The market town of Saint Ann is the capital of the parish, but all tourism activity and resort development has been concentrated in the city of Ocho Rios.
The literal translation in Spanish means Eight Rivers, some say that it could be a corruption of the name Las Chorreras, meaning the waterfall.
Ask any Caribbean Cruise Vacations passenger and they will tell you that Ocho Rios Jamaica is well known for the abundance of waterfalls in the area.
Ocho Rios Jamaica was once a small town and in the last few decades has developed to be an important tourist center.
Ocho Rios Jamaica is a must stop for the cruise lines offering services to the Western Caribbean Islands.
I’ve had clients asking specifically for one that stops in Ocho Rios. The day spent there is a full day of fun and entertainment.
They have built a deep water pier that can host three cruise ships at a time.
On any given day you’ll find the streets of Ochee full with tourists looking for souvenirs, that I can assure you, are there in abundance.
There are a few shopping plazas to serve the tourists. In those shopping areas you’ll find souvenirs, Jamaican handcrafts and above all kind of Duty Free articles.
The beaches of Ocho Rios Jamaica
• Dolphin Cove – Swim with dolphins. It also features lots of white sand and clear waters.
• Dunn's River Beach – This not a typical white sand beach, it puts you under the Dunn’s Waterfalls and the waters that come from the mountains.
• James Bond Beach – It is called this because of the proximity of Ian Fleming’s Ocho Rios home. It is less crowded than its neighbors.
• Mallards Beach – Located near the center of town and it’s always crowded with hotel guests and cruise visitors.
• Puerto Seco Beach - The beach is full of locals, reggae bands and Jamaica Food vendors selling the famous Jamaican Jerk Chicken.
• Turtle Beach – Many locals crowd this beach every day. But there is always space in the white sands for everybody.
Also land sports like Tennis, Horseback Riding, Golf and the sport our women like most: Shopping.
There are also a few important places to mention. You can visit them depending on time.
Rio Nuevo - It is where the battle for the island was fought between the Spanish and the English. Try to guess who won...?
Port Maria - Showcasing many beautiful buildings of the Colonial times.
Dunn's River Falls – One of the famous waterfalls is Dunn’s River Falls. It is a great experience to swim in its waters and play below the water falling from the heights. The place is one of the most photographed sites in Jamaica.
Fern Gully – This is another place worth visiting. It is a rocky very deep canyon of a few miles from the coast to the center of the island’s mountains.
The variety of tropical ferns of many species is mind boggling. Once you get very deep the sun is almost unseen because of the immense foliage.
Discovery Bay – Place where Columbus landed in 1494. You may find here a few old Spanish Building of those times.
Plantations – In those old plantations you may find model agricultural centers producing the island’s major exports like citrus, banana, coconut.
Ocho Rios features some of the Best Caribbean Beaches
Built in the glamorous 1950’s, during a time characterized by extraordinary old world luxury, this serene sanctuary still maintains a stellar reputation as one of Jamaica’s most exquisite resort inns.
Royal Plantation sits on a bluff soaring 25 feet above the shimmering Caribbean, granting each and every one of its 74 sumptuous suites heart-stopping views of the ocean.
Bask blissfully on our spectacular twin beaches glorious golden-sand coves where you can spend countless hours soaking in the sunshine and sipping on "mangosas," delivered ice cold and sparkling to your hands by beach butlers.
Jamaica Flowers like this one abound all over the island.
A legendary resort, a landmark renovation. The all inclusive 730-room Sunset Jamaica Grande Resorts continues the celebration of its multi million dollar rebuild and refurbishment.
A beautiful white sand beach, the longest in Ocho Rios, fringes the resort.
Five lavish pools wander through this beach side complex, featuring waterfalls, plunge pools, swim up bars and a swaying rope bridge.
Known for its wide range of “fun in the sun” daytime activities, guests can also enjoy an abundance of fun after the sun goes down.
Visit the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort and discover why Frommer’s proclaimed this dramatic family favorite was “like a Hollywood production”.