OCHO RIOS
Area: Jamaica
Country: Jamaica


Location:
On the N coast, 54 miles NW of Kingston. 67 miles E of Montego Bay and the Sir Donald Sangster international airport.

Telephone code from UK:
1 876

Position:
Resort area along the coast looking N over the Caribbean. Extending from Mammee Bay in the W to Oracabessa in the E. Some properties are in the hills which rise from the coastal strip and form a backdrop to the resort.

Description:
A resort town that has not developed much beyond a village as far as shopping and commerce is concerned _ it does not have the bustle of Montego Bay. Neither, however, does it have any typically Caribbean character since what has been built here is mostly bland and modern. The central beach and bay is backed by a series of ugly 1960s and 70s tower blocks. It is a popular port of call for cruise ships because the passengers can be quickly transported to sightseeing attractions close by. There is a scenic backdrop of hills behind the resort (although the bauxite loading depot is less picturesque). About 5 miles westwards there are a handful of hotels at St Ann's Bay and eastwards a string of properties for up to 12 miles along the coast.

Suitability:
A mixed market in every way; singles and couples of all ages; family groups including children; upmarket all-inclusive properties; middle of the road; and those on a fairly tight budget. Persons with mobility difficulties could find the choice of property a bit limited.

Accommodation:
Mostly hotel-type accommodation _ many in the 4-star category, some 5-star, still others lower down the scale. Most properties are in quite good physical condition, regardless of rank, a small minority in need of refurbishment. Some good apartment accommodation, usually with at least one restaurant on the premises. A few villas available which usually come fully staffed. Several hotels are all-inclusive, some adults only, while others accept children of all ages; some have special facilities for infants through to mid-teens.

Shopping:
Ocho Rios has several shopping centres _ plazas, craft markets and roadside stalls. Duty-free shopping in plazas and large hotels stock everything from Swiss watches to designer clothes. Craft markets and roadside shopping supply a variety of souvenirs, crafts, clothing and accessories. There are also the usual pharmacies, supermarkets and boutiques.

Beach:
Good sandy beaches along this 18-mile stretch of coast. Good for swimming with all water sports available at large properties; others will make special arrangements or recommendations to guests. Public beaches charge a small entry fee.

Entertainments:
Daytime: horse riding can be easily arranged at several places including the Chukka Cove Equestrian Centre where polo is played. Tennis and squash are limited to courts provided by the hotels. Water sports _ the central beach has para-sailing, jet-skiing, windsurfing, water-skiing, "sunfish", "hobiecats", glass-bottom boat rides and fishing. There are also daytime and evening cruises. Snorkelling and scuba diving are not so good at the central beach area, being better further along the coast in both directions; there are several scuba diving schools. Many out-of-centre hotels provide water sports at their beaches. Nightlife: mainly centred at the hotels.

Eating:
Most properties with gourmet restaurants take outside bookings. The resort area itself has many fine restaurants offering Italian, Jamaican, Chinese, Indian and French cuisine. Fast food chains offer burgers and pizzas. Sea food is a speciality in some restaurants, while the more adventurous can visit the small Jamaican eating places and sample spicy local dishes and fruit.

Public-transport:
Spasmodic and unreliable. Taxis are fairly easily found. Most properties have or can arrange tour buses for their guests. Cars can be hired (with or without drivers), and bicycles and motorbikes can be rented for long periods, or by the day.

Local-excursions:
Dunns River Falls and Beach _ about 3 miles W of the centre _ this is one of Jamaica's best known natural attractions. Fern Gully _ once a river, now a road lined with hundreds of species of ferns, forms part of the main road to Kingston. Prospect Plantation _ about 5 miles E of town, a working sugar/fruit plantation where you tour on a carriage towed by a tractor, or on horseback. There are other plantation houses in the area too. Firefly _ about 20 miles E of town, the house where Noel Coward lived, now a museum. Shaw Park Gardens _ botanical gardens, fine views over the coast. White River _ rafting, particularly popular by torchlight at night, followed by dinner and cabaret complete with fire-eaters. Harmony Hall _ Victorian house and crafts centre. Helicopter tours of the island.