The resort town of Ocho Rios on the northern coast of
Jamaica close to Discovery Bay the place where it is said that Christopher
Columbus firs landed was once a small fishing village. The the words ‘ Ocho
Rios ‘mean eight which was directly
influence by the heavy concentration of
Spaniards during the early years. However
it could be considered a misnomer because the resort town of Ocho Rios does not
have eight rivers.
Today this resort town is a far cry from a small fishing
village. It boasts some of the biggest name hotels in Jamaica and the Caribbean
by extension complimented by some of the better known attractions in Jamaica. Most
famous of them all is the Dunn’s River falls; it is certainly Jamaica’s premier
tourist attractions with thousands of visitors climbing the falls every
day. Ocho Rios provides a wide array of activities,
there is always something for everyone. Swimming with dolphins is another which
hundreds of visitors enjoy on a daily basis. Also at this resort town one can
go horse-back riding up a country trail, along the beach and also having the
horse take a swim into the warm Caribbean Sea while one is still in
saddle. ATV safari rides, river tubing, Canopying,
bobsled in the mountains where you will find yourself twisting down the
mountainside aboard a bobsled adventure or soar 700 feet above the rainforest
riding the rainforest Sky Explorer chair lift tour.
If all those are not enough, one can take a tour to the
birthplace which is also the final resting place of reggae king Bob
Marley. The reggae legend was born about
30 miles from Ocho Rios in a small village called Nine Mile. There is something
magical about this place as one cannot help but feel the natural mystic in the
air. Even the casual Marley fan will be
struck by the feeling of his presence on the tour walking through the beautiful
mausoleum, Bob’s final resting place.
When the sun goes down in the evenings Ocho Rios comes
alive. There is a vibrant nightlife and of course some very good restaurants.
Unfortunately many visitors hopped to stay at all-inclusive resorts and hardly
venture outside the gates. However, the real Ocho Rios cannot be felt inside
the resorts but instead it is the feel one gets when mix and mingle with the
locals. It is the sight and sounds of the busy streets, the taste and smell of authentic
Jamaican food. It is about seeing people going about their everyday life
nonchalantly in the true Jamaican way which embodies what many people here on
the island respond with “no problem man”.