Souvenirs workshop A Mi Mek It! in Montego Bay Jamaica (FR & EN)

The best part of A Mi Mek It! is that you do not simply buy a Jamaican souvenir, you make one. With Marie’s guidance, you can turn shells into jewelry, shape a traditional Red Stripe beer bottle into a drinking glass, or make a candle using calabash. The workshop takes place beneath an ackee tree on a one-acre property near Montego Bay’s airport and downtown.

I like the hands-on work and the chance to use shells from your own beach walks. I also like the farm setting, with fruit trees, tree houses, animals, and a mud kitchen, because it gives the visit more life than a standard craft class.

The main consideration is price. At $120 per person for about three hours, this is not a cheap souvenir stop. You are paying for guided making, the property visit, tastings, and a personal activity, not just for the finished item. Soda and snacks are not included, and pickup details should be confirmed when booking.

Key points to know before booking

• Choose up to three Jamaican crafts: Options include jewelry, a glass made from a Red Stripe bottle, a calabash candle, and body scrub.
• Use your own beach finds: Bring shells from your holiday, or choose from shells gathered in Jamaica.
• Meet Marie at a one-acre garden: The workshop sits about five minutes from Montego Bay airport and downtown.
• Expect more than an art table: Fruit trees, local goats, rabbits, ducks, chickens, tree houses, and a mud kitchen are part of the setting.
• Taste Jamaican flavors: The experience includes the chance to try Jamaican soup, exotic fruit, and tea, while bottled water is specifically included.
• Plan around the weather: The activity requires good weather, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time.

Making a souvenir instead of buying one

A Mi Mek It! solves a common holiday problem. You collect shells, bottle caps, or other small finds on the beach, then return home with a bag of objects that never become anything useful. Here, those finds can become a piece of jewelry or another handmade item with a clear connection to Jamaica.

The workshop gives you a choice of three different souvenirs. Jewelry is the most obvious option if you have shells or want something easy to wear or give away. You can also make a glass from a traditional Red Stripe beer bottle, which turns a familiar Jamaican item into a practical keepsake.

The calabash candle offers a more local, natural material. You can also make your own body scrub, along with other craft options introduced during the session. The exact combination may depend on what you choose, so ask Marie at the start how the three-item limit applies to the available projects.

I like this format because you are not locked into one craft. A couple can pick different projects, friends can compare creations, and families can choose tasks that suit different ages and patience levels. The result should be personal rather than identical to something pulled from a souvenir shop shelf.

The tradeoff is that hands-on work takes time. If you want a quick stop, this is the wrong fit. The value comes from spending close to three hours making, tasting, and exploring, not from rushing in to collect a finished object.

Under the ackee tree in Montego Bay

The art table sits under an ackee tree, giving the main work area a shaded outdoor setting. That matters in Montego Bay, where a cool, leafy place can make a craft session more comfortable than an indoor room with a formal workshop feel.

The property covers about one acre and includes 14 fruit trees. From May through July, mangoes may be available for handpicking, depending on the season and the fruit on the trees. That seasonal detail makes the visit feel tied to the time of year rather than fixed and identical all year.

The location is practical. You meet at SoMom Mobay Lodging & Experiences on Leader Avenue, and the activity ends back there. The property is said to be about five minutes from the airport and downtown, so it can work well if you want something close to central Montego Bay.

Pickup is offered, but the supplied details do not say exactly which hotels or areas are covered. If pickup matters to you, confirm the arrangement before paying. A mobile ticket is available, and booking confirmation is received at the time of booking.

The group can reach a maximum of 24 people. That is not a tiny private class, so do not assume one-on-one instruction for the full session. Marie’s role is important here. A personal response to one family praised her professional approach and creative ability, while another thanked her for ideas that made the activity feel worthwhile. You should still expect a shared workshop rather than a private studio appointment.

A three-craft session with room to choose

The craft portion is the heart of the experience. You use special tools, colorful beads, and hands-on instruction to create custom souvenirs. The language of the activity suggests a guided class, so you are not expected to arrive with craft skills.

Jewelry from shells and beads

Jewelry is likely the most flexible choice. You can bring shells collected along the beach, or choose from shells gathered locally in Jamaica. Colorful beads and tools help turn those materials into a wearable piece or a gift.

This option suits anyone who wants a small keepsake that does not take much space in luggage. It also works for a group making several different pieces. Your own shells add a personal link to the holiday, though you may prefer the local selection if your beach finds are too fragile, plain, or difficult to work with.

A glass from a Red Stripe bottle

The Red Stripe bottle glass is the most distinctive option in the list. Rather than buying a branded bottle or souvenir glass, you make a useful object from a bottle associated with Jamaica.

This project may appeal to you if you want a keepsake for the home rather than jewelry. It is also a good choice for someone who does not wear accessories. Since the supplied information does not explain the cutting or finishing process, ask how much of the transformation you will perform yourself and what safety steps are used.

A calabash candle

The calabash candle uses a natural Jamaican material and creates a decorative item with a practical purpose. It should appeal to you if you prefer a home object that recalls the island without looking like a standard tourist trinket.

The finished candle may be more delicate than a piece of jewelry, so pack it with care. The experience description does not give dimensions or packaging details. If you are flying with only a small bag, ask how the finished item is protected.

Body scrub and other choices

The workshop also includes the chance to make your own body scrub and says that other projects may be available. This adds variety, but it also means the exact menu is not fully fixed in the information provided.

If you have a strong preference, contact the provider before the day of your visit. That is especially useful for a family or group that wants each person to make something different. You can also bring your own shells, which is one of the simplest ways to make the final souvenirs more personal.

Fruit trees, Jamaican soup, and a small farm

A Mi Mek It! is not only a craft table. During the visit, you walk through a garden with 14 fruit trees and taste exotic fruit. Mango season may be especially rewarding from May through July, when you may be able to pick mangoes directly from the trees.

You also get to taste Jamaican soup and tea. These food moments give the class a local flavor that a standard workshop would miss. The information does not name the soup, fruit, or tea, so you should treat these as tasting experiences rather than a full meal.

Food costs need a little attention. Bottled water is included, but soda and snacks are listed as extra. The description also refers to typical Jamaican snacks and drinks being available, so carry some spending money if you want anything beyond the included water and planned tastings.

The small farm area adds a playful side. You can see local goats, rabbits, ducks, and chickens. Families may find this as important as the craft itself, especially for children who need a break from sitting at the art table.

There are tree houses for bird watching and a mud kitchen. These details make the property feel designed for exploring, not just for hosting a lesson. Still, the activity is not described as a formal bird-watching tour or animal encounter. Think of these as extra parts of the garden visit, not guaranteed wildlife sightings or structured animal activities.

Who will get the most from the $120 price

At $120 per person, the cost deserves a clear explanation. You are not paying only for beads, shells, or a bottle. The price covers approximately three hours of instruction and activity, the use of tools and materials, several possible handmade souvenirs, access to the garden and farm setting, and the chance to taste Jamaican soup, fruit, and tea.

That can be fair value if you enjoy making things and want more than a purchased gift. It is less attractive if your priority is the cheapest possible souvenir or a quick cultural stop. A family of four would spend $480 before any extra drinks or snacks, so the craft choices and the children’s interest matter.

I would compare it with the cost of buying three or more souvenirs in Montego Bay, but I would not treat the finished items as the only measure of value. The point is the making. You leave with objects that carry the memory of the afternoon, even if the result is not perfectly polished.

The experience suits singles, couples, friend groups, and families. A solo visitor can focus on one careful project. Couples can make different items and trade ideas. A group of friends can turn the session into a shared creative afternoon. Families get the most from the animals, tree houses, and mud kitchen, though younger children may need help with tools and materials.

The maximum group size is 24, so ask about the expected group size for your date if a quiet class is important. The provider is French Tour Guide Jamaica SoMarie, and Marie is the guide named in the available comments. Her role seems central to the quality of the session, so the experience is likely a good match if you enjoy personal instruction and conversation rather than a self-guided craft table.

Timing, weather, and practical planning

The activity lasts about three hours and begins and ends at the Leader Avenue meeting point. Its location near the airport and downtown makes it useful for a day in Montego Bay, but you should leave enough time for your next plan rather than scheduling a tight airport transfer.

Pickup is offered, and the activity has a mobile ticket. Confirmation arrives at booking. Service animals are allowed, and the experience is near public transportation. Most people can participate, but the information does not provide detailed guidance about surfaces, stairs, or the tree houses, so contact the provider if you have mobility concerns.

Good weather is required. Much of the appeal comes from the outdoor garden, the shaded art table, and the farm area, so rain could affect the plan. If poor weather cancels the activity, you are offered another date or a full refund.

For cancellation, you can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off uses local Jamaican time, so do not wait until the last evening if your plans are uncertain.

Bring any shells you want to use, and consider bringing a small container or protective wrapping for fragile creations. The provided details do not promise packaging, so it is sensible to ask before the class. You should also wear something comfortable for an outdoor setting and garden walk, though no special clothing requirement is given.

Should you book A Mi Mek It!?

Book this experience if you want to make your own Jamaican keepsakes, enjoy outdoor settings, and value time with a local guide more than a low-cost shopping stop. The combination of crafts, fruit trees, soup, tea, animals, and tree houses gives the afternoon more variety than a basic workshop.

Think twice if you want a polished, ready-made souvenir, a private class, or a full meal included in the price. The $120 cost is easiest to justify when you plan to make several personal gifts and take part in the whole property visit.

For creative people, families, and anyone with an awkward pile of beach shells waiting at the hotel, this is a thoughtful Montego Bay activity. Keep your schedule flexible for weather, confirm pickup and craft choices, and you will know exactly what you are paying for.

FAQ

Where does the workshop start and end?

It starts at SoMom Mobay Lodging & Experiences on Leader Avenue in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does A Mi Mek It! last?

The workshop lasts approximately three hours.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $120 per person.

Is pickup available?

Pickup is offered. The supplied information does not specify the exact pickup areas, so confirm the details when booking.

What souvenirs can I make?

You can choose from jewelry, a glass made from a traditional Red Stripe beer bottle, a calabash candle, body scrub, and other possible craft options.

Can I bring my own shells?

Yes. You can bring shells collected from the beach, or choose from shells hand-picked in Jamaica.

Is food or drink included?

Bottled water is included. The activity also describes tastings of Jamaican soup, exotic fruit, and tea. Soda and snacks are not included.

How many people can join the activity?

The maximum group size is 24 people.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The activity requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. For your own cancellation, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.