Ocho Rios aka “Ochi”

Located on Jamaica’s north coast, Ocho Rios is another one of the island’s main tourist hubs.  Ochi is in the parish of St Ann, also referred to as the “garden parish” because of its lush, green hillsides surrounding the town.  Ocho Rios in English means “eight rivers” and the town is aptly named for its many rivers and waterfalls coming from the hills above and around the town.

Ocho Rios is roughly 1.5 hours from Montego Bay and the main highway leading to it is spectacular.  It is called the North Coast highway and is properly paved with two lanes on each side for most of the journey, and allows traffic to flow freely (at sometimes breakneck speeds).  A good part of the drive on this highway is coastal so it is very scenic with the sea on one side and rolling green hills along the other side.

Ocho Rios is a lot like Montego Bay in the modern sense, but on a much smaller scale.  The town itself is small in comparison and it basically has a one-way street running through it, conveniently named Main Street.  You can walk from one end of Ochi proper, to the other end in probably thirty minutes.  By car you can drive through in under ten minutes, give or take depending on traffic delays, which always seem to occur at the clock tower in the center of town.

The second main road running through the town is called Da Costa Drive and runs behind the main section of the town and this is where you’ll find many additional modern conveniences.

The town is home to another of Jamaica’s main cruise ship ports which can hold up to three cruise ships at one time, and there is a distinct difference in the vibe of Ochi on cruise ship days versus non-cruise ship days.  When the ships are docked the streets are buzzing extra hard with vendors, tourists and taxis.

Ochi is similar to Montego Bay in that it has developed to a point where all of our modern conveniences are within walking distance.  This development has only happened within recent years, it was not this way as recently as 2012.  There are many modern cafes, bars, restaurants and shops lining Main Street and in designated tourist shopping areas right off Main Street.  Everything is easy to find and at your fingertips.

Distance from Ocho Rios to:

Negril – 3 hours

Montego Bay – 1.5 hours

Kingston – 1.5 hours (or less) on the toll highway.

Port Antonio – 2.5 hours.

Black River – 3 to 4 hours depending which route taken.

Treasure Beach – 3 to 4 hours depending which route taken.

Excursions in Ocho Rios

When vacationing in Ocho Rios and the greater area there are plenty of attractions and excursions to experience nearby.  This list contains excursions that are either in the town or within one hour of the of the town.  Of course, you can venture out much further into the island if you wish to pay the price for transport but this is what’s near to Ocho Rios – more than enough to fill up every single day of a typical 7 to 14 day vacation.

Click on each link below for more information.

[columns_row width=”half”]
[column]

[/column]
[column]

[/column]
[/columns_row]

It is worth mentioning that even if you’re staying in Ocho Rios, you’re less than two hours away from Montego Bay, Kingston and other towns and points of interest so there’s no need to limit yourself to the excursions listed in this section.  Please check the other area guides to see what’s available in other locations.  All tour guides and drivers will take you anywhere you want to go.  Just make sure you negotiate a price first.

Ocho Rios Beaches

Because Ocho Rios is a smaller town, much of the beach space right inside the town is taken up by major hotels.  However, there are some decent public beaches in the vicinity which are either within walking distance or inexpensive taxi rides away.

Ocho Rios Bay Beach is the main beach right in the town.  The entry fee is $200 JMD (less than $2.00 USD).  It is a well maintained, white sandy beach although it becomes very crowded on cruise ship days.  There are bars and restaurants available in the area as well as locals selling cold beverages right on the beach.

Mahogany Beach is a small beach located about ten minutes drive from the town center.  You’ll need to find a quick taxi ride there because it would be a long walk.  The beach itself is more of a small bay.  There are craft stalls and a restaurant and bar on site.

Little Dunns River beach is located at the bottom of Dunns River Falls on the seaside of the highway.  This little area is one of the town’s only still-free beaches and remains a hidden gem untouched by a lot of tourism.  There is no security, maintenance or lifeguard and very little, if any amenities but still worth visiting if you’re not into the crowds.

Reggae Beach (also known as Bamboo Beach) is approximately fifteen minutes drive from Ocho Rios town center.  Although it is a sandy beach it’s also a little rocky so be prepared to keep your sandals on.  Entry fee is $10.00 USD.  There’s a restaurant and bar on site as well as security.  Food and drink prices are expensive, as much as $18.00 USD for a jerk dinner plate and up to $10.00 USD for a blended drink.  On cruise ship days, be prepared for a very crowded beach experience and very slow service.

James Bond Beach is about a twenty-minute drive from Ocho Rios town center.  The entry fee is $350 JMD for locals and $5.00 USD for tourists.  This beach is much less populated than the beaches closer to town.  There is a restaurant and bar on site with reasonably priced food and drinks.  The property also has a large football field where ballers often practice and play during the day.  This site also hosts many musical events and concerts with a stage at the end of the field.

Dining and Shopping in Ocho Rios

Similar to Montego Bay, Ocho Rios is a much more expensive place to be than many other areas of the island, simply because it caters heavily to tourists.  When entering the town from the west end you immediately come upon Island Village which is the shopping area that cruise ship passengers are encouraged to visit.  You’ll find many high-end duty-free shops, a movie theater, and the chain restaurant Margaritaville, which has its own beach.

Moving past Island Village, a little further down Main Street you’ll come upon Taj Mahal shopping plaza which again has several high-end shops, regular souvenir shopping and a nice café on the upper level that offers everything from paninis to iced coffee drinks.

Past Taj Mahal you’ll come upon many souvenir shops selling all the same Jamaica themed items that are common in all tourist shops.  For a break in all the shopping that lines Main Street you’ll find Turtle Park right in the middle of the tourist area.  It’s a nice, open, green park to sit and enjoy yourself and your surroundings before carrying on to more and more shopping.  Turtle Park also hosts many nighttime entertainment events.

Due to a decent population of East Indians and Asians in Jamaica you will also find several authentic Indian and Chinese restaurants in the town.  Many shops on Main Street are run by Indian and Asian locals.

It’s not hard to find North American and local dining options in Ocho Rios.  Along Main Street and Da Costa Drive you can find Burger King, KFC and Pizza Hut.  A favorite among tourists is John Crows Tavern on Main Street.  It is a restaurant and bar with a large patio facing the road and it serves up a great selection of Western menu items including burgers and nachos.  They often have live music playing on the patio as well.

Further into the town there are plenty more strip mall and plaza type shopping areas that feature supermarkets, ice cream, milkshakes, laundromats, currency exchanges (also called Cambios) and major banks.

The local craft market is also located on Main Street, across the road from Burger King.  This craft market is NOT for the faint hearted because the vendors are aggressive so don’t expect a relaxed shopping experience.  Aside from artists who sell their own original paintings, most of the stalls in the craft market sell the exact same items so making a purchase comes down to which stall is easiest to negotiate with.

Passing the craft market and going over a small bridge in the town you’ll soon come upon the more gritty and chaotic side of Ocho Rios.  Once you get to the clock tower you’ll see exactly what I mean.  The clock tower is the central hub of the town.  The gas station here is a main taxi hub and driving through this roundabout area is a harrowing experience, although you can walk through with no problem.  Within this area you’ll find a mixed bag of local cook shops, wholesale markets, bars and pubs.

If you keep heading east you’ll eventually end up in the Pineapple area of Ocho Rios.  Pineapple is also a bit of a mixed bag because not only will you find local cook shops and markets, you’ll find doctors offices, lawyer offices and large wholesale stores.

On Da Costa drive in the same strip mall as KFC and Pizza Hut you’ll find Fontana’s Pharmacy which is similar to any typical drug store you’ll find back home.  It is not only a mainstream pharmacy but a store where you’ll find seasonal items such as holiday decorations, food items, toiletries, etc.  Just like a drug store back home.

Safety in Ocho Rios

Ocho Rios proper isn’t a very big place and basically has only two main thoroughfares running through it.  The town is relatively safe and friendly with an equal mix of tourists and locals out and about in the streets.

Because the town mainly caters to tourists there are plenty of “tourist police” visible on the street, especially on Main Street.  You can recognize them by their uniforms – black pants, white collared shirt and white hats.  They are there to assist with questions, concerns, directions, etc.

Vendors can be aggressive, especially on cruise ship days because of the high concentration of tourists but a simple NO THANK YOU can usually suffice.

Perhaps the most unwelcome solicitations you’ll be subjected to in Ocho Rios are people selling drugs, and not just marijuana.  Hard drugs are prevalent in tourist towns and no one is immune to the approaches from sellers.

Single women may also be subjected to relentless propositions by Jamaican men.  Use common sense in these situations.  Not everything is as it seems and pairing up with these individuals may result in stolen property or money.