The popular tourist destination of Ocho Rios lies on the northern coast of Jamaica, in the scenic garden parish of Saint Ann. Its Spanish name translates to Eight Rivers, something that will be immediately obvious to travellers arriving on cheap flights to Ocho Rios. The countryside is green and lush, the beaches magnificent and the waterways sparkling and, in the case of Dunn’s River Falls, cascading about 200 metres to the sea below. The weather barely needs a mention. Tourists can take it for granted that it will be sunny and warm, almost year-round.
One of the town’s most popular attractions is the falls. Just a couple of kilometres away, the sparkling cascade is fed by springs in the high hills and features the 200-metre drop. Climbing the falls, led by experienced guides, is a must on any visitor’s itinerary.
When basking on the beach becomes just a little too dull, there is the opportunity to scuba dive, horseback ride through sugar-cane plantations, go on camel safari, take an open-air Jitney ride through Prospect Plantation or go inner tubing along the White River.
Like the rest of Jamaica, Ocho Rios’s climate is just about perfect. It has a tropical climate with warm year-round temperatures between 26 degrees Celsius in January to 29 degrees in August. There are two seasons. The wet season runs May or early June to November/December and the dry season December/January to April.The only drawback is that Jamaica lies in the Hurricane Belt with that season running from June to November.
Most travellers rent cars, but taxis might be a more relaxing option. The bus service is cheap, but won’t get you around very quickly.
However, the fastest – and most expensive – way to get around Jamaica is by air. Flights to Montego Bay are available from Boscobel Aerodrome, located east of town.