It was in Ocho Rios where mass tourism first took off in Jamaica during the advent of the jet age. The region has built up over the years a wealth of cultural activities, outdoor excursions and interesting shopping that set Ocho Rios apart as a resort area offering much more than sun, sea and sand.
Dunn’s River Falls is easily Jamaica’s most well known attraction and for good reason. Visitors come from all over the island to traverse the boulders and falling water as they make their way up into the jungle. Other spectacular natural settings include a variety of gardens where visitors can wander through acres of bougainvillea, ginger lilies, heliconias, anthuriums, orchids and massive banyan trees. Spots to visit are Shaw Park Botanical Gardens; Coyaba River Garden & Museum; Cranbrook Flower Forest; and Fern Gully with over 500 varieties of ferns planted since the 1880s.
For art lovers, Wassi Art is a little known commune high up in the mountains where resident artists create exquisite clay pottery and sculpture. This is a must for shoppers also, because it has the best variety and pricing compared to the cruise ship docks. It’s fun to buy the local wares from where they were designed, and tourists have the benefit of seeing the clay-making process firsthand while the artisans work their magic on the pottery wheel.
A must-see diversion for all stripes of visitors, Island Village is an expansive shopping, dining and entertainment complex owned by Chris Blackwell, the legendary producer of Bob Marley.
The open-air and lushly landscaped attraction is home to various restaurants including Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, plus colorful shops selling both designer labels and local Jamaican wares. A highlight is the ReggaeXplosion museum dedicated to reggae and its many fans. Make sure to check out the dance floor inside designed for the hearing impaired. Below the floor are high powered speakers that make the floor reverberate so people can feel the reggae beat as it emanates up through their bodies, while they watch classic reggae concerts on the large video screen.
