Best Things To Do in Ocho Rios

On the north coast of Jamaica is the city of Ocho Rios. It is a former fishing village, now a major tourist center with a port that serves as a stopover for many cruise ships. The city stands out for its Caribbean culture and vibrant scene, as well as for its impressive natural spaces.

Throughout your stay you can take a guided tour of Ocho Rios to discover its charms, go shopping, visit local bars and restaurants. You can also go white water rafting on the Rio Blanco, take a cycling route in the Blue Mountains, explore the Dunn River waterfalls and the Blue Hole, among other activities that I will tell you about in a moment.

One of the first things you can do in Ocho Rios is to take a tour of this charming coastal city. You will discover the most emblematic places and get breathtaking views of the countryside, the ocean, the surrounding rainforest, among other places.

Along this adventure exploring Ocho Rios, you will pass by the Botanical Garden, which houses an important collection of medicinal plants and spices, as well as the home of the legendary rock singer, Mick Jagger. You will also drive along the Fern Gully Scenic Byway , lined with ferns and with a view of Playa Tortuga, Dunns River Falls, etc.

To carry out this activity, it is ideal to book a private tour of Ocho Rios. This way you will have an experienced guide-driver at your disposal, who will accompany you at all times, tell you about the different destinations and answer your questions.

Information of interest

• Price: 55€ per person is the average cost of a private tour of Ocho Rios.
• Duration: between 2 and 3 hours, approximately.
• Advantage: you will get to know the essential places of the city and get amazing panoramic views of the surroundings.

During your visit to the port city of Ocho Rios you can join a bamboo rafting experience. This is a very popular activity in which you will enjoy a scenic route on the Rio Blanco: the crystal clear waters and lush vegetation.

This adventure usually takes place in Rio Blanco, located about 7 minutes drive from downtown. There, you will board a bamboo raft and, accompanied by a guide, you will travel along the river, admiring the beautiful scenery as you go. You can take pictures of the environment and even stop for a swim in the middle of nowhere.

To carry out this activity, you can hire a bamboo rafting experience, which incorporates both a local guide and a round trip transfer. This way, you won't have to worry about anything but enjoying the adventure.

Information of interest

• Price: starts at about 72€ per person.
• Duration: approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.
• Advantage: you will live a different experience aboard a bamboo raft in which you will connect with nature.

Dunn's River Falls and Blue Hole are two famous destinations to visit on your trip to Ocho Rios. You'll enjoy an exciting adventure in two scenic wilderness areas where you can explore lush trails, marvel at breathtaking panoramas and swim in crystal clear waters.

This tour to Dunn's River Falls and Blue Hole is usually guided and begins with a transfer by car from downtown Ocho Rios (about 7 minutes). Upon arrival, you will hike up to the falls, on a route that takes you through several terraces with natural pools. You will be able to stop and take a dip. At the top, you will have a mesmerizing view of the Caribbean Sea and the rainforest.

Afterwards, the guide will take you to the Blue Hole; a natural enclave with calm, deep blue waters. You can swim, jump off the cliffs and explore the surroundings before returning to Ocho Rios. Without a doubt, booking an excursion to Dunn's River Falls and the Blue Hole will be an unforgettable experience.

Information of interest

• Price: it has an average cost of 47€ per person.
• Duration: 4 hours approximately.
• Advantage: you will explore two areas of great scenic beauty and natural importance.

If you're enthusiastic about outdoor adventures on two wheels, you can take advantage of your time in Ocho Rios and connect with a bike tour to the Blue Mountains. It's a rugged, forested route that will give you unparalleled panoramic views of the island and beyond.

Upon arriving at the Blue Mountains and starting the tour, you will discover a tropical rainforest with amazing biodiversity. As you pedal you will see various species of orchids, ferns, bromeliads, mosses and lichens. Also, reptiles, giant butterflies, endemic animals such as the doctor's tail hummingbird and others in danger of extinction such as the Jamaican Blackbird.

You will enjoy from the first moment an explosion of colors in your environment. Also, on the route of this Blue Mountains bike tour you will come across a pristine waterfall, where you can cool off and relax before returning to downtown Ocho Rios.

Information of interest

• Price: this experience costs about 136€ per person. It includes transportation, guide and bicycle.
• Duration: approximately 9 hours.
• Advantage: you will be physically active while enjoying the natural scenery and wildlife of the highest mountain in Jamaica.

If you're interested in marine attractions, then Dolphin Cove is the place for you. Unforgettable moments await you at this dolphin habitat in Ocho Rios . You will have the opportunity to interact with these friendly marine mammals and other activities.

At Dolphin Cove you will have a direct encounter with the dolphins. You will be able to swim with them, hug them and even give them a kiss. You will also be able to touch and hold some sharks and stingrays.

For more fun, you can join other activities inside Dolphin Cove. For example, kayaking, snorkeling, strolling through the jungle watching beautiful exotic birds, iguanas and snakes.

Information of interest

• Entrance fee: starts at about 49€ per person.
• Hours: daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
• Advantage: you will enjoy a unique experience with dolphins and other marine animals.

A must-see in Ocho Rios is the Shaw Park Gardens. This haven of tranquility will dazzle you with lush vegetation and breathtaking views of the city, as it is located about 900 meters above sea level.

Along the route through this important natural lung, you will find more than 600 species of flowers, palms, ferns, bromeliads and shrubs. You will have at your disposal an amazing natural scenery. Ideal for you to take some pictures.

In the park you will have a series of trails to walk quietly. If you follow these paths, you will come across a beautiful waterfall that presides over the garden. In addition, you will find some picnic areas and viewpoints.

Information of interest

• Admission: about 20€ per person.
• Hours: daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• Advantage: you will learn about important native and exotic plant species.

Contemplating the Ocho Rios skyline at sunset from the calm waters of the coast is another experience worth undertaking during your stay in the city. You'll see the last rays of the day's sun color the landscape with its yellow and orange hues.

From the deck of a boat, you'll watch the sun slowly sink into the horizon, giving way to the vibrant night in Ocho Rios. As darkness settles, you will see the city's buildings light up, as well as the moon's reflection on the Caribbean Sea and the amazing starry sky.

After this river adventure you will surely have relaxed and recharged your batteries, to continue exploring the city the next morning. Perhaps you can book an excursion to the Blue Hole and enjoy a natural area of great scenic beauty.

Information of interest

• Price: from 218€ per person.
• Time: about 3 hours.
• Advantage: you will discover a different perspective of the Ocho Rios skyline at sunset.

Ocho Rios offers a variety of bars and restaurants that capture some of the city's vibrant essence. Check out the cozy terraces overlooking the sea, taste some local and international liquors, delight your palate with Caribbean flavors and enjoy live music.

This is a tour you can do on your own. Just go to downtown Ocho Rios and you will discover a wide range of options for drinking and eating. Some of the favorite places for tourists tend to be John Crow's Tavern, Ocho Rios Jerk Centre, Little Pub on the Village, among many others.

Throughout this experience you will enjoy unmissable drinks such as Jamaica's national beer, Red Stripe Beer; the famous fruit and rum cocktail, Rum Punch, among others. You will also have the opportunity to try patties, patties with meat, chicken, fish or vegetables; escovitch fish, a fried fish with vegetable sauce and vinegar, Jerk Chicken, a grilled chicken previously marinated in spices.

Interesting information

• Admission: free access. However, you must pay for everything consumed.
• Hours: approximately from 10:00 am to midnight. This may vary depending on the establishment.
• Advantage: you will enjoy the unique flavors of the gastronomy and alcoholic beverages of the region.

During your stay in Ocho Rios you can do some shopping and take with you priceless souvenirs of this beautiful Jamaican city. You will find several duty-free shopping malls, where you can buy all kinds of products and, best of all, save money.

Among some of the must-see duty-free places is the Craft Market. It is an open-air market with hundreds of products handmade by local artisans and with raw materials from Jamaica: fabrics, carvings, paintings, hats, mugs, souvenirs. Also, plants, locally grown Blue Mountain Coffee and much more.

The Island Village Shopping Center is another popular place to shop and hang out. There, you'll find boutiques, jewelry, perfume and souvenir stores that, just by showing your passport, will free you from paying taxes. There are also a few restaurants where you can sample the local cuisine and recharge your batteries.

Information of interest

• Admission: access to both the market and the mall is free.
• Hours: Craft Market (daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm). Island Village Shopping Mall (daily from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm).
• Advantage: you will buy some souvenirs of your trip and save money thanks to the tax-free law.

Having a good time at Playa Tortuga, better known as the beach of Ocho Rios Bay, turns out to be another of the things to do in this coastal city. Not only will you be able to swim and relax, you will also be able to do some fun water activities.

Once on the beach you will find a picturesque natural scene: the white sand, the crystal clear waters, the palm trees that border the place and the radiant sun. You can lie back in a chair under the shade of an umbrella and gaze at the horizon while refreshing yourself with a tropical fruit juice or a beer.

You can also go into the water to swim, snorkel, scuba dive, snorkel or kayak. And, if you want to test your balance, you'll have to join the fun floating obstacle course on the beach. Whatever activity you do, you'll have an unforgettable experience.

Interesting information

• Price: Admission is free. However, you will have to pay for water activities, drinks and food consumed.
• Hours: Open all day.
• Advantage: you will relax, swim and do fun water activities.