Jamaica travel adventures

Jamaica travel adventures are not limited to gorgeous beaches. There is so much more to experience.

Sunset with beach chairs on a tropical beach in Jamaica.

Ocho Rios is Jamaica´s major port of call for cruise ships, while Negril is famous for its long and lazy beach lined with clear waters and coconut palms. Ecotourists love peaceful Port Antonio thanks to its proximity to the spectacular Blue Mountains. In Kingston, Jamaica’s edgy capital, visitors can tour reggae legend Bob Marley’s former home and explore the city’s museums and historic sites. Jam-packed with diverse attractions, no wonder Jamaica enjoys a reputation as a Caribbean hotspot.

cruise to Jamaica

You may well arrive by sea to Jamaica

Ocho Rios has a major cruise ship port and within 5 minutes you can start your Jamaica adventures. First a little bonus info:

Jamaica in film

It was on this Caribbean island in 1962 that the first James Bond film, in one of the longest-running movie franchises of all time, began with Sean Connery as the dapper secret agent in Dr. No. The movie’s success was solidified when Honey Ryder, portrayed by Ursula Andress, emerged from the waves on the fictional island of Crab Key. Jamaica, in all its tropical glory, sets a beautiful stage for a riveting story.

A decade later, the island took center stage as San Monique in Live and Let Die. Featuring the debut of Roger Moore as the titular character, Bond outsmarts crocodiles and goons, saving his lover, Solitaire, from the clutches of the evil Dr. Kananga. In 2020, the 25th installment in the series, No Time to Die, returns to Jamaica.

What to Do in Ocho Rios

Ocho Rios is home to some of Jamaica’s top attractions to experience, on land, in water, and in air.

If entering from the west highway, you’ll be greeted by some of the main attractions in Ocho Rios almost immediately. First, wash off at the popular Dunn’s River Falls, then be swept off your feet (literally) at Mystic Mountain Rainforest and into the air to soar above the town. Finally, eat, drink, and be merry by the beach or pool at Margaritaville for a perfect end to the day.

Just east of Ocho Rios, see attractions like the Rio Nuevo battle site, Goldeneye estate of James Bond fame, and stop by the Spanish settlement of Port Maria to visit national heritage sites such as the Port Maria Courthouse and Fort Haldane dating back to 1759.

And, before this vacation comes to an end, ensure to pick up something special that encapsulates your time here. Weave through the string of souvenir strip stores to support our local vendors at the Ocho Rios Craft Market and others like it.

Restaurants in Ocho Rios

The Ocho Rios restaurants you ultimately choose to dine at really come down to what cuisine you’re in the mood for. If your travel bucket list includes indulging in our island’s famous jerk dishes, some of the best local spots to taste the authentic meal are rustic-chic Scotchies Jerk Centre and Lyming at Walkerswood rest stop just before the miles-long green canopy of Fern Gully.

Further excite your taste buds with internationally styled culinary selections. Treat your palate at Stush in the Bush’s organic farm-to-table experience in the mountains; sample a taste of France at L’Escargot or tour Italy at Evita; and try fusion cuisine at Usain Bolt’s Tracks and Records that’ll take your appetite ‘to di world.’

Where to Stay in Ocho Rios

There are a multitude of places to stay in Ocho Rios that can fit your style and budget in the form of villas, guesthouses, apartments, or hotels. Live luxuriously at a timeless boutique resort, enjoy a worry-free all-inclusive family vacation on the sands, or take it easy at a condo apartment facing the sapphire sea. Whether you’re perched on a ridge, in the middle of the bustle, or being caressed by sunshine at an Ocho Rios beach resort, you’re not far from your next excursion.

What to know

What you need to know about this resort town is that its north-central location is connected to highway roads that make the journey a breeze, no matter whether you’ve landed in Kingston or Montego Bay. If you only have a few hours to spare after arriving at Ocho Rios cruise port, no problem, numerous attractions within nearby reach make a fun-filled day easy to come by.

Ocho Rios offers possibly the fairest share of our treasures. It meets laid-back and adventurous desires from the city to the forests with plenty of things to do that cater to both business and leisure travelers.