The gateway to northern Jamaica is the ideal base from which to strike out for the country’s most popular attractions. The Blue Mountains, Mystic Mountain, Kingston, Dunn’s River Falls, the Blue Hole and many more are all within easy reach from Ocho Rios. And, on Main Street, you’ll find a raft of reggae-infused restaurants and lively nightlife.
Top six things to do in Ocho Rios
1. Discover the Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains have secured UNESCO World Heritage Site status thanks to their biodiversity and role in offering refuge to persecuted people over the centuries. It was to these densely forested hills that Taino aborigines and runaway slaves escaped – the Nanny Town Heritage Route covers many of the secret trails they developed. As well as learning about the area’s history, hiking and bird-watching are popular activities. Make the most of your visit to the Blue Mountains with an excursion to a coffee plantation – these mountains are famed for the coffee that’s grown here.
2. Head to Mystic Mountain
If you fancy putting a bit of oomph into your Jamaican holiday, then Mystic Mountain will happily oblige. This adventure park is packed with adrenaline-pumping activities that verge from the physically exerting to the gravity-defying. Bobsledding, ziplining over treetop canopies, rock climbing, rope courses, ATV rides – you’ve got plenty of options.
3. Explore Jamaica’s most iconic waterfalls
Jamaica has waterfalls by the bucketload and Ocho Rios has two megastars on its doorstep. Almost in the city itself, you’ll find the Konoko Falls, which cascade into tiered pools in beautifully landscaped botanic gardens. And, the Dunn’s River Falls are just a short trip out of town, which became world-famous as the location of the iconic scene where the bikini-clad Honey Rider emerged from the sea in Dr. No, the first Bond movie. These waterfalls are huge, and the levels take more than an hour to climb.
4. Visit the capital, Kingston
An hour south of Ocho Rios is Kingston, Jamaica’s chaotic capital. Loud and proud, it wears its heart on its sleeve. Top attractions include its colonial heritage – Devon House, Port Royal and St William Grant Park – and the Bob Marley Museum. The museum is located in the memorabilia-packed 19th-century mansion that was the reggae legend’s home for the final six years of his life. It’s well worth a daytrip just to savour the atmosphere.
5. Make a splash at the Blue Hole
You can release your inner Tarzan at the Blue Hole, one of the most Instagrammable spots in Ocho Rios. This natural pool is replenished by gushing waterfalls. You can even swing into it from a rope and make a splash in its refreshing mineral-rich waters. An excursion to the Blue Hole combines scenery with a bit of action.
6. Kick back on a catamaran cruise
There are catamaran cruises, and then there are Jamaican catamaran cruises – they’re in a league of their own. As you can imagine, they involve copious servings of reggae, dancing and swimming. Although the focus tends to be on the partying, most of the boat tours also throw in a trip to a scenic cove or the Dunn’s River Falls.
