Sightseeing in Ocho Rios - what to see. Complete travel guide

Ocho Rios is a town on the north coast of Jamaica. Located on the coast of Discovery Bay, this is a well-established and popular resort. In Ocho Rios, vacationers will find numerous beaches, comfortable bays, and stone capes. There are many old villages and small towns in the vicinity of Ocho Rios, where fishing is the main occupation of local people. In this region, tourists can visit the waterfalls of mesmerizing beauty that have become a true natural landmark of the town. Moreover, Ocho Rios is recognized as the second most popular port in Jamaica, so large cruise ships are frequent guests here. Numerous crowds of tourists come to this town every year to enjoy quality recreation at the seaside and get acquainted with Jamaican life.

Christopher Columbus was the discoverer of Jamaica. He first reached this island in 1494. In the 17th century, British ships sailed to the coast of the island. The British easily captured the territory of Jamaica and colonized it. For many years, Ocho Rios was nothing but a small village, residents of which were fishing and selling their catch to survive. However, Mother Nature blessed this region with breathtaking views and favorable climatic conditions that are suitable for beach recreation. It was only a matter of time to build a resort in the town.

As soon as local people realized that the development of their homeland can bring many tourists, they started turning their fishing village into a new attractive town. The result of their work is truly fantastic – Ocho Rios is now widely recognized as one of the most famous resort destinations in Jamaica. Tourists from different parts of the world have a dream of visiting this paradise place at the coast of the Caribbean Sea. The importance of Ocho Rios as a tourist town has been constantly growing, the same as the number of guests visiting this resort every year. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Why is Ocho Rios so popular? Needless to say, magnificent beaches are one of the biggest treasures of the resort. James Bond Beach is one of them. This beach has everything needed for a pleasant stay at the Caribbean Sea’s coast. Soft white sand doesn’t cause any discomfort, so vacationers only need a towel to sunbathe here. Of course, it is possible to rent a sun lounger and umbrella. Besides this, the beach offers wide functionality for active recreation and water-based sports. The rental office has scuba diving equipment. An underwater journey promises to be extremely interesting and unforgettable because the sea world is very picturesque and diverse. The Caribbean Sea has crystal clear water, so it is easy to see the bottom even if it is deep.

The name of the beach is not random. One of the films in the internationally famous franchise about James Bond was produced on James Bond Beach. Would you like to feel like the most famous spy in the world? In this case, don’t forget to relax on this famous beach in Ocho Rios. In recent years, James Bond Beach has become particularly popular with tourists who are keen on carting and rafting. The reason is simple – this beach is perfectly suitable for these activities. Furthermore, everyone is welcome to take an unforgettable voyage deeper into the Caribbean Sea using a water scooter. This personal watercraft is also available for rent.

Continue your exploration of the most famous beaches in Ocho Rios with a visit to Turtle Beach. This popular beach has an unusual shape – it looks like a crescent from above. The length of the beach is roughly five hundred meters. Soft white sand covers the territory of Turtle Bay, making a stay here even more comfortable and safe. The temperature of the water is even higher at Turtle Beach compared to other Jamaican resorts. This individual feature has an explanation – the coastline has a slight elevation. Turtle Beach is a great choice for vacationers with children. The sea is shallow near the coast, and the bottom doesn’t have any sharp objects, so kids can play in the water safely. There are usually many people riding canoes on Turtle Beach.

It is simply inexcusable to visit Ocho Rios and fail to see the main natural attraction of the region. This part of the island is the location of a truly breathtaking place –Dunn’s River Falls. This is a cascade of falls, the height of which is roughly one hundred and eighty-two meters. The falling water then flows into the Caribbean Sea. Perhaps, this is the most beautiful and spectacular natural attraction on the island of Jamaica. To see the place where the waterfall starts and where it ends, tourists need to get to its top, walking through a bamboo grove and among big ferns. After a hard hike, it is particularly pleasant to swim in the warm turquoise-colored water.

Connoisseurs of reggae music shouldn’t forget to visit a thematic museum in Ocho Rios. It exhibits an interesting collection of memorabilia. An excursion in this museum is a chance to learn everything about the history of this music genre starting from its birth and until modern time. Visitors will see how reggae was evolving through centuries from the moment when local people played it using African drums and until the first dancehall rhythms.

There is an airport 16 kilometers from the central part of Ocho Rios. This airport receives domestic flights from Montego Bay and Kingston. There are also flights from Negril to this airport. Upon arrival, vacationers can always rent a taxi to the resort town. It should be mentioned that this means of transport is the most preferable for tourists. Intercity buses connect Kingston and Montego Bay to Ocho Rios. The journey time is two hours.