deep desire for the healing of our nation. "Rasta will liberate the people".
Written July 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marc_B999
Dinas Powys, UK37 contributions
An amazing and personal experience
Jul 2022 • Family
We visited in July 2022. This place and above all the people there are absolutely amazing. From the moment First Man picked us up from my father in law's house I felt comfortable and at home. These people have created an amazing space to protect, preserve, and promote their culture. We learnt about healing herbs and potions, Rastafari drumming, crafts, farming, ital food and the Rastafari philosophy. It wasn't cheap but I can honestly say it was money well spent.
I lost my phone in the car on the way back and only realised later. They'd found it and made another long trip back to return it to me without any hesitation. I will never forget about this place or these amazing people
Written July 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diana E
10 contributions
Peaceful vibes
Oct 2022
A very special place. Peaceful atmosphere. Somewhere to come to reconnect with nature and a sense of purity. I came with my children and they loved it, the chance to cook ital food and hear about the Rastafari faith. An unforgettable and rejuvenating experience.
Written November 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Conor C
New York City, NY12 contributions
wonderful, powerful experience
Sep 2023 • Couples
We did the rastafari rhythyms tour and had a great time. Queen I was an amazing guide and teacher about the village life and beliefs. Was so cool looking at all the different plants growing in the garden and how they're used. We especially loved making ital stew with cardolisa and of course spending some time with firstman and learning more about the rastafari community. Do yourself a favor and break out of the hotel for a day and trek to the RIV. The second you slip off your shoes and cross the river you will know you made the right choice.
Written September 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tammyhowlett
Belleville, Canada63 contributions
Rastafari forever
Jan 2020
This was a very cool and interesting place to visit. It was a great learning experience about the Rastafarian life style and history and culture of Jamaica. Really enjoyed this place. Very laid back and relaxed and peaceful. Everyone was very friendly. Was a great way to spend a couple of hours and not far from montego bay. Only thing i would is that we wished we had known ahead of time that we needed to walk across a river to get there. Would have brought either water shoes or an extra pair of shoes. Would highly recommend a visit to this place.
Written January 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rkkelley
Bloomington, IN8 contributions
Amazing Rastafarian Experience
Jan 2023
Our family of 5, ages 20-72, loved this experience. We learned so much about the Rastafarian lifestyle and beliefs. Queen Bee, First Man, King Toto, were amazing. Unforgettable experience. I definitely recommend
Written January 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Woowoo2018
8 contributions
Informative
Jan 2020
This was a very informative tour about the Rastafarians but we were not told that we had to walk across a river and to take water shoes, then it was all uphill to the village where we were made very welcome. If you have trouble walking like I did and with a stick this is a much trickier tour. We had no help and my husband had to hang on to me cross ing the river and climbing up the steep steps to the village. Dont forget your water shoes though, flip flops are not good but water sandals are.
Written February 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
traveljunkie_MO
Lees Summit, MO73 contributions
Throw away your previous impressions of Rastafarians
Oct 2013 • Couples
Forget what you think you know about Rastafarians and go visit the village and get the 2013 view. Some of the most insightful, intellectual people you will find. Well read and way ahead of the 'healthy' lifestyles Americans are adopting. Yes, they do have a very laid back lifestyle but they are also hard workers as they live off the land. Very welcoming and willing to share their philosophy on life. Something to think about and take back home after your vacation. About a 2-3 hour visit.
Written November 11, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ikuyaso
Canada169 contributions
Unique! Ital, Chalis, Rasta life
Jan 2014 • Friends
I visited this beautiful village in a private tour. Overall this was a unique location.. its deep in montego bay city somewhere and a great stop which will surprise you if you usually go to mobay to party.

VILLAGE
The village houses a community of Rastas who boudht the land and live together as one. They combine various skills, trades to build and farm on the property. You will walk through a lovely setting that is ever growing. Farm, garden, beautiful rock garden, houses, kitchen, communal compound, fireplace, bridge over water... all built by hand I believe

RASTAS
Warm and friendly... lots to say and love to educate you about the history and why they do what they do. Take the time to learn and show interest to get the most out of the overall experience

TREATS
Buy a challis and other handmade yet usable arts and crafts fromtheir market.

FOOD
They serve Ital food, I didn't get any but looks like god clean eating!

SUMMARY
Definitely something refreshing to do.. a unique place to go visit and see more of the country life without leaving the city. Its very rural feeling, you will think you are high in the mountains and not just minutes from downtown mobay. Lush greens, river and so quiet. I hope it stays that way.
Written February 4, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dominique050
Amsterdam, The Netherlands121 contributions
A genuine and interesting experience
Aug 2013 • Family
The people at the Rastafari village have decided to reach out to tourists to share their beliefs and generate some money, allowing the development and preservation of the community. We went there following the recommendation of the CCAT guides, with whom we just had a fabulous caving tour. I have to confess that I was a bit skeptical, expecting a bit of a tourist trap, but this was not the case at all. The whole experience felt very genuine and you will get out of it what you put in. We were there with 4 teenagers / young adults who engaged our guide in a long discussion about values and ethics, which resulted in a very interesting and eye-opening exchange of ideas.
Warmly recommended if you want to understand why Rastafarianism is more than dreadlocks and ganja smoking!
Written August 24, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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