Ocho Rios Holidays

Ocho Rios is a charming little town located on the northern coast of Jamaica. This town is also called ‘the golden parish’ due to its exotic flora and fauna, attractive rivers and amazing waterfalls. Like most places on Jamaica, Ocho Rios has a very laidback atmosphere with reggae music playing and friendly people all over the place. Ocho Rios is the home of one of the biggest attractions in Jamaica – the Dunn`s River Falls. Movie lovers would love to see the “Golden Eye” – formerly a luxurious mansion of James Bond author Ian Fleming, now turned into a very popular resort that is regularly visited by the tourists.

Ocho Rios has a nice tropical climate with average temperatures above 25 C all year long. Average summer temperatures are often in the mid-30s C, and even the winter months are pleasantly warm for sunbathing and swimming.

The center of the town is the place where you will find many open-air restaurants, bars and interesting craft markets. Everything is close and you can reach all attractions within a few minutes walk. In Ocho Rios you will find a few nice shopping malls, and one very attractive place for the shoppers is the Island Village. On this open market you will find all kinds of duty-free goods and Jamaican handicrafts. Handmade wooden boxes, terracotta products, local rum and coffee are some of the most popular products that you can buy here.

When it comes to beaches, Ocho Rios has a few beaches that are often crowded with tourists. James Bond Beach is a very attractive beach with beautiful mountains in the back. Turtle Beach is not as scenic as James Bond Beach, but it is equally popular with tourists, while the Reggae Vibes Beach is a party beach where you can try all kinds of water sports or see some giant turtles in its waters. Families with children can enjoy swimming with the dolphins at the Dolphin Cove, which is very close to the Dunn River Falls. Rafting trips to the popular Black and White Rivers are always interesting, while the kids would love bouncing on trampolines or bungee jumping at the nice little children-friendly beach located near the Island Village. All of the all-inclusive hotel resorts organize different kinds of activities for the children and some of them even have a designated nanny for each family that arrives at the hotel.

If you want to take a break from beaches and water activities, you can go hiking and explore the nearby region. At Dunn`s River Falls you will see one impressive two hundred meters high waterfall. You have the opportunity to swim close to the falls or go horseback riding nearby. Horseback riding excursions will take you through the attractive Annandale Plantation. Biking and golfing are other popular activities that you can try while in Ocho Rios. If you want to explore further, the historic Prospect Plantation is a good place to visit, full of tropical fauna. You can also go check out the scenic botanical park Shaw Park Gardens, located just a few minutes drive away from Ocho Rios.