Bob Marley Nine Mile Tour: What Visiting His Birthplace Is Like

A Bob Marley Nine Mile tour takes you to the small hill village in St. Ann where Bob was born in 1945 and where he is buried today. A Rasta guide walks you through his childhood home, up to the rock where he used to sit and think, and into the mausoleum. From Ocho Rios the drive is about an hour and a half each way, and from Montego Bay plan on roughly two hours or a bit more.

Where is Nine Mile and how long is the drive?

Nine Mile is up in the hills of St. Ann parish, well away from the coast. There is no beach and no resort strip, just country roads and small farms. That is part of why people like it. It still looks a lot like the place Bob ran around in as a boy.

From Ocho Rios we head inland and climb through little country towns. It takes about an hour and a half, depending on traffic and the state of the road that week. From Montego Bay it is longer, roughly two hours and sometimes more. The roads are narrow and full of bends, and a few stretches are rough, so this is not a drive to try in a rental car on your first day. Our drivers do it often and know where the bad patches are.

The photo at the top of this post is a couple of our guests stopping by the Bob Marley Mausoleum sign on the way in. Most people want that picture, so we pull over for it.

What do you actually see at Nine Mile?

Once you check in at the gate, a guide takes your group around. The guides are Rastafarian, and you get stories and a bit of singing along with the facts. The walk usually takes about an hour, a little longer if your group has a lot of questions.

You see the small house where Bob lived as a child, with the single bed he slept on still inside. You go up to Mount Zion Rock, a stone where he used to sit and meditate, and where people say he worked on some of his songs. Then you come to the mausoleum, where Bob and his mother, Cedella Booker, are laid to rest.

After the tour there is a gift shop and a spot for food and drinks, so you can sit a while before the drive back down.

Are there rules you should know before you go?

Yes, and the guides take them seriously, because this is a sacred place for Rastafari and not just a tourist stop. You are usually asked to take your shoes off before going into the mausoleum, so wear something easy to slip on and off. Photos are fine in most of the grounds, but some spots are off limits for cameras. Your guide will tell you where, and it is always better to ask before you shoot.

Dress comfortable and a little modest. Shorts and a T-shirt are fine, but leave the swimsuit for the beach. Bring some cash for tips and the gift shop.

Is Nine Mile worth it if you are not a big reggae fan?

For most people, yes. Even if you only know a handful of Bob's songs, the visit gives you a feel for country Jamaica that you never get from the hotel. The drive is half the trip, up through the hills and the small towns of St. Ann.

If you are a big fan, this is the one place to go. Kingston has the Bob Marley Museum on Hope Road, which was his later home and studio, and that is a different visit. Nine Mile is where it started and where he rests.

Can you pair Nine Mile with another stop?

You can, but keep it to one. Nine Mile takes a good part of the day once you count the drive, and the hill roads are slow. From Ocho Rios, Dunn's River Falls is the usual pairing, since both are in St. Ann. Do the falls in the morning while you have the energy, then head up into the hills after lunch. From Montego Bay, Nine Mile on its own is often the better call.

Our tours run private, so you set the pace. If you want to stop for a patty or some jerk chicken on the road, just tell your driver.

Ready to go to Nine Mile?

Tell us where you are staying and which day works, and we will sort out the timing so nobody is rushing on those hill roads. You can book a tour, and if you are still flying in, set up your private airport transfers at the same time.