Off the back of this year’s Support Your Girlfriends trip to Ocho Rios, Editor Ikponmwosa Edorisiagbon gives us the lowdown on how to spend a long weekend in Jamaica’s tropical northern town.
Ocho Rios used to be a traditional fishing village, as a desirable tourism destination it has now been transformed into a stunning resort with a cruise ship harbor and a busy bay beach that’s lined with hotels. The surrounding area boasts rainforest, rivers and waterfalls, making it a perfect destination for both the relaxers and the adventurers. The town is around an hour and thirty minutes drive from the airport but can be easily reached by transfer coach or private taxi.
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Stay:
The Moon Palace Hotel where the Support Your Girlfriends trip hosts the guests is one of the best in Ocho Rios; with an all inclusive option, fine dining and oceanfront views it’s impossible not to have an enjoyable stay. The food is mentioned in many of the best reviews of the hotel and something Ikponmwosa highly recommended.
“When staying at the Moon Palace, you have to visit the sandwich shop and order a jerk chicken sandwich on wheat bread, it changed my life!”
The restaurants in the resort serve a mixture of cuisines, catering to the many American visitors but also showcasing the local food to perfection. At breakfast time you are able to sample one of local’s favorite dishes, ackee and saltfish, as well as tuck into breakfast staples like fresh omelettes and pancakes. The hotel makes a fresh pear and ginger juice which also comes highly recommended and a great tonic before a day of activities.
Shop:
If you’re looking to shop whilst staying here there are many talented local vendors around the town, but also some with stalls in the Moon Palace hotel during the day. This is a great way to purchase items that are completely unique, but also to support the local economy whilst here. Products range from beautiful wooden carvings made from locally sourced wood to bespoke crocheted bikinis. Ikponmwosa had a bespoke bikini made by Nadine Lemonious.
Local tradition:
You may already know that Jamaica is known for its medicinal marujiana and visiting one of the official spots is a great way to learn about CBD, THC and the benefits of this medicinal herb. Ikponmwosa visited one of the top dispensaries to find out more about how it works.
“The Kaya Herb House was the first dispensary in Jamaica. Here people can speak with a doctor about any ailments and register for a medicinal card. There are lots of different products that are formulated to tackle various issues; you can purchase moisturizers for muscle relaxation, face creams, scrubs and soaps to help skin, as well as the bud for smoking. Housed in a beautiful traditional house, the dispensary also has a café and pizzeria for people to spend a relaxing day here.”
Activities:
The town of Ocho Rios is home to Mystic Mountain where you can ride on the skylift, zipline and do bobsledding. Reaching the top of this tropical forest will reward you with some incredible views that make the 700-foot climb worth it! If beachside is more your vibe, visit Dolphin Cove for some pristine sandy beaches as well as interactive swimming with dolphins, stingrays and sharks. For a mix of land and water activities, you can hike up Dunn’s River to the beautiful waterfall that cascades through the trees. The hike is about an hour’s climb with grippy water shoes and a waterproof camera recommended!
On the last day, Ikponmwosa took a river rafting excursion which is a great way to explore the rainforest whilst relaxing on a private bamboo raft, steered by a local guide.
