Best known as the home of Jamaica's iconic Dunn's River Falls, Ocho
Rios is a small port town that has exploded into a full-on tourist
mecca. Chaotic Main Street is chockablock with duty-free stores and
restaurants, and cruise-ship passengers jostle elbow-to-elbow with
sidewalk vendors, but the town's beaches offer welcome respite.
Hotel Hot Spots
Three
hotels share Ochi's largest and most popular beach. At the twin-towered
Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort & Spa, rates start at $325
all-inclusive in low season ($370 high). 800-234-1707; sunsetjamaicagrande.com
Guests
are close to sand and shopping at SandCastles Resort, where rates start
at $110 in low season ($150 high). 866-284-3515; sandcastlesochorios.com
At budget-friendly Rooms Resort, rates start at $94 in low season ($104 high). 877-467-8737; superclubs.com
Beaches in Ocho Rios
Dunn's River
is famous for its waterfall, but few take advantage of its half-mile,
golden-sand beach, which is neatly bisected by the icy waters of the
600-foot cascade that empties onto its shore. Visit the falls early in
the morning or in late afternoon to avoid the cruise-ship crowd.
Walk through Main Street's Ocean Village shopping center to Ocho Rios Bay Beach
(also known as Turtle Beach), a curvaceous classic complete with clear,
shallow water, fine sand and heavy-laden coconut palms, all set against
the backdrop of cruise ships docked nearby. Three resorts share its
sands, but the beach is surprisingly quiet. Also in the town center,
the beach at Island Village entertainment complex is small but
busy, offering every conceivable water sport to hordes of shoppers and
cruise-ship passengers.
Ten minutes' drive east of town, Reggae Beach has a more natural and rugged feel, embraced by a pair of rocky outcrops and sheltered by leaning sea grape trees. James Bond Beach, in the nearby town of Oracabessa, is best known as a concert venue but has two intimate white-sand coves. |
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Where to Stay
Romantics
will enjoy Jamaica's original all-inclusive resort, Couples Ocho Rios,
which will reopen on December 15 after a top-to-toe overhaul and has a
private island for nude sunbathing. Rates are $360 per room
all-inclusive in low season ($480 high). 800-268-7537; couples.com
Where to Eat
Sample
the island's most popular snack at Juici Patties on Main Street
(876-974-3425) or enjoy surprisingly authentic Italian at Toscanini's
at Harmony Hall art gallery (876-975-4785).
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