Bob Marley's Nine Mile: Day Trips and Tours from Falmouth, Jamaica

Nestled in the foothills of Jamaica's Blue Mountains, the village of Nine Mile is best known as the birthplace of one of Jamaica's most beloved stars — reggae legend Bob Marley.

In the village, visitors can explore Marley's fascinating life, from his modest beginnings to his extraordinary rise to international fame.

Day trips to Bob Marley's Nine Mile from Falmouth also enable you to gain an insight into the Rastafarian culture — a way of life that the reggae singer wholeheartedly embraced.

Here's all you need to know about Nine Mile, one of the most exciting day trips from Falmouth, Jamaica.

How to get to Bob Marley's Nine Mile from Falmouth?

Bob Marley's Nine Mile is located in the St. Anne Parish of Jamaica, approximately 70 kilometers from the town of Falmouth.

From Falmouth to Bob Marley's Nine Mile by car

The jaunt to Bob Marley's Nine Mile by car is easy and takes around 1.5 hours. You'll leave the town in an easterly direction, following the A1 along the coast.

Turn right onto the B3 after approximately 30 kilometers and continue onto Highbury Road, which leads you the final 10 kilometers to the village.

Guided tour to Bob Marley's Nine Mile from Falmouth

If you don't have access to a car or you don't want to worry about the route, you should consider making your journey to Bob Marley's Nine Mile by guided excursion.

These tours last approximately 6 hours and include a convenient hotel pickup. Day trips usually begin between 8:30 AM and 9:30 AM, returning to Falmouth in the mid-afternoon.

What is the typical itinerary?

Many day tours to Bob Marley's Nine Mile start by driving a short distance across the island from Falmouth to Columbus Park.

Here, you'll take a break to snap a photo of the historic monument, learn about Christopher Columbus' association with the island and admire the panoramic views stretching across the sea.

Moving on, you'll journey up the steep and winding roads to the village of Nine Mile. Here, you'll participate in a tour of Bob Marley's home, check out the museum dedicated to the pioneer of reggae and visit his resting place.

You'll be led by a Rastafarian guide, who may be a member of the Marley family. After a glimpse into the life of the singer, you may sit down to enjoy a jerk chicken lunch — one of the most famed dishes in Jamaica.

Some day trips to Bob Marley's Nine Mile also include other sights, such as Dunn's River Falls. Others make their way to Kingston to view the home the singer lived in as an adult before returning to Falmouth.

What kinds of tours are available to go to Bob Marley's Nine Mile?

There are a multitude of day tours to Bob Marley's Nine Mile available, which dive deep into reggae culture and the past of the singer.

Guided tour to Bob Marley's Nine Mile from Falmouth

Leaving Falmouth behind, you'll head in the direction of Bob Marley's hometown — Nine Mile — making a pit stop at Columbus Park along the way.

Named after Christopher Columbus, the park is home to several artifacts, which show the history of his invasion of the island in the 15th century.

Moving on to the charming village of Nine Mile, you'll participate in a walking tour where you'll see the reggae icon's birth and resting places, as well as the location that inspired several of his hits.

Day trip to Bob Marley's Nine Mile plus Dunn's River Falls from Falmouth

On this day tour to Bob Marley's Nine Mile, you'll enjoy a tour through the reggae superstar’s settlement with a Rastafarian guide. Once you've gained an understanding of Bob Marley's early years, refuel with a traditional jerk lunch.

Lastly, you'll take a steep hike up to Dunn's River Falls — an ethereal waterfall that cascades down an endless staircase to an emerald pool below.

Private day tour to Bob Marley's Nine Mile plus Kingston from Falmouth

If you want an even more intimate look into Bob Marley's life, head to Kingston to tour his home, which has been turned into a museum. Along the way, visit Columbus Park, the picturesque town of Runaway Bay and the village of Nine Mile.

Upon arrival at the Bob Marley Museum, you'll gain an authentic view into how he lived, and get up close with various memorabilia, including his Grammy award.

How much does a day trip to Bob Marley's Nine Mile from Falmouth cost?

A guided day tour to Bob Marley's Nine Mile costs between US$140 and US$150 per person. These tours include a Rastafarian guide to show you around, as well as round-trip transportation.

If you wish to combine your excursion to Bob Marley's Nine Mile with other sights, you'll pay between US$150 and US$160 each for a tour that includes Dunn's River Falls.

Alternatively, you can extend your lesson on Bob Marley's life by including a visit to Kingston in your day trip. This is a private tour that costs US$530 per person. However, the cost per head reduces with each additional member in the party.

What will you see and do?

The small hilltop town of Nine Mile holds great significance as the birthplace of the great reggae star, Bob Marley. Just 300 people live in the village, however, it is always bustling with crowds wanting to get a peek into Bob Marley's upbringing.

His childhood home is located in the village and is open to visitors to wander around at their leisure.

Small and humble, the home is made up of a small living room, and one bedroom covered by a tin roof — a reminder of just how far Marley ascended into stardom.

In later years, Bob was known for his unending kindness, supporting over 6,000 impoverished Jamaican residents. The star died from cancer at the young age of 36 and his last words to his son were "money can't buy life."

On a day trip to Bob Marley's Nine Mile, you'll also come across the Bob Marley Mausoleum, filled with memorabilia and artifacts from the reggae singer's life. These include guitars and awards for his contribution to music.

Inside the mausoleum, you'll also see a painted rock, where Marley would rest his head when seeking inspiration and let the ideas flow. Bob's final resting place is in an Ethiopian church, next to his mother's — Cedella Booker — coffin.

Tourists can step inside the church to pay their respects to the king of reggae and learn about the impact of his life on the Jamaican community.

Bob Marley requested to be buried with five surprising items, which now lie encased in his coffin. These include his red Gibson Les Paul electric guitar and a football, in reference to the sport the singer loved to play.

A copy of the bible opened to "a Psalm of David," a ring gifted to the singer by the son of Ethiopia's emperor and a stalk of ganja are all also buried with Bob Marley.

When is the best time to visit Bob Marley's Nine Mile?

The best time to plan a day trip to Bob Marley's Nine Mile is during November and December. During these months, the weather is dry and sunny, but the influx of tourists taking a winter vacation has not yet arrived.

You can expect temperatures to hover around 31 degrees Celsius at this time.

Are there any tours to Bob Marley's Nine Mile from other cities in Jamaica?

Yes, there are tours departing from other cities in Jamaica:

• Bob Marley's Nine Mile day trips from Ocho Rios
• Day trips to Bob Marley's Nine Mile from Negril
• Bob Marley's Nine Mile day tours from Runaway Bay

Travel tips

• Arrive at the village of Nine Mile as early as possible for the most peaceful experience.
• When visiting the resting place of Bob Marley, you'll be expected to remove your shoes as a sign of respect.
• If you're a die-hard reggae fan, combine your day trip to Bob Marley's Nine Mile with a visit to his home in Kingston.