Ocho Rios, Jamaica is located on the north coast of the island. It is one of the most visited tourist sites in the country due to the deep-water port that attracts cruise ships. On cruise days, throngs of tourists spend a few hours at ‘Ochi’ (as it is popularly called by the locals), where they shop for souvenirs and visit the popular Dunn’s River Falls.

The biggest attraction in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, is Dunn’s River Falls, which can be crowded on cruise days with dozens of excited American tourists trying to scale the terraces. Laughing Waters, further west, offers a smaller, quieter but similar experience. Alternatively, you can opt for a lazy 45-minute ride down the lush White River in bamboo boats.

But there’s so much more to the area, including some lovely little beaches, several botanical gardens, and a couple of historical sites. As with many sites in Jamaica, it was the pirates who first saw the value of this beautiful site. Today, Ocho Rios, Jamaica is a growing Jamaican city with numerous resorts and villas catering to the budget-minded as well as the high-end visitor.

If you like flora, you will be impressed by the large tropical variety on display in several surrounding botanical gardens. These include the Jardín del Río Coyaba with its museum of Arawak culture; the superbly maintained Eco-Tours The Enchanted Gardens (formerly Carinosa Gardens) which boasts an extensive orchid collection; and the Shaw Park Botanic Gardens, which have the benefit of great elevated views of the coastline.

Fern Gulley is a good excuse to rent scooters or a car and head inland as the road winds through lush, fern-laden hills. There are several historical sites that are also worth visiting. The Fort of Ocho Ríos is a modest building dating from the 17th century (restored in the 1970s) to the west of the city. To the east you can visit Harmony Hall, a century-old building that is now a center for promoting local arts. To get a taste of life as a sugar magnate during the island’s colonial era, visit the working farm at Prospect Plantation.

Activities in Ochi include scuba diving, parasailing, sport fishing, horseback riding, and golf. Also, you can just relax on the beach at places like Turtle Beach, Mallards Beach or Grande Beach. These are just some of the things to do in Ocho Rios Jamaica.

There is a small airstrip nearby for connecting flights from Montego Bay or Kingston. In addition, public passenger buses from these two main centers arrive regularly and although the journey can be a bit arduous, the scenery will impress you.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Ocho Rios, Jamaica, take it. This destination has a lot to offer and it is not difficult to understand why dozens of visitors make Ochi their destination of choice year after year.