Ocho Rios, located on the north central coast of jamaica, is the favorite stop for cruise ships in the Caribbean. the town itself does not have much interest, but the area that surrounds Ocho Rios has plenty of attractions.

On this virtual tour i will try to show you some of the most beautiful spots in the Ocho Rios area. Most cruise ships passengers only spend a few hours in Ocho Rios, here you will see what they miss!

The number of day trips in the area is almost endless, but there is one you should not miss: The visit to the Dunn's river falls. other attractions are the working plantations, the beaches, the bob marley mausoleum, the scuba diving sites, and, last but not least, some of the most exclusive resorts in the island.

Close to the harbor there is a public beach. the beach is closed with fences. You have to pay a fee to get in. Actually you do not pay to lie on a beach, but to lie on a beach without hustlers. That is the main reason of the fee.

A few yards from the beach is a huge arts and crafts market, the one you see in the picture. Here you will find the typical Jamaican souvenirs: Wooden fish and parrots, t-shirts and Jamaican caps.

You will not find any good deal here. Sellers know that cruise passengers have plenty of money to spend, and will not bargain more than necessary.

The main reason to come to Ocho Rios, the Dunn's river falls.

They are very beautiful, but the best of this cascade is that it is possible to climb it. You start here, in front of the beach and climb for 200 feet with the water falling all over you. there are steps carved on the rocks, but you can also choose the hard way. The climb will take you 30-40 minutes. You should take off your clothes --no, not all your clothes, you do have to wear swimming wear-- and lock them in one of the lockers available. If your camera is not waterproof, you better leave it in the lockers too. You can rent rubber sandals and hire a guide at the office box.

In order to climb these incredible falls you have to pay a small fee. You can pay in US dollars or in Jamaican dollars.

And once you get to the top of the falls, you can walk down the stairs to the beach. The falls and the beach are usually overcrowded. If you can, you should come here on a weekend day, when the big cruise ships are not in Ocho Rios.

In Ocho Rios the weather is good all year round. it is somewhat hotter in summer, but it is never too hot. in winter temperatures are almost perfect. The only problem is that the sun is quite strong. You should bring a good tan protection if you want to come to Jamaica.

(Source: www.virtourist.com)