Booking choice: Rio Bueno river tubing, from $89 per person. Check dates Tour details
The short version: river tubing works from age 4, the Chukka zipline and horse swim from 6, and nobody under 16 drives an ATV. Within those lines there is plenty for a family to do.
The quick answer
For young children, Rio Bueno tubing (from age 4) is the best pick. From 6, the Chukka pass opens the zipline, horseback ride and swim, snorkelling and the truck safari. ATV and dune buggy driving starts at 16 with a licence, and the small-group ATV safari and the Dunn's River combo are 16 and over only.
Which adventure tours from Montego Bay take children?
Most do, from age 4 on the Rio Bueno float to 16 on the adults-only ATV tours.
| Tour | Youngest age | Child price |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Bueno tubing | 4 | Ages 4 to 12 |
| Tubing + Bamboo Beach Club | Under-6s on a parent's lap | Ages 3 to 11 |
| Chukka Ocean Outpost pass | 6 for most activities | Ages 6 to 12 |
| Rastasafari ATV | 5 | Ages 5 to 15, with two paying adults |
| ATV, raft and horse combo | 6 | Ages 6 to 11 |
| Small-group ATV safari | 16 | Adults only |
| Dunn's River combo | 16 | Adults only |
Young kids in the group? The Rio Bueno float takes children from 4.
Check dates for Rio Bueno river tubingCan kids zipline at Chukka?
Yes, from age 6, with a weight limit of 265 lb on the zipline.
Children 6 to 12 also do the horseback ride and swim, snorkelling and the truck safari, and pay a reduced rate on the pass. Guests have brought children as young as 7 and called it a great birthday day out. The party catamaran is the exception: the Viator listing allows it from age 2, but the Chukka Ocean Outpost page sets an 18 minimum, so plan the children's day around the other activities.
Can kids drive an ATV?
No. On the Chukka, Rastasafari, small-group and Dunn's River tours the driver must be 16 or older with a valid driver's licence.
At Chukka, children can ride as dune buggy passengers if they are at least 4 ft 9 in tall. On Rastasafari, children from 5 book a child rate and ride with an adult driver.
Over 6 and under 16? The Chukka pass still has the zipline, horses and snorkelling.
Explore the Chukka zipline and ATV pass Tour detailsWhat is the best tubing trip for young children?
Rio Bueno: it takes children from 4, includes helmets and life jackets, and finishes on a beach.
Families with children as young as 4 and 6 call it a perfect outing. On the Bamboo Beach Club trip, under-6s ride in a larger tube on a parent's lap. More in the river tubing guide.
Are there child prices?
Yes on most tours: the Chukka pass, both tubing trips, Rastasafari and the ATV, raft and horse combo all have child rates.
Age bands differ: 6 to 12 at Chukka, 4 to 12 on Rio Bueno, 3 to 11 at Bamboo Beach Club, 5 to 15 on Rastasafari (when sharing with two paying adults) and 6 to 11 on the combo. Under-6s book at the infant rate on the Chukka pass, though most activities start at 6.
Which tours are adults only?
The small-group ATV safari in Trelawny and the Dunn's River combo, both 16 and over.
If teenagers of 16 or more have a licence, they can drive on the tours that set a 16 minimum. For the full ATV picture, read ATV tours compared.
Travelling with teens of 16 or more? The Chukka pass lets licensed drivers take the ATV.
Check dates for the Chukka zipline and ATV passWhat about food and long drives with kids?
Feed children before the Rio Bueno trip, which includes no food; Rastasafari, the combo and the Bamboo Beach Club day include lunch.
Long transfers are the hidden cost with small children: Rastasafari is about 75 minutes each way and the Ocho Rios combos start very early. The tubing trips and the Chukka shuttle are shorter.
Is there a calmer option for little ones?
Great River bamboo rafting: a captain poles a two-person raft while you sit, with fruit stops and a foot massage, from $20.
It is gentle, short and close to Montego Bay. Children from 5 can come: the listing has a child rate for ages 5 to 7 and a youth rate for 8 to 12.
A calm river morning: sit back on a bamboo raft while the captain does the work.
Explore Great River bamboo rafting Tour detailsFrequently asked questions
What is the minimum age for river tubing near Montego Bay?
Four on the Rio Bueno trip. On the Bamboo Beach Club trip, children under 6 ride in a larger tube on a parent's lap.
Can a 10-year-old do the Chukka zipline?
Yes. The zipline is open from age 6, with a 265 lb weight limit.
Is the Chukka pass free for toddlers?
Children under 6 travel at the infant rate, but most activities need riders to be at least 6, so the pass suits school-age children best.
Ready to book
Choose your day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Rio Bueno River Tubing & Beach
- Guided tubing trip down the Rio Bueno
- Helmet and life jacket
- Rope-swing stop and free time on the beach at Bengal Bay
River Tubing & Bamboo Beach Club
Gentle tubing, then a beach club afternoon with lunch
Chukka Zipline, ATV & Ocean Outpost Pass
- All-access pass to Chukka Ocean Outpost at Sandy Bay, west of Montego Bay
- Zipline over the ocean, ATV or Dune Buggy Safari, Horseback Ride 'N' Swim
- Party Catamaran & Snorkel, Truck Safari, infinity pool with swim-up bar
