
Ocho Rios - Jamaica Attractions Center
Ocho Rios is the "Sea and DO" capital of Jamaica. It is the place to enjoy some of best attractions and activities Jamaica has to offer. It is the home of Dunn's River Falls, the most popular attraction in the Caribbean. It is also the most popular port of call for cruise ships in the Caribbean. Ocho Rios has the widest selection of some of the best attractions and activities anywhere in Jamaica or Caribbean. It has more hotel rooms and boast more fine dining, golf and water sports than you will find in most Caribbean Islands.
Ocho Rios does not have eight rivers as its Spanish name suggests. The Spaniards who had a settlement in nearby New Seville, name the place Las chorreras which means the "falls". The British, obviously, weren't listening because they heard Ocho Rios and the town was stuck with that name ever since.
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Ocho Rios is situated almost midway along Jamaica's North coast. This makes it the perfect location from which to explore most of Jamaica. You can take a day trip to most places and be back in time for dinner. You can take the short drive and experience the exotic and unspoilt beauty of Port Antonio and the Blue Mountain or visit Jamaica second city of Montego Bay. If you truely want to feel the pulse of Jamaica, you can take the two-hour trip to Kingston. You can even travel to laid back Negril on the western tip of the Island.
The winding coastline which defines Ocho Rios, hides many small coves and bays and is shadowed by a coral reef that runs about 500 yards off shore. Ocho Rios town center wraps around a large picturesque protected bay where the lush tropical mountains seem to sweep down to kiss the sea. Here you will find endless stretches of white sand beaches such as Turtle beach and Mallard's beach. You will also find some of the area best hotels, and an impressive shipping pier for cruise ships.
Attractions and Activities
Ocho Rios is located in St Ann, which is known in Jamaica as the garden parish and with good reasons. You have Fern Gully - where the road now runs in an old river bed that descends steeply from the mountain through a dense shade of towering tree with an under growth of over 600 species of ferns. Close by on a hilltop overlooking the city, you will find Shaw Park Garden with waterfalls and tropical birds and flowers of every colors. There are many other beautiful gardens such as Coyaba and Cranbrook Flower Forest surrounding Ocho Rios just waiting for you to explore.
Ocho Rios is chock full of attractions and activities for you to see and do. Of course, the grand daddy of all attraction is our world-famous Dunn's River Falls. Here cool water originating from underground springs, cascade down 600 feet of steps formed naturally by the falls. Nearby at Dolphin cove, you can go swimming with the dolphins and sharks or help feed the stingrays.
Other exotic attractions include tubing down the White River or go horseback riding down mountains and in the sea at Chukka Cove. You should also go explore Green Grotto cave, an old hiding place for runaway slaves. The cave has secret passage ways and hiden chambers and an underground lake with blind fishes. As a kid, I use to visit Green Grotto on field trips and was amazed at its underworld wonders.
Dining
There are plenty of places to dine in Ocho Rios - from white-gloved fancy to bare-boned basic. For authentic Jamaican cuisine, your best choices are Ruins, Jerk Center, and The Almond Tree. If you enjoy Italian, Evita's is Italian-Jamaican restaurant on a hill with panoramic view of the bay below. "Passage to India" serve india and Asian styled cuisines in a casual setting. You will also find excellent dining in many of the hotels and resorts.
Hotels and Resorts
In Ocho Rios, you can choose from basic accommodations to luxury all-inclusive resorts. Whether you want a romantic vacation for two as offered by couples resorts, active vacations like that found at Royal Plantation Golf Resort, or a family vacation from Beaches Boscobel Resort, you will find it in Ocho Rios. If your taste is for a seaside villa or one on the hill with your own personal staff for your every need, Ocho Rios has plenty of these. Rates for accommodations in Ocho Rios starts at about $60 per room/night.
Shopping
As a premier tourist destination, Ocho Rios has many locations where you can shop, duty free, for a wide variety of merchandises. These includes both local crafts, souvenirs, and liquors as well as watches and jewelery. If you are uncomfortable shopping outside the tourist corridors, you can shop at the three major tourists shopping center at Soni's, Tajmahal, and Island Village.
If you are buying Jamaica liquor, coffee, or other Jamaican food products, they are much cheaper in any of the nearby local supermarkets. The craft market across from Soni's plaza is where you will find the best souvenirs but be prepared for the pushy vendors and don't be afraid to haggle and bargain. The first price you are quoted is usually close to twice what you should pay.
Ocho Rios Top Ten Attractions
Ocho Rios has a lot of attractions for you to enjoy. See my top ten list of those you should definitely see.