Ocho Rios, Jamaica – An Overview

It's not the capital of Jamaica, and it's not the most popular tourist destination in the country but Ocho Rios is one of the best places for anyone to visit if they are wanting to experience a little of real Jamaican natural beauty that's away from the pampered resort beach life.

Ocho Rios does have its share of this kind of vacation, but it combines it with some of Jamaica's real natural gems. Dunn's River waterfall for example falls within this location. This is the backdrop for many romantic vacations, and is something that many people coming to Jamaica want to visit – even those who are spending most of their holiday on another part of the island! Another of the area's must-see places is only a short distance from the falls – the Dolphin Cove where you can actually swim with dolphins for a short period of time. For nightlife you can choose from nightclubs, bars, and even a cinema so even though you are surrounded by nature's beauty by day, you can still become a party animal at night!

Although getting to the area is going to require you hiring a car from one of the main arrival destinations on the island, it's certainly worth the effort because the attractions far outweigh the inconvenience of having an airport on the hotel doorstep! Some hotels offer airport shuttles so check this out when you are deciding where to stay if you think this could be a problem. One thing to bear in mind if you are only going to Ocho Rios for a day to visit the Falls and/or the dolphins is to avoid the days when the cruise ships dock in the area – weekdays are common for the cruise liners - but check at your hotel so that you pick a day when it will be less crowded!