« CARIBBEAN • Discover the Caribbean • Jamaica • Ocho Rios
Discover Magical Ocho Rios
The name Ocho Rios is a misnomer because there are not eight rivers in the area. It is most likely a British corruption of the original Spanish name 'Las Chorreras' (the waterfalls), a name given to the village because of the nearby Dunn's River Falls.
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» Blue Hole
Blue Hole is a natural wonder located near Ocho Rios. A deep cavern within the tropical mountains of Jamaica, Blue Hole gets its name from the deep hue of the water here. This site isn't just pretty water, though. There are also waterfalls pouring into the hole from the sides and thick vegetation growing around the edges and from crevices in its rocky perimeter. Vines hang down into Blue Hole as well, giving it an even more exotic appearance. It is an excellent place to go swimming and cliff jumping …
» Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains create the longest mountain range on the island of Jamaica and constitute one of the longest continuous mountain ranges in the Caribbean. Blue Mountain Peak is the highest peak on the island and rises an impressive 7,402 feet (2,256 meters) above sea level. Stretching for 28 miles (45 kilometers), the mountain range spans the rugged and scenic eastern region of Jamaica and offers views of the island's north and south coasts …
» Coyaba River Garden and Museum
Jamaica's tropical trees and flowers surround a colonial-style home at the Coyaba River Garden and Museum, backed by stupendous views of the Ocho Rios harbor. Water is one of the main features of the gardens, with tumbling streams and the Mahoe Falls. With plenty to do, you can choose to sip locally grown coffee in the cool courtyard cafe, take a guided tour of the gardens, have a swim in the falls, and even shop for local crafts in the courtyard boutique …
» Cranbrook Flower Forest
Cranbrook Flower Forest is a stunning example of Jamaica's tropical heart, filled with flowers and hidden pools. A riverside nature trail winds through the tropical rainforest, lined with exotic flowers, leading to tranquil swimming holes. Follow the trail on foot or on horseback, and try to name the tropical flowers, from begonias to heliconias! If you are looking to raise your adrenaline levels, zip lines traverse the forest for a wild ride overhead, and cool swimming holes …
» Dolphin Cove
Swimming with dolphins is on most people's must-do lists, and Dolphin Cove offers a one-on-one encounter with dolphins and sharks like no other in Jamaica. You can touch, hold, feed and of course swim with the dolphins, and even interact with sharks. For the most in-depth dolphin encounter, be a sea keeper for the day and help feed and train these fascinating creatures. Dolphin Cove has every facility for a great day out, offering a Jamaican-style buffet lunch …
» Dunn's River Falls
Dunn's River Falls is a spectacular waterfall near Ocho Rios, where cold mountain water cascades 1,000 feet (300 meters) down naturally terraced steps. Visitors can climb the falls alone or in a guided "human chain," but there's also plenty of swimming, sunbathing and sightseeing to do as well. Those interested in geology will be fascinated with the way the falls renew themselves via regular deposits of calcium carbonate and sodium, and movie buffs will recognize them from films such as Dr. No and Cocktail …
» Fern Gully
Take a step back into the wilds of Jamaica with a drive through the incredibly lush and tropical Fern Gully. A towering tunnel of ferns and tropical overgrowth, this rainforest is so full and green that it has become one of the most noteworthy attractions in all of Jamaica. See water falling over canyons, beautiful gorges, tropical birds of paradise and more than 300 varieties of fern. Along the way visitors can stop to haggle with roadside vendors for wooden arts and crafts …
» Green Grotto Caves
Time and tide have etched the limestone Green Grotto Caves, lined with the green algae that gives them their name. The caverns are home to bats and marine life, and over the centuries they've been a hideout for fugitives and runaway slaves. Hidden away in an inner cavern is the crystal-clear Grotto Lake. Overhead, pockets in the limestone provide filtered light through the caverns' forest of stalactites and stalagmites …
» Martha Brae River
The Martha Brae River is the tranquil home of river rafting in Jamaica, the best way to discover the country's tropical interior. Guided tours include refreshment, lunch and lagoon swim stops, and quite often the guided rafting trips pass riverside crafts stalls. Rafts are ecologically friendly, made from bamboo, and the trips along the river pass Luminous Lagoon, where a natural phenomenon causes the water to glow. While you're here, pay a visit to the port of Falmouth …
» Mystic Mountain
Thrill seekers who visit Ocho Rios, Jamaica, must make time to visit Mystic Mountain for some stomach jumping and gravity defying adventures. Mystic Mountain is a nature park located in Jamaica's lush rainforest. You'll see and experience the island from different vantage points through three different types of excursions. Mystic Mountain's zipline course sets you racing through the rainforest as you slide down thick cables while strapped to them via a harness …
» Nine Mile
Nine Mile is synonymous with one of Jamaica's most famous sons, the late great master of reggae Bob Marley. Thanks to guided tours led by Rastafarian guides, you can visit the former home of Bob Marley, as well as the musician's beloved Mt. Zion Rock and his mausoleum. Many of the guides are Bob's fellow musicians, relatives, and friends. You can admire Bob's gold and platinum records on display, along with musical instruments, his favorite chair and other personal effects …
» Ocho Rios Cruise Port
Jamaica is known for much more than its Bobsled team! The small town of Ocho Rios is the ultimate gateway to a plethora of sightseeing and cultural experiences on the North Coast of the island. Originally a fishing village, Ocho Rios has grown into a noted port of call for cruise ships and a bustling economy has developed around the influx of tourists. The cruise port is located in convenient walking proximity to downtown Ocho Rios, a mid-sized town with six shopping plazas …
» Port Antonio
If the rough-and-tumble bustle of Kingston or the all-inclusive enclaves of Montego Bay aren't your style, consider Port Antonio. This sleepy banana-port town in the lush northwest of the island is a side of Jamaica you may have never heard of, unless you were around in the 1940s when Port Antonio was an idyllic and popular escape for Hollywood elite like Errol Flynn who built an estate here. Port Antonio's dense downtown area is pockmarked with dilapidated Georgian-era buildings …
» Rio Bueno
Rio Bueno is a small village located 32 miles (51.5 kilometers) east of Ocho Rios on the island of Jamaica. The Rio Bueno Harbour is the deepest harbor in Jamaica and the site where Columbus is believed to have first touched land in Jamaica. Visitors to Jamaica flock to this small fishing community to experience one of the most exhilarating excursions on the island: adventures along the Rio Bueno River. The river is situated in a beautiful tropical setting …
» Turtle Beach
The main beach in Ocho Rios, Turtle Beach, is a crescent of white sand just off Main Street. The white sands stretch along the bay's east side, overlooked by palm trees and high-rise hotels. Enjoy the local surroundings and take to the water in a kayak or jet ski, or swim in the safe shallow waters lapping the sand! You can hire sun beds, umbrellas, food and drink from nearby vendors. The beach also has changing facilities and showers …
» White River Valley
White River Valley prides itself on its eco credentials, offering all manner of outdoor adventures. The white limestone rocks give the White River its name, causing the water to tumble over rapids and forming tranquil lagoon pools for rafting. You can go tubing or kayaking in the White River, or even saddle a horse for a ride along trails leading through tropical rainforest! …
« CARIBBEAN • Discover the Caribbean • Jamaica • Ocho Rios
