Best Things To Do in Ocho Rios

On the north coast of Jamaica lies the town of Ocho Rios. A former fishing village, it is now a major tourist centre with a harbour that serves as a port of call for many cruise ships. The city is noted for its Caribbean culture and vibrant scene, as well as its stunning natural areas.

Throughout your stay you can take a guided tour of Ocho Rios to discover its charms, go shopping, visit the local bars and restaurants. You can also go white water rafting on the Rio Blanco, take a cycling tour in the Blue Mountains, explore the Dunn's River waterfalls and the Blue Hole, among other activities that I'll 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'll discover the most iconic sights and get breathtaking panoramas of the countryside, the ocean, the surrounding rainforest and more.

Along this adventure exploring Ocho Rios, you'll pass by the Botanical Gardens, which houses an important collection of medicinal plants and spices, as well as the home of legendary rock singer Mick Jagger. You'll also drive along the Fern Gully Scenic Byway , lined with ferns and with views of Turtle Beach, Dunns River Falls, etc.

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

Useful information

• Price: 55€ per person is the average cost of a private tour of Ocho Rios.
• Duration: Approximately 2 to 3 hours.
• Advantage: You'll get to see the city's essential sights and get amazing panoramic views of the surrounding area.

While in the port city of Ocho Rios you can join a bamboo rafting experience. This is a very popular activity where you will enjoy a scenic route on the Rio Blanco - the crystal clear waters and lush vegetation.

This adventure usually takes place at Rio Blanco, located about 7 minutes drive from the city centre . 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 surroundings 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 return transfer. This way, you won't have to worry about anything but enjoying the adventure.

Useful information

• Price: starts at around 72€ per person.
• Duration: approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.
• Advantage: you will live a different experience aboard a bamboo raft where 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'll hike up to the falls, on a route that takes you through several terraces with natural pools. You can stop and take a dip. At the top, you'll get a mesmerising view of the Caribbean Sea and the rainforest.

Afterwards, your 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. Booking a trip to Dunn's River Falls and the Blue Hole is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

Useful information

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

If you're keen on 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.

When you arrive at the Blue Mountains and start the tour, you will discover a tropical rainforest with amazing biodiversity. As you cycle 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 very first moment an explosion of colours in your surroundings. 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 the centre of Ocho Rios.

Useful information

• Price: this experience costs about 136€ per person. Includes transfer, guide and bike.
• Duration: approximately 9 hours.
• Advantage: You will be physically active while enjoying the natural scenery and wildlife of Jamaica's highest mountain.

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 enter their natural environment, swim with them, hug them and even give them a kiss. You can also touch and hold some sharks and stingrays.

For more fun, you can join other activities at Dolphin Cove. For example, kayaking, snorkelling, jungle walks with beautiful exotic birds, iguanas and snakes.

Information of interest

• Admission: starts at around 49€ per person.
• Opening 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 tranquillity will dazzle you with lush vegetation and breathtaking views of the city, as it is located about 900 metres 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 taking some photographs.

In the park you will find a series of trails for a leisurely walk. If you follow these paths, you will come across a beautiful waterfall that presides over the garden. You will also find some picnic areas and viewpoints.

Useful information

• Admission: around 20€ per person.
• Opening hours: daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• Advantage: you will get to know important native and exotic plant species.

Watching the Ocho Rios skyline at sunset from the calm waters off the coast is another experience worth undertaking during your time in the city. You'll watch the last rays of the day's sunlight colour the landscape with its yellow and orange hues.

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

After this river adventure you'll surely be relaxed and recharged, ready to continue exploring the city the next morning. Perhaps you can book a trip to the Blue Hole and enjoy a natural area of great scenic beauty.

Useful information

• 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 vibrant essence of the city. Check out the cosy terraces overlooking the sea, sample some local and international spirits, indulge your palate with Caribbean flavours and enjoy live music.

This is a tour you can do on your own. Just head to downtown Ocho Rios and you'll discover a wide range of drinking and dining options. Some of the favourite 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 and vinegar sauce, Jerk Chicken, a grilled chicken previously marinated in spices.

Useful information

• Admission: free. However, you must pay for everything consumed.
• Opening hours: approximately 10:00 to 00:00 hours. This may vary depending on the establishment.
• Advantage: You will enjoy the unique flavours of the region's gastronomy and alcoholic beverages.

During your stay in Ocho Rios you can do some shopping and take back some priceless souvenirs of this beautiful Jamaican city. You'll find several duty-free shopping plazas where you can buy all kinds of goods and, best of all, save money.

Some of the must-visit duty-free places include the Craft Market. This is an open-air market with hundreds of products handmade by local artisans using Jamaican raw materials: fabrics, carvings, paintings, hats, mugs and souvenirs. Also, plants, locally grown Blue Mountain Coffee and much more.

The Island Village Shopping Centre is another popular place to shop and hang out. There, you'll find boutiques, jewellery, perfume and souvenir shops, and just show your passport and you'll be tax-free. There are also a few restaurants where you can sample the local cuisine and recharge your batteries.

Useful information

• Admission: Free admission to both the market and the shopping centre.
• Opening hours: Craft Market (daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm). Island Village Shopping Centre (daily 10am-8pm).
• 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, but you will also be able to do some fun water activities.

Once on the beach you'll find a picturesque natural scene: the white sand, the crystal clear waters, the palm trees lining the beach and the bright sunshine. You can lie back in a chair under the shade of an umbrella and gaze at the horizon while you cool off with a tropical fruit juice or a beer.

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

Useful information

• Price: admission is free. However, you will have to pay for the water activities, drinks and food consumed.
• Opening hours: open all day.
• Advantage: You will relax, swim and do fun water activities.