Ocho Rios

Affectionately called “Ochi” by the locals, Ocho Rios is the second most popular tourist town on the north coast of Jamaica. It's normally a laidback city, but can get a bit crowded when a cruise ship docks, as Ocho Rios is home to Jamaica’s most-visited cruise ship port. The city offers many adventures, as it sits on the edge of the rain forest in a sheltered bay with breathtaking mountains in the background.

A visit to Dunn's River Falls, one of Jamaica's most-photographed attractions, gives travelers the opportunity to explore almost 600 feet of terraced water falls. They can climb up the limestone rocks and then slide down smooth parts into the refreshing lagoons below. It is a beautiful spot on the island and should not be missed.

At Mystic Mountain, one of the top attractions in Ocho Rios, visitors can take a single person roller coaster ride through the rain forest, inspired by the Jamaican bobsled Olympic team. Or visitors can zip line through the rain forest canopy and see some of the best views of the forest. Another adventurous activity is a visit to Dolphin Cove, a 3-acre marine park surrounded by lush tropical rain forest to swim with dolphins in a natural ocean cove. More daring visitors can swim with Caribbean sharks, having the chance to hold and feed them.

For history lovers, there is no shortage of activities in Ocho Rios. The Seville Greathouse Museum is situated on a 300-acre property and is said to be the place where one of the first encounters among people from the Americas, Africa and Europe took place. Today it is newly refurbished and open for tours for visitors to learn about Jamaica's history. Another popular historical landmark is the small village of Nine Mile – the birthplace and final resting place of reggae legend Bob Marley. Nine Mile has a small museum and the mausoleum where Marley is buried. Tours of the village offer stories of Marley's life as well as insights into the Rastafarian religion.