The town of Ocho Rios, also known as Ochi, is considered the garden centre of Jamaica. Located on the North Coast Highway, the hills to the south of Ocho Rios are magnificent. These lush green hills are home to the Coyaba River Garden and Museum, the Enchanted Garden Resort and the Shaw Park Gardens. Another striking area of natural beauty is Fern Gully, a beautiful green region verdant with ferns.
However, the most popular spot for visitors to Jamaica is Dunn’s River Falls to the west of Ocho Rios. This comprises a series of waterfalls that cascade all the way down from the mountains to the sea. It truly is a magnificent sight and very few of those who visit Ocho Rios can forget it.
Visitors are sure to enjoy the drive down from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios; there are plenty of sights to see as the road passes a cruise ship terminal and then moves into the town as the North Coast Highway gives way to DaCosta Drive. The Main Street, which has many shops and a local crafts market, is just off DaCosta Drive, while the main road heads east towards a number of large, popular resorts.
Another popular local spot is the town of Oracabessa, to the west of Ocho Rios. Situated near Goldeneye, Ian Fleming’s former home, is the James Bond Beach which attracts a lot of 007 fans. The activities here include horseback rides, a beach bar and grill, and helicopter tours.
Ocho Rios has a number of interesting eateries offering a variety of cuisines to suit all budgets. The Ruins is an interesting restaurant that is situated next to a waterfall; it offers a mix of Oriental and Jamaican dishes. A Ruined Romance is a restaurant with a quaint history involving an Englishman named Robert Rutherford and a local Jamaican girl named Rose Dale. Windies is a West Indian restaurant presenting gourmet cuisine.
There are many hotels, inns and resorts in Ocho Rios including the Blue House, which is a luxury bed and breakfast. Breezes Golf and Beach Resort is one of the most popular accommodation options on the island. Other options include Ciboney which offers 226 villa suites on a hillside, Boscobel Beach for family getaways and Columbus Heights which is one of the few condo complexes in Jamaica.
Visitors to Ocho Rios can hire cars or taxis to move around the area. Local buses that move at a much slower pace are also available. Guided bicycle tours through the Blue Mountains are a great way to sightsee here.
Orson Johnson writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing Darling Harbour accommodation & Self Catering holiday apartments.
