Why Honeymoon in Ocho Rios
Ocho Rios offers the widest variety of experiences in a small area. Within half an hour you can climb a waterfall, swim in a jungle pool, zip down a mountainside, ride horses into the sea and tour a famous writer's former home. Few Caribbean destinations pack so much into such a compact space.
It is also home to some of Jamaica's most characterful hotels, where tradition is part of the appeal: verandah suites, afternoon tea, live music at dinner and staff who have worked there for decades. If your idea of romance includes a touch of old-fashioned glamour, Ocho Rios delivers it in a way the more modern resort strips do not.
When to Go
The best weather runs from mid-December through April, with warm days, low humidity and minimal rain. This is peak season, so book early, especially around the holidays.
May and June bring good weather, greener landscapes and lower rates. The waterfalls are often at their fullest after spring rains. Hurricane season runs from June through November, with the peak from August through October. The north coast also sees more rain than the dry south, which is why everything here is so green.
A practical note: Ocho Rios is a cruise port, so the big attractions are busiest on ship days. Ask your hotel which days to avoid and plan Dunn's River Falls for an early start or a non-cruise day.
Where to Stay
Our honeymoon pick is Jamaica Inn, a family-run hotel on a private crescent beach just east of town. The Morrow family has run it since 1958. Its guest list includes Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller, Noël Coward and Winston Churchill. Suites open onto enormous verandahs facing the sea and cottages come with infinity plunge pools. The oceanfront spa, with a saltwater bath carved from rock, has won awards. There are no TVs in the rooms. Dinner is a five-course affair with live music.
The wider Ocho Rios area also has several couples-only all-inclusive resorts, large family resorts and, toward Oracabessa, chic boutique retreats. If you want calm, look for hotels on their own coves away from the cruise port.
Romantic Things to Do
- Climb Dunn's River Falls hand in hand with a guide, scrambling up terraced cascades straight from the beach.
- Swim in the Blue Hole, also called the Irie Blue Hole, a series of jungle pools and small falls in the hills.
- Visit Firefly, Noël Coward's former home, for long views down the coast.
- Explore Mystic Mountain, with a chairlift through the rainforest and a bobsled ride down.
- Ride horses straight into the sea for a swim on horseback.
- Walk Konoko Falls and its gardens, a gentler waterfall experience.
- Make a pilgrimage to Nine Mile, Bob Marley's birthplace in the hills of St. Ann.
Getting There & Around
Most US travelers fly into Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay, about 1.5 hours west by highway. Kingston's Norman Manley International (KIN) is also about 1.5 hours away over the mountains. Ian Fleming International Airport (OCJ), just east of Ocho Rios, handles smaller charter and private flights and is only minutes from many hotels.
Pre-booked private transfers are the most comfortable way to arrive. VIP arrival services can speed you through the airport. Locally, hotel-arranged drivers and licensed taxis are the best options. Many attractions are close together, so a driver for the day can link two or three highlights easily.
Food & Drink
St. Ann's fertile hills feed a lively food scene. Roadside jerk stands are a must, as are festival, bammy (a flatbread made from cassava) and fried fish with escovitch pickles. For breakfast, order ackee and saltfish with callaloo and fried plantains.
The area's grand hotels keep up beloved traditions such as afternoon tea and candlelit dinners with live music, while farm tours in the hills serve fresh plant-based meals. Be sure to try a fresh fruit smoothie and sip a coconut straight from the husk. Sample Jamaican rum too, in a classic punch or on a distillery tour. A cup of Blue Mountain coffee rounds things off perfectly.
Honeymoon Tips
Wear water shoes for Dunn's River Falls and the Blue Hole; the rocks are slippery. Waterproof phone pouches are useful. A local guide adds safety and stories.
Pack something smart for dinner. Several of the classic hotels keep an evening dress code. On a honeymoon, dressing up for a candlelit meal is half the fun.
Plan attractions for mornings or non-cruise days and save afternoons for the beach or your verandah. Combining a few nights in Ocho Rios with a stay in Negril or Montego Bay is easy via the north coast highway.
