Shells become keepsakes, not shelf dust. In Montego Bay, A Mi Mek It! turns casual beach collecting into custom souvenirs you actually make, taught by French guide Marie. I love the hands-on choices (including a Red Stripe bottle glass) and the calm, local setting with fruit trees and farm animals. The one thing to plan around: the experience needs good weather and it is a very hands-on, walk-around kind of afternoon.

This is also a sweet deal for people who want something more personal than another craft market stop. You’re near the middle of Montego Bay, with pickup offered, and the workshop happens on a one-acre backyard where the art table sits under an ackee tree. With a maximum group size of 24, you get more attention than you would in a huge tour bus crowd.

Key highlights you should not miss

• Pick 3 Jamaican souvenirs from options like jewelry, a Red Stripe bottle glass, a calabash candle, and body scrub making
• Garden walk among 14 fruit trees, with real-season perks when mangoes are in
• Farm time with goats, rabbits, ducks, and chickens
• Birdwatching from treehouses, plus chances to spot wildlife in the area
• Tasting breaks that go beyond drinks, including Jamaican soup, exotic fruits, and tea
• A down-to-earth workshop space close to both the airport and downtown

Where this workshop is really located in Montego Bay

A Mi Mek It! is set in the middle of Montego Bay, and that matters more than you think. If you are staying near the airport or downtown, you do not need a long commute to start having fun. The property is described as about a one-acre backyard, and it is the kind of place where the afternoon flows naturally from garden to art table to farm activities.

Pickup is offered, and that’s a big help if you are not renting a car. If you are using public transportation, it is also listed as near public transit, so you are not stuck without options.

The vibe is not like a factory tour or a showroom. You feel like you’re being shown how things are made and where the ingredients come from, because the workshop sits right inside the garden and farm area.

Your guide Marie and what her style brings to the day

Marie runs the experience (under French Tour Guide Jamaica SoMarie), and the reviews you’ll find are strongly consistent: people call her professional and talented, and they thank her for making the afternoon feel meaningful, not just something to fill time.

That shows in the way the experience is presented. You are not just following along with a script. You get instruction and hands-on help while you build your own items with tools, beads, and the materials you pick from a Jamaica source. The experience also includes a lot of “live” components—fruit trees, animals, and tastes—so the day feels connected instead of chopped into disconnected stops.

One practical plus: smaller groups. A maximum of 24 travelers means it’s easier to ask questions, get help at the art table, and settle into the pace of the property.

Choosing your 3 Jamaican souvenirs (and making them feel personal)

The workshop is about building souvenirs that look like you actually made them. During the session, you choose three different Jamaican items from the options offered.

Here’s what you can make:

• Jewelry (with instruction and colorful bead work)
• A Red Stripe beer bottle glass, using tools to transform the bottle into something you can keep or gift
• A calabash candle, made from calabash as the centerpiece
• A body scrub (you make your own using the materials and process provided)
• Additional souvenir options are mentioned, but the list above is the clearest, specific set

If you are coming home with a theme, this is an advantage. Many craft tours make you choose one small item. Here, you’re doing a set of three, so you leave with variety: something wearable, something for your home, and something useful or spa-like.

Bring shells, or use what’s provided

If you’ve ever collected shells on vacation and later thought, why did I bring this home?—this is a better system. You can bring your own shells, or choose from a selection of shells that’s hand-picked from Jamaica.

That choice matters if you want a specific look. Your own shells give you a personal memory. The provided selection can be easier if you don’t want to hunt around for the right pieces before the workshop.

The art table under an ackee tree: where creativity actually happens

One of the most “you’ll remember this later” details is the setting. The art table is under an ackee tree, and the property description calls it a cool, beautiful, inspiring spot. That shade can be a lifesaver in Montego Bay heat.

So what do you do at the table?

You’ll get hands-on guidance while you work with the tools and materials for your chosen souvenirs. Jewelry and bead work likely take the most careful attention. Bottle-glass and calabash crafts can be more focused on shaping and assembly. Body scrub making is more about mixing and fabrication than delicate finishing.

Plan for time and patience. These are custom items, not mass-produced. If you rush, your results will show it. If you slow down, you’ll end up with something that looks like you created it, not just something you purchased.

Strolling through 14 fruit trees and why the garden adds value

The workshop includes a walk through a garden with 14 fruit trees. This isn’t filler scenery. It’s part of the story of the place and what you’re tasting during the experience.

The property notes that in May, June, and July, there are so many mangoes you can handpick yourself. That’s a seasonal detail you can only get if you’re there at the right time, and it’s exactly the kind of moment that makes souvenirs feel more real. Your creations don’t come from an abstract craft table. They’re tied to what’s growing around you.

Even if mangoes aren’t in peak season, you still get the benefit of seeing the fruit trees on the same property where you’re working and eating. It’s practical too: a garden walk gives you a break from sitting while staying within the same organized activity.

Tasting Jamaican soup, exotic fruits, and tea (not just a quick sip)

This is one of the smartest parts of the experience because it helps you understand Jamaica as a lived-in place, not just a postcard.

You’ll taste:

• Real Jamaican soup
• Exotic fruits
• The best tea (as described by the experience)

It also includes typical Jamaican snacks and drinks, but note what’s not included: snacks and soda/pop are not listed as included. Bottled water is included.

So I’d treat the tasting items as part of the program, but I’d still come ready with the idea that you may want extra drinks or snacks beyond what is served. If you have a sensitive stomach, consider that you are tasting multiple items in one afternoon.

This tasting block is also a nice rhythm shift. After hands-on crafting, tasting gives your brain a reset and lets you talk to the guide and other group members while the day stays relaxed.

Farm time: goats, rabbits, ducks, and chickens

After the garden walk and tastings, you get a feel for the farm side of the property. The experience includes a small farm with local animals: goats, rabbits, ducks, and chickens.

Why this is more than cute animals

It adds context. When a workshop includes animals and fruit trees on site, it usually means the day is built around a real property, not a rented space that disappears after you leave. That’s part of why people rate the experience so highly for uniqueness.

It’s also a change of pace. If you’re the type who gets bored during beach downtime, the farm time gives you something active and visual to look forward to.

Treehouses and bird watching: a different kind of Jamaica view

One of the more memorable parts is that you can climb in tree houses to watch birds. That’s not a typical feature in most souvenir workshops.

Even if you’re not a hardcore bird person, the treehouse climb changes your perspective. Instead of staring at the ground while you make something, you’re looking outward and up. It’s also a good way to break up the afternoon so it doesn’t feel like you’re stuck indoors at the art table.

Just keep in mind this is an active element. Wear comfortable shoes that can handle uneven paths.

The mud kitchen moment (and why it’s worth leaning into)

The experience also includes a chance to get a kick of the mud kitchen. You may not know exactly what that means until you’re there, but the phrase suggests hands-on, playful involvement.

This is another reason the workshop works so well for mixed groups. Singles, couples, girl trips, and families all show up for different reasons, but the mud kitchen adds a shared, fun energy that’s hard to replicate in a standard craft shop.

If you prefer everything tidy and hands-off, you might find this part a little messy. If you like “Jamaica is hands-on” energy, it’s one of the highlights.

Price and value: is $120 worth it?

At $120 per person for about 3 hours, the real question is value: what do you get for that money?

You are paying for a bundle, not one single purchase:

• Three handmade souvenirs you choose
• A garden walk with fruit trees and the possibility to handpick mangoes in season
• Animal farm time
• Treehouse bird watching
• Food experiences including Jamaican soup, exotic fruits, and tea
• A guided, group-limited workshop setting with bottled water included

If you compare it to buying souvenirs off a shelf, the value is that you leave with items that match your choices. You’re not just selecting someone else’s design. You’re making it, with instruction, and you can tailor what you craft.

That said, it isn’t designed for shoppers who just want to browse. It’s designed for people who want to do something with their hands and follow the rhythm of the property.

Who this workshop is best for

I think this fits best if you’re any of these:

• You want more than beach time, with an afternoon goal
• You enjoy hands-on crafts and want souvenirs that don’t feel generic
• You’re traveling with a mix of interests and need one activity that includes food, animals, and making things
• You want a setting that feels local and personal, with a max group size of 24

It’s also a strong option for couples and families because the activities are naturally shared, and your finished items become gifts or keepsakes you can actually explain to people later.

Practical tips before you go (so you feel comfortable)

A few small things will help the experience go smoothly:

• Wear closed-toe, comfortable shoes. You’ll walk around the garden/farm areas and you may climb into treehouses.
• Use a sunscreen and consider insect protection. You’re outdoors for parts of the day.
• If you have shells, bring them. You can use your own shells, but you can also rely on the provided selection.
• Plan for good weather. The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
• Decide how much you want to snack. Bottled water is included, but soda/pop and snacks are not listed as included, so bring extra if you’re hungry between tasting moments.

Should you book A Mi Mek It! in Montego Bay?

I’d book it if you want a Jamaica afternoon that feels like you joined a working property for a few hours. The biggest “yes” factors for me are the custom, hands-on souvenirs (three items) and the way the day connects to the garden and farm—fruit trees, animals, bird watching, and taste stops.

Skip it if you’re only looking for passive sightseeing, or if you hate any chance of getting a little messy. Also keep weather in mind since the whole flow depends on it.

If you’re in Montego Bay and you’ve already seen the usual shopping stops, this is the kind of activity that gives you a story to take home, not just objects.

FAQ

How long is the A Mi Mek It! souvenirs workshop?

The workshop runs for about 3 hours.

How many souvenirs will I make?

You can choose to make three different Jamaican souvenirs during the experience.

What kinds of souvenirs are available?

Options mentioned include jewelry, a Red Stripe beer bottle glass, a calabash candle, and a body scrub.

Do I need to bring shells from the beach?

No. You can bring your own shells, or choose from a selection of shells picked from Jamaica.

What’s included in the price?

Bottled water is included.

Is pickup available?

Yes, pickup is offered, and the activity ends back at the meeting point.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.