On the Jamaican north coast, Ocho Rios is a wonderful tourist hub, surrounded by lush rainforests, beaches, waterfalls, reggae music and resorts. Because most attractions are nearby, you can explore a lot in just one day. Recently, I enjoyed Dunn’s River Falls and Mystic Mountain, all within 5 hours. These are the 2 of the best destinations to explore the exotic scenery on this Caribbean Island. So, read on to learn about how to plan a fun day and see these top Ocho Rios Jamaica attractions!
About Ocho Rios
Formerly a fishing village, Ocho Rios is now a resort town and popular cruise port. Locals simply refer to it as “Ochi.” Ocho Rios means 8 rivers. However, this is a misnomer as there are only 4 rivers in the area: Cave, Turtle, Roaring and Dunn’s Rivers. As a tourism hub, there are numerous restaurants and resorts in town. The biggest tourist attractions in the area include the following: Dunn’s River Falls, Mystic Mountain, Blue Hole and Dolphin Cove.
Smart Travel Tips for Ocho Rios
It’s wise to be vigilant when walking through town. I met a woman that had her purse stolen when walking in the market. Also, many vendors approach you and try to sell anything from souvenirs to drugs. A local man asked me if I wanted some marijuana. Marijuana is illegal in Jamaica, so do not have any in your possession. Some locals pose as tour guides and overcharge, taking you on a fake tour. So, it’s important to confirm your tour company is legitimate. With that said, I met some super nice locals that showed me a wonderful time here. But you do need to be alert to your surroundings in Jamaica.
Top Ocho Rios Jamaica Attractions in 1 Day – Mystic Mountain and Dunn’s River Falls
If you only have one day in Ocho Rios, seeing both Dunn’s River Falls and Mystic Mountain is completely doable. They are both less than 10 minutes from Ocho Rios. My only suggestion is to arrive at Dunn’s River Falls at opening time 8:30. Tour buses arrive about 10 am with hundreds of people to climb the falls. Seeing the falls in quiet solitude is the ultimate way to experience their pristine beauty.
Dunn’s River Falls
Again, my biggest advice for Dunn’s River Falls is to arrive early when it opens. It’s open from 8:30 am to 4 pm. The tour buses arrive about 10 am with hundreds of tourists eager to climb the falls. Seeing the falls and swimming in the pools in quiet solitude is the ultimate way to experience their refreshing beauty. Also, take the path along the falls all the way to the beach where they empty into the Caribbean Sea.
One of the biggest reasons tourists go to the falls is to climb the terraced falls. I am not a fan of this, as it turns the natural sanctuary into an amusement park. However, if you wish to climb them, at least arrive early to get the quiet time there without the tourist crowds before 10 am. Guides take you 960 feet (293 meters) up the falls along with a long human chain of other tourists.
The falls are fed by mineral spring waters, cascading down limestone rocks, forming giant natural stairs.
The falls are 960 feet (293 meters) in length and fall 180 feet (55 meters) along a 600-foot (180 meter) path. Overall, this stages magnificently terraced rocks with interludes of small lagoons, emptying into the white sands of the Caribbean Sea. The inherent, organic beauty of this natural gem is breathtaking. Also, one can imagine this as the setting for its movie debuts in the James Bond movie, Dr. No and Tom Cruise’s Cocktail.
Dunn’s River Falls is one of the few travertine waterfalls in the world. The only other place that I’ve seen this type of falls is the Mele Cascades in Vanuatu. Travertine is a form of limestone, deposited by the mineral springs, rich in calcium carbonate. Moreover, ecologists describe these falls as a “living phenomenon,” because the travertine rocks continuously rebuild by the sentiments from the springs.
Mystic Mountain – Ocho Rios Jamaica Attractions
The incredibly unique Mystic Mountain is a wonderful way to enjoy nature with some adventure. Firstly, the Sky Explorer chairlift takes you 700 feet above sea level with epic views along the way of the ocean and rainforest. At the top there are numerous ways to enjoy the panoramic setting. My favorite was the Bobsled taking you on a 1000-meter-long with gravity-drive through the rainforest on high-tech sleds. Moreover, these sleds were inspired by the Jamaican Olympic Bobsled Team. They include brakes to control your speed if you wish. Where else can you go forest-bathing on a bobsled?
There’s something for everyone at the top of Mystic Mountain. Besides the Bobsled, there’s the Ragamuffin ride, Canopy Zipline, Anancy’s Web climb, Infinity pool and waterslide and Reggae Rock with bar.
Top Restaurants Ideas
There are many restaurants to choose from in Ocho Rios. This is the ultimate place to enjoy Jamaican Jerk Chicken, spiced with the Scotch bonnet, a Caribbean red pepper. Popular restaurants with good reviews include the following: Scotchies, Oco Rios Jerk Center, Evita’s Italian Restaurant, Miss T’s Kitchen and Margaritaville.
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