Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Jamaica is a tropical paradise with much to see and do. The culture is very prevalent in everything that you do while in Jamaica. Jamaica itself is a poor community with much of its profit coming from tourists and travel. Ocho Rios, Jamaica is a popular stop for most cruise lines and gets a lot of the travel business. There are a variety of things to do and see in Ocho Rios including the Dunn's River Falls, Dolphin Cove and horseback riding on the beach. Ocho Rios is known as "Ochee" by the people who live in the community.

Ocho Rios' top tourist spot is the Dunn's River Falls. These are waterfalls that are shallow enough that you can walk through them in the water. You can also hike up through the falls and enjoy the rainforest scenery as well. The falls feature a six hundred foot limestone rock formation that you hike. The waterfalls are included on most shore excursions from the cruise lines that visit Ocho Rios.

The second hot spot in Ocho Rios is the Dolphin Cove. Here visitors can have a hands-on encounter with the dolphins. Set on Jamaica's North Coast the Dolphin Cove features swimming with dolphins and a relaxing beach. Dolphin Cove is adjacent to the Dunn's River Falls and is also home to other exotic animals. There are stingrays, eels, sharks, snakes and tropical birds on exhibit at the Dolphin Cove. There is also an onsite restaurant for great Jamaican jerk chicken after your swimming encounters.

Hooves, Ltd. at the Seville Plantation is another popular spot in Ocho Rios. Hooves, Ltd. features horseback riding on the beaches and rainforests of Jamaica. Enjoy a relaxing ride through the rainforest while the guide tells you about the history of Jamaica. The ride ends at St. Gloria's Bay where you can ride the horses into the water for a swim in the ocean on horseback.

If your looking for a good party while in Jamaica, then be sure to check out Five Star Watersports and the Cool Runnings boat. The boat will take you on a tour of the waters around Jamaica while you enjoy great Jamaican Reggae and trash can punch. The crew insures that you don't go thirsty and that you have a great time on their cruises. After the cruise you can hang out on the beach and continue the party or have some lunch. There is also swimming, snorkeling and parasailing.

To take a more adventurous trip through Jamaica, you can check out the Safari Tours. Visitors can hike through the Blue Mountain Coffee country, bike to Dunn's River Falls, go rafting and horseback riding. The tours will also take you to a rum distillery, the Bob Marley museum and to a sugar cane factory.

The culture of Jamaica is alive and well everywhere that you go. Before visiting Jamaica, it is important to realize that they do not have the best economy and depend highly on tourism. Because of this, there are often an overwhelming amount of encounters with cab drivers yelling at tourists for rides and people trying to sell you everything you can think of on the street. Don't let this ruin your Jamaican vacation but be prepared to be persistent when you say "no". You should also be prepared to have many Jamaican's try to sell you drugs and marijuana. Marijuana is illegal in Jamaica, however, the laws are not enforced very well and you will see people smoking everywhere that you go. It is also important that when you take a cab, only use cabs that have red license plates. This means that they are certified cabs and is not just somebody using their personal car to drive around tourists as a scam. You will have a blast on your Jamaican vacation, but it is also important to be prepared as well.

There is also great shopping and dining throughout Jamaica. The shops in Jamaica offer both Jamaican goods as well as imported goods. There are also a number of liquor stores throughout the town because there is no sales tax. Visit the small restaurants for a good taste of Jamaican cuisine. Many of the beaches have restaurants and bars as well and offer great authentic meals. Visit all of these hot spots and you'll have "no worries" on your vacation.