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. Under an ackee tree, Marie guides you through hands-on projects using shells, beads, glass, calabash, and other local materials. You can create three different keepsakes, then spend time in a one-acre garden with fruit trees, animals, tree houses, and Jamaican food.

I like the personal touch and the useful location. The workshop is about five minutes from the airport and downtown, so it can fit neatly into a Montego Bay stay. I also like the choice of projects, especially turning a traditional Red Stripe bottle into a drinking glass. The main consideration is the $120 price per person. That is a serious spend for a three-hour activity, so the value depends on how much you enjoy making things and want an experience beyond the beach.

Key points to know before you book

• Make three Jamaican souvenirs: Choose from jewelry, a Red Stripe bottle glass, a calabash candle, body scrub, and other available projects.
• Work under an ackee tree: The art table sits outdoors in a shaded garden, which gives the workshop a relaxed setting.
• Taste Jamaica along the way: Expect local soup, exotic fruit, tea, bottled water, and typical Jamaican snacks and drinks.
• Meet the small farm animals: Goats, rabbits, ducks, and chickens are part of the wider property experience.
• Easy Montego Bay location: The meeting point is at SoMom Mobay Lodging & Experiences on Leader Avenue, close to the airport and downtown.
• Marie leads the activity: The provider is French Tour Guide Jamaica SoMarie, and the experience is offered in French and English.

Making souvenirs instead of buying them

Many Jamaican souvenirs are made for quick shopping. A Mi Mek It! takes a different path. You sit down with tools and materials, receive hands-on instruction, and make objects that carry a direct connection to your visit.

The word mek means make, and that is the central idea here. You can bring shells you collected yourself, or choose from a selection gathered in Jamaica. That choice matters. Your own shells may remind you of a particular beach day, while the available materials give you more freedom if you arrived without anything suitable.

You can choose three projects. Options include jewelry, a drinking glass made from a traditional Red Stripe beer bottle, a candle made with calabash, and your own body scrub. The exact mix may depend on what you select and what is available that day, but the range gives you room to match the activity to your interests.

I would choose one wearable item, one useful household object, and one project that feels distinctly Jamaican. Jewelry is easy to carry and give as a present. The bottle glass has a strong local connection. A calabash candle offers a more natural, handmade look.

Three projects with different levels of appeal

Jewelry is likely the most flexible choice. Colorful beads and shells let you make something for yourself or someone at home, and the finished piece should be easy to pack. It is also a good option if you want a project that feels creative without becoming too technical.

The Red Stripe glass is the most memorable idea in the group. A familiar Jamaican beer bottle becomes something you can use instead of another decorative object for a shelf. Since glasswork involves special tools, pay close attention to Marie’s instructions and expect this project to require care rather than speed.

The calabash candle connects your souvenir to a natural Jamaican material. Calabash has long been used in practical and decorative ways, and working with it gives the project a stronger sense of place than a generic craft-store activity.

You can also make a body scrub. This is a smart choice if you prefer something practical or want a small gift. It may not last as long as a glass or piece of jewelry, but it is personal and useful.

The workshop promises much more than these examples, so you will have several ways to shape the session. If one project matters to you, ask about it when arranging the activity. The supplied details do not confirm that every option is available at every sitting.

Life under the ackee tree

The work table is located under an ackee tree in the backyard. That setting changes the feel of the activity. You are not in a plain indoor classroom with identical stations and a clock on the wall. You are working outdoors among fruit trees, with room to move around and notice what is growing.

The property covers about one acre and includes 14 fruit trees. From May through July, mangoes may be plentiful enough for you to pick them yourself. That seasonal detail is worth keeping in mind. A visit during mango season may feel more active and generous, while another month offers a different garden experience.

The garden is not presented as a formal botanical tour. It is part of the workshop’s rhythm. You may move from the art table to the trees, taste fruit, then return to your project. That variety is especially useful for families and groups with mixed attention spans.

You can also climb into tree houses to watch birds. The details do not promise a formal bird-watching program, so think of this as a chance to pause, look up, and enjoy the property rather than a scheduled wildlife session.

Soup, fruit, tea, and Jamaican flavor

Food is woven into the visit. You can taste real Jamaican soup, sample exotic fruits, and try tea. Typical Jamaican snacks and drinks are also offered, while bottled water is included.

The food adds something important to a craft workshop. You are not only producing an object. You are getting small tastes of local life and having time to talk while your project takes shape. The soup and fruit may also help break up the three-hour session, especially if you have spent the morning sitting on the beach.

Soda and additional snacks are not included. Bring that detail into your budget, particularly if you are booking for a family. The experience includes bottled water, but the information does not specify a full meal or a set tasting menu.

I would think of the food as part of the atmosphere, not the main reason to book. If you want a substantial lunch, plan that separately.

Goats, rabbits, ducks, and the mud kitchen

The property includes a small farm with goats, rabbits, ducks, and chickens. These animals give children another reason to stay interested, while adults may appreciate the simple connection to everyday rural life.

There is also a mud kitchen. That phrase suggests hands-on play rather than a polished cooking lesson. For families, it can be a welcome change from structured sightseeing. Children can move, explore, and make a mess in a setting designed for that kind of activity.

The animals and play areas may be less important to a couple who mainly wants to make souvenirs. They are still useful additions, but do not mistake them for a full farm tour or children’s program. The main activity remains the craft workshop.

Why the location works well in Montego Bay

A Mi Mek It! meets at SoMom Mobay Lodging & Experiences on Leader Avenue. The property is about five minutes from the airport and downtown, and pickup is offered.

That location makes the activity easier to fit into a short Montego Bay visit. You could use it as a break from resort time, add it to a day in town, or schedule it near airport travel if the timing works. Still, allow enough time for pickup, the three-hour workshop, and your onward plans. The advertised duration is approximately three hours, not a precise guarantee.

The experience ends back at the meeting point. That is convenient if you have your own transport or are staying nearby. If you depend on pickup, confirm the arrangements before the day of the activity.

The group can include up to 24 people. That is not a private lesson, but the hands-on format gives the session a clear focus. A larger group may mean less individual attention at busy moments, while the maximum keeps it smaller than a large sightseeing coach excursion.

Is $120 a fair price?

At $120 per person, this is not a bargain craft class. You are paying for more than the materials, though. The price covers roughly three hours of guided activity, three handmade souvenirs, access to the garden and farm setting, tastings, and the chance to spend time with Marie.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise buy several gifts in a craft market and enjoy making them yourself. You leave with objects that carry your own decisions and memories. That is different from purchasing a mass-produced magnet or bracelet.

The value is weaker if you only want a quick souvenir, dislike crafts, or expect a full meal and a formal farm tour. Soda and snacks are not included, and bottled water is the only item specifically listed as included.

A current rating of 5 out of 5 from 17 ratings, with 100 percent recommending the activity, points to a consistently positive small-group experience. One particularly strong response praised the afternoon as a welcome break from sitting on the beach and eating, while another highlighted Marie’s professionalism, talent, and ability to work with a family.

Those comments point to the experience’s real strength: participation. You are not just watching an instructor make something. You are involved, and you finish with proof of what you did.

Who will enjoy A Mi Mek It!

This is a strong match for singles who want an active afternoon, couples looking for a shared project, and groups of friends who enjoy making and comparing their creations. It also suits families because the animals, tree houses, garden, and mud kitchen give children options beyond the art table.

It may be less suitable if you have limited mobility or do not enjoy outdoor settings, although service animals are allowed and the activity is near public transportation. The supplied details say most people can participate, but they do not give specific information about paths, seating, or restroom access. Ask the provider if you need those details.

The French and English format is useful for mixed-language groups. The provider is French Tour Guide Jamaica SoMarie, and Marie leads the experience. Her personal guidance is a major part of the workshop, so this is better suited to people who want interaction than to those looking for a self-guided stop.

Weather, cancellation, and practical planning

The workshop requires good weather. Since the art table and much of the property are outdoors, poor conditions can affect the experience. If the activity is canceled for weather, you can receive a different date or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off follows local Jamaican time.

Confirmation is provided when you book, and the experience uses a mobile ticket. Keep your timing flexible if you are linking the workshop to a flight, since pickup and the approximate three-hour duration leave less room for delays than a short downtown stop.

Should you book this Montego Bay workshop?

Book A Mi Mek It! if you want to bring home something you made yourself, enjoy a relaxed outdoor setting, and like the idea of adding soup, fruit, tea, animals, and garden time to a craft session. The Red Stripe glass, calabash candle, and shell jewelry give the activity a clear Jamaican identity.

I would especially recommend it for a couple, family, or friend group that wants a shared memory rather than another hour beside a pool. I would skip it if your priority is low cost, shopping, or a substantial meal.

The best reason to book is simple: you leave with three personal souvenirs instead of one more object bought in a hurry. At $120, that personal connection needs to matter to you. If it does, the workshop offers a thoughtful and hands-on way to spend part of your Montego Bay stay.

FAQ

Where does the workshop take place?

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

Can I be picked up?

Pickup is offered. Confirm the pickup details when booking.

How many souvenirs can I make?

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

What kinds of souvenirs can I make?

Options include jewelry, a drinking glass made from a traditional Red Stripe beer bottle, a calabash candle, and a body scrub. Other projects may also be available.

Is food included?

Bottled water is included. You can also taste Jamaican soup, exotic fruits, tea, and typical Jamaican snacks and drinks. Soda and snacks are listed as not included.

Is the workshop offered in English?

The experience is presented in French and English. It is provided by French Tour Guide Jamaica SoMarie.

What happens if it rains?

The activity requires good weather. If poor weather causes a cancellation, you can be offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.