Spanish for “Eight Rivers”, Ocho Rios is a port town in the parish of Saint Ann on the north coast of Jamaica. While the name means “eight rivers'' it might be a misnomer. There are just four rivers in the area. It is believed that Ocho Rios might have been a British mispronunciation of the Spanish name Chorreras. However it got its name, this former fishing village is a busy bay that is lined with hotels.
One of five cruise ports in Jamaica, Ocho Rios, is located at the northeastern edge of Jamaica on a half-moon-shaped cove. The other ports are Montego Bay, Falmouth, Port Antonio and Kingston.
Ocho Rios is the country’s largest port and the surrounding parish of Saint Ann is home to rainforests, rivers and waterfalls and therefore is known as the “Niagara Falls of the Caribbean.”
Safety
Ocho Rios is considered one of the safer tourist areas of Jamaica, however as with any type of international travel, it is always best to check before going to see if there are any advisories from a valid, trusted source. The U.S. Department of State has these recommendations: Jamaica Travel Advisory.
Good To Know
Locals refer to Ocho Rios as Ochi.
Bob Marley’s birthplace and burial place is located in the hills above Ocho Rios in the town of St. Ann.
The James Bond legacy lives on in Jamaica. Goldeneye is an estate in Jamaica that was built by Ian Fleming. It was at the estate that he wrote all of his James Bond novels. A couple of hotels in Jamaica were featured in James Bond movies. Half Moon Jamaica and Couples Sans Souci were featured in Live and Let Die and Dr. No, respectively. The Green Grotto Caves in Falmouth were also in Live and Let Die.
For the most part, Jamaica runs on “island time.” If you have time constraints, plan accordingly.
Ocho Rios is the country’s largest port and the surrounding parish of Saint Ann is home to rainforests, rivers and waterfalls and therefore is known as the “Niagara Falls of the Caribbean.”
Safety
Ocho Rios is considered one of the safer tourist areas of Jamaica, however as with any type of international travel, it is always best to check before going to see if there are any advisories from a valid, trusted source. The U.S. Department of State has these recommendations: Jamaica Travel Advisory.
Good To Know
Locals refer to Ocho Rios as Ochi.
Bob Marley’s birthplace and burial place is located in the hills above Ocho Rios in the town of St. Ann.
The James Bond legacy lives on in Jamaica. Goldeneye is an estate in Jamaica that was built by Ian Fleming. It was at the estate that he wrote all of his James Bond novels. A couple of hotels in Jamaica were featured in James Bond movies. Half Moon Jamaica and Couples Sans Souci were featured in Live and Let Die and Dr. No, respectively. The Green Grotto Caves in Falmouth were also in Live and Let Die.
For the most part, Jamaica runs on “island time.” If you have time constraints, plan accordingly.
Check out these excursions in Ocho Rios.
📢
Know Before You Go
Know Before You Go: Ocho Rios is among Jamaica's most cruise-centric ports — you'll encounter very active solicitation from vendors and tour operators both inside and outside the port gates. Inside Island Village is completely managed and calm. Outside can be overwhelming for first-timers; book in advance and get directly into your transportation. Dunn's River Falls now requires advance booking during peak season.
🔥
Hot Tip
For the Dunn's River Falls climb, go early (first boats off the ship) — crowds build throughout the morning and the experience is significantly better with fewer people on the falls. The falls can get very slippery; the rental shoes at the entrance are worth the $5.Ocho Rios, Jamaica – Quick Facts
CurrencyThe Jamaican dollar is the official currency in Jamaica. The designation is $, or JS or JA$. Most, but not all, places in Jamaica that are related to the tourist industry will accept both Jamaican and U.S. dollars. Those areas that are farther away from tourist areas will accept Jamaican dollars only. In Jamaica, merchants can set their own exchange rates, so areas not involved in the tourist industry will usually have a very poor exchange rate. U.S. silver dollars and Canadian coins are not usable in Jamaica. ATMs are not common in Jamaica and those that you find are frequently out of service. Once you leave Jamaica any coins or banknotes will not have any value, so try to exchange them before leaving. American Express, MasterCard and Visa are accepted in Jamaica and that may be the best way to go when purchasing. The Jamaican dollar is less valuable than the U.S. dollar and exchange rates fluctuate, so check for up to the minute rates at: Currency Converter | Foreign Exchange Rates.
LanguageThe official language of Jamaica is English. With that being said, the dialect can sometimes be difficult for visitors to understand.
WiFi & PhoneThere is internet in the nearby Island Village Shopping Center.
Where You DockOcho Rios Cruise Terminal, Ocho Rios, Jamaica
The primary pier is Turtle Bay pier and has enough space for two mid-sized cruise ships. Most of the time this pier is used by just one mega-sized cruise ship. This pier is closest to downtown. Inside the port, you will find tourist information, taxis and a small coffee shop. Just outside the terminal, you'll find various restaurants, including Margaritaville, and if you walk a little further, you'll reach downtown shops or the beautiful Ocho Rios Bay Beach.
The other dock is Reynold’s pier, but also referred to as James Bond pier. This pier is about ½ mile from downtown and is used by both cargo and cruise ships and as such, doesn't have any facilities, other than a pickup spot for taxis and buses. It's about a 15 minute walk along a sidewalk to downtown.
The main streets of downtown Ocho Rios are Main Street and DaCosta Drive where you’ll find duty-free shopping, artisan vendors, restaurants and bars, and while it’s worth a walk around downtown, most tourists who come to Ocho Rios want to see Dunn’s River Falls and Mystic Mountain, which are located about 20 minutes out of town. It’s highly recommended to take an organized excursion if you want to travel to these spots and not to attempt it on your own.
Credit: 
Credit: 
Credit: 
While not much more than a hut, this small franchise has some of the best jerk chicken on the north coast of Jamaica, which is why it's worth the 15 minute drive out of town. They also have pork items. Their sweetened bread that comes with the meal is a favorite of guests.