THINGS TO DO IN OCHO RIOS: HOW TO SPEND ONE DAY IN JAMAICA BY CRUISE
If you’re visiting Ocho Rios on your next cruise, this guide will help you plan your day in port!
We stopped in Ocho Rios just a week after Hurricane Melissa, so we weren’t sure what to expect. Luckily, the town seemed to have recovered really well. Aside from a few fallen trees, everything looked great. While I wouldn’t say Ocho Rios is the most exciting cruise port out there, there are still a few fun things you can do to make the most of your visit. Keep reading to see my tips and recommendations!
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WHERE IS OCHO RIOS
Ocho Rios is a small town on the island of Jamaica, located in the Caribbean, close to Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. Most visitors arrive here by cruise ship, as it’s one of the main cruise ports on the island, but you can also fly into Jamaica if you’re planning a longer stay. The closest major airport is in Montego Bay, about an hour and a half away. Keep in mind that Montego Bay currently isn’t in good condition due to the hurricane.
OCHO RIOS CRUISE PORT INFORMATION
As I’ve mentioned, Ocho Rios in Jamaica is a really popular cruise port in the Caribbean. Most Caribbean itineraries include a stop here, so no matter which cruise line you choose, there’s a good chance you’ll see Ocho Rios on your route. We visited it as part of our MSC Caribbean Cruise.
The port in Ocho Rios is quite nice. There are two docks where cruise ships can arrive. One is directly inside the beautiful, well-maintained, man-made port area called The Fishing Village, and the other is about a 5–6 minute walk from the Village. There’s really no reason to wander far outside the Village, especially if you’re on your own, so it’s best to stay within that area of Ocho Rios.
Once you arrive, you’ll quickly notice many tour guides and vendors offering tours, transportation, or souvenirs. If you want to explore beyond the cruise port, make sure you do it with a local guide or an organized tour, especially if you want to see more of the island.
IS OCHO RIOS WORTH VISITING
Ocho Rios is interesting, but it wasn’t one of the cruise ports that really impressed me, and I’ve visited quite a few now, both in Europe and the Caribbean. We’ve definitely preferred Antigua and St. Maarten for example.
There isn’t much to see in Ocho Rios itself, so aside from spending some time at the beach, an hour to an hour and a half is more than enough to explore everything inside the cruise port area. If you want to see more of Jamaica beyond Ocho Rios, you’ll definitely need to book a tour, but none of them really appealed to us. While the beach was lovely, I wouldn’t say Jamaica is one of my favourite cruise ports in the Caribbean.
THINGS TO DO IN OCHO RIOS:
Here are a few things you can do in Ocho Rios if you find yourself there. There isn’t a ton to choose from, but if you’re happy with a more relaxed day, you could still have a really nice time.
EXPLORE THE FISHING VILLAGE
The Fishing Village is the man-made tourist area right in the Ocho Rios port. It’s filled with restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops, and with its colorful buildings, it’s actually a really charming spot. You can easily spend a couple of hours here eating, shopping, and even relaxing at the small beach inside the village. Just keep in mind that this area is made specifically for tourists, so prices are higher but it’s also the safest part of Ocho Rios.
VISIT THEIR STREET MARKETS
Ocho Rios has quite a few street markets where locals sell their products, and we visited two of them close to the cruise port. You’ll find stands packed with bracelets, hats, shirts, wooden souvenirs, and more. Just be prepared, every vendor will call you over to look at their items, which can feel a bit overwhelming. If you’re not interested, a simple “thank you” and walking away is enough.
If you do see something you like, always ask for the price and don’t agree right away. Some of the first prices they offered were way too high. Take your time, negotiate a little, and find something that works for both you and the seller. The people aren’t aggressive or rude, but they can be a bit overbearing because this is their livelihood and they’re trying to make a sale.
GO TO THE BEACH
Ocho Rios has a beautiful beach right near the cruise port, and you can reach it in about 5–10 minutes from your ship, even less if you’re coming from the Fishing Village. The beach is private, so you’ll need to pay an entrance fee. It’s $10 per person for the day, and once you get your bracelet, you can come and go as you like, even head back to the ship and return later if you want.
Sunbeds are $5 per person, and beers and most drinks are also around $5. We actually had a really nice time here because it wasn’t crowded at all, and we ended up with a big section of the beach pretty much to ourselves.
HAVE A SMOKE
If that’s something that interests you, there are a few marijuana shops around town since it’s legal in Jamaica. There’s one inside The Fishing Village called Jacana, but it’s the most expensive. One pre-rolled joint is about $12. There are also two shops outside the village with more affordable prices, Kaya and Jamaica’s Finest Cannabis, where prices start around $8.
You can smoke anywhere outdoors, including on the beach, but make sure you don’t bring anything back onto your ship, since that’s illegal.
GO FOR A TOUR
If you want to see more of the island, you can book one of the tours offered as soon as you leave the ship. There are plenty of tour guides waiting in the cruise port, and they’ll tell you which tours are available. Some of the most popular ones are the Bob Marley Museum, Dunn’s River Falls, rafting, and visits to several nearby beaches. These are the taxi prices for each destination, but you can always ask the tour guides if they can give you a better deal.
TIPS FOR VISITING OCHO RIOS:
PREPARE YOURSELF TO BE APPROACHED
The locals in Ocho Rios are very direct, and they’ll come up to you right away to try and sell whatever they’re offering. Be prepared for this your entire day. You will be approached often, and many will try to earn money in any way they can. It made me a bit anxious at first since I didn’t plan on buying anything, but after a while you get used to it.
HAVE CASH ON YOU
Everything we bought or paid for in Ocho Rios was in cash. Some restaurants might accept cards, but I’d definitely recommend having cash with you just to be safe!
DON’T GO OUTSIDE THE PORT ON YOUR OWN
We got multiple comments not to leave the port on our own, and honestly, after seeing what Ocho Rios feels like outside the touristy Fishing Village, we didn’t feel safe venturing out alone. If you want to explore beyond the port, I’d recommend being careful and going with a local tour guide.
CONCLUSION: THINGS TO DO IN OCHO RIOS
Ocho Rios is definitely a unique place, and while you do get a real look into local life, it doesn’t offer many exciting things to do as a tourist. We enjoyed the beach, but overall, it wasn’t one of the cruise ports that really blew us away.
