Ocho Rios

A resort and cruise port on Jamaica's north coast, with waterfall gardens, bamboo rafting on the White River, Oracabessa (home of the creator of 007) and Firefly Estate.

Ocho Rios lies in Saint Ann Parish on Jamaica's north coast. It is one of the country's busiest cruise ports and a seaside town packed with resorts, about a 2-hour drive west of Kingston and 1.5 hours east of Montego Bay. The surrounding hills are full of rivers and waterfalls: the famous Dunn's River Falls, the Mystic Mountain rainforest zip line, Blue Hole falls, the Green Grotto Caves and Bob Marley's birthplace, Nine Mile, are all within 30 minutes to an hour's drive (in this guide, these attractions are listed under Montego Bay). In town are Turtle Beach, Mahogany Beach and the Island Village shopping area, and nearby you can visit Konoko Falls, Shaw Park, Turtle River Falls and Gardens, the shady Fern Gully road and go bamboo rafting on the White River. To the east are Oracabessa, where the creator of 007 had his home, and Firefly Estate; to the west are Seville Heritage Park and the beaches of Discovery Bay. Best time to visit: the Dec–Apr dry season, with sunny skies and little rain; Jun–Nov is hurricane season, with the highest risk Aug–Oct. Getting there: about 1.5–2 hours' drive from Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, or about 2 hours from Kingston's airport; locally, people mostly get around by taxi, private driver or hotel tours. Recommended stay: 3–5 days. The waterfall attractions get extremely crowded on cruise-ship days, so try to avoid those days or arrive early.

Top sights

• Mahogany Beach – A free public beach east of town, with white sand, shallow bays, beach bars and water activities. Locals often come here at weekends.
• Konoko Falls & Park – A waterfall park formerly known as Coyaba Gardens, with natural cascades to climb, a small zoo and a museum on the Taíno people.
• Dunn's River Falls – A stepped limestone waterfall about 180 metres long near Ocho Rios, where visitors climb from the beach to the top, hand in hand, against t…
• Ocho Rios Bay Beach (Turtle Beach) – A large public beach beside the cruise terminal in the town centre. It is within walking distance, making it a convenient spot for cruise p…
• Turtle River Falls & Gardens – A waterfall garden on the hillside above the town centre, with multi-tier small waterfalls, koi ponds and tropical plants. Visitors can spl…
• Shaw Park Gardens – A long-established tropical botanical garden on a hillside, with waterfalls and viewing platforms overlooking Ocho Rios Bay.
• Fern Gully – A road of about 5 km shaded by forest, following a former river bed. Hundreds of fern species line both sides, forming a green tunnel. It i…
• Dolphin Cove Ocho Rios – A marine park next to Dunn's River Falls, where visitors can swim with dolphins, feed sharks and stingrays, and walk through a tropical for…
• White River Bamboo Rafting – Gentle bamboo raft rides along the White River, with tropical rainforest and fishing villages on the banks. Upriver, tyre tubing, horseback…
• James Bond Beach & GoldenEye – Oracabessa, the place that inspired Ian Fleming's James Bond. Visitors can find a beach surrounded by water on three sides, and Goldeneye…
• Firefly Estate – The hilltop home of English playwright Noël Coward, overlooking the St. Mary coast. It is one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the Carib…
• Seville Heritage Park – The site of New Seville, Jamaica's first Spanish colony, with a plantation great house from 1745 and exhibits on the Taíno, African and Bri…
• Puerto Seco Beach – A public beach park in Discovery Bay with calm, clear water, a water playground and slides. It is a popular holiday spot for local families.
• Mystic Mountain – A rainforest park on a hilltop above Ocho Rios. Visitors ride a chairlift up and can enjoy a Jamaican bobsled ride, a jungle zip line and a…
• Blue Hole (Island Gully Falls) – A bright blue waterfall pool in the hills above Ocho Rios. Visitors can jump into the water, swing on ropes and climb small waterfalls. It…
• Green Grotto Caves – A limestone cave by the sea at Discovery Bay, with an underground lake. It was once a refuge for the Taíno, a hideout for smugglers and a p…
• Bob Marley Mausoleum, Nine Mile – The birthplace and burial place of reggae pioneer Bob Marley. Visitors are guided through his childhood home, the rock where he is said to…

Where to eat

• Miss T's Kitchen – A garden courtyard restaurant on Main Street with outstanding reviews for Jamaican home cooking. It was once named a to…
• Scotchies Jerk (Drax Hall) – The Ocho Rios branch of a Montego Bay favourite, serving jerk cooked over a pimento wood fire and praised by internatio…
• Ocho Rios Jerk Centre – A long-standing open-air jerk spot downtown, famous for its festival and within walking distance of the cruise pier.
• Bamboo Blu – A seafood restaurant on Mammee Bay beach west of town, where live lobster is grilled, with sand-side days and bonfire d…

Itineraries

• Reggae Roots: 5-Day Nine Mile to Kingston – From Bob Marley's birthplace in Nine Mile to the musical landmarks of Kingston, finishing with waterfalls on the north…
• Classic Jamaica Loop – A week-long island loop linking north coast waterfalls, Kingston, south coast fishing villages, and Negril sunsets.
• Blue Mountain Peak & Northeast Coast – In via Kingston, out via Montego Bay. Night-climb Blue Mountain Peak, then explore the Portland rainforest coast and th…
• Jamaica Grand Island In-Depth Loop – A counter-clockwise loop around the island, covering the west end beaches, south coast, capital, Blue Mountains, Portla…