Ocho Rios Located in the center of the north coast, considered by many to be the most romantic resort area in Jamaica. Ocho Rios is particularly known for its spectacular waterfalls, sprawling beaches, tropical gardens and fern gullies. Perfect for the nature lover, a beautiful landscape of lush gardens, caves, rivers and white sand beaches await. For a memorable adventure, climb the 700-foot cascading waterfalls of Dunn’s River Falls and relax in one of the many pools or lagoons.
Next to Dunn’s River Falls is Dolphin Cove, one of Jamaica’s finest attractions. Guests can swim and interact and play with the dolphins. Experience art in the making at the many galleries and studios of talented, intuitive Jamaican potters, carvers and painters. Pick up your special pieces in any of the craft markets located in and around Ocho Rios.
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View of Ocho Rios
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 Ocho Rios
Location in Jamaica
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| Coordinates: 18°25′N 77°07′WCoordinates: 18°25′N 77°07′W | |
| Country | Jamaica |
| County | Middlesex |
| Parish | Saint Ann |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| Area code(s) | +1-876 +1-658 (Overlay of 876; active in November 2018) |
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Ocho Rios (Spanish for “Eight Rivers”) is a town in the parish of Saint Ann on the north coast of Jamaica. Just outside the city, travelers and residents can visit Columbus Park, where Columbus supposedly first came on land, and see maritime artifacts and Spanish colonial buildings.
It was once a fishing village but now caters to tourists.
It is a port of call for cruise ships as well as for cargo ships loading sugar, limestone, and in the past, bauxite. Scuba diving and other water sports are offered in the town’s vicinity.
The name “Ocho Rios” is a possibly misnomer, as there are not currently eight rivers in the area. It could be a British corruption of the original Spanish name “Las Chorreras” (“the waterfalls”),[7] a name given to the village because of the nearby Dunn’s River Falls.
The North Coast Highway from the international airport at Montego Bay to Ocho Rios has been improved since 2007 and the journey is now an hour and forty five minutes drive. On 26 August 2011, the Jamaican government announced a $21 million revitalization plan for the resort area. Since March 2016, with the opening of the North-South portion of Highway 2000 (whose North terminus is located at Mammee Bay, a suburb of Ocho Rios), driving and commute times into the nation’s capital, Kingston, has gone from over 2 hours to a little under an hour. The opening of this highway has reduced traffic on the old route between Jamaica’s two cities (through the town and onto Fern Gully) immensely.
The town has restaurants, and in Margaritaville and Dolphin Cove nightclubs where tourists swim and interact with dolphins. Another major point of interest is Fern Gully. Fern Gully is the result of a 1907 earthquake that destroyed one of the river beds in the area. Fern Gully stretches about 3 miles of great rocky gorge where travellers can see over 540 variety of ferns. In 1907, the British government paved over the destroyed river bed to create what is currently known as The Fern Gully Highway.
