Dunn River Falls

Located in a dense tropical forest, Dunn's River Falls is Jamaica's most famous attraction, a 15-minute drive west of Ocho Rios. This Caribbean paradise consists of a number of waterfalls, which cascade over rock terraces down to the Caribbean Sea below, and beautiful natural pools that have formed in the rockface.

The falls are shallow enough to enable visitors to climb the 183m (600ft) limestone tiers to reach a tropical shower, from where they can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding area. The falls can be slippery-wear a swimsuit and tennis shoes or swim socks. The safest way to climb is with a guide who will take you by the hand and lead you up the tiered falls and into some small caves. The jungle setting is gorgeous. At the top of the falls is a village full of crafts shops, T-shirt stands and hair-braiding kiosks. (Open daily 8:30 am-4 pm)

There are beautiful beaches at the bottom of these magnificent falls that are also famous for featuring in the first James Bond film, 'Dr No'. They are considered by many to be the Niagara Falls of the Caribbean and are set in the luscious surroundings of the Dunn's River Falls Park with its many tree ferns and orchids.

Ocho Rios is awash in shopping centers. Some contain only duty-free shops. Shoppers in search of duty-free bargains on French perfume, crystal, watches, cameras and electronic equipment should scout the centers along Main Street and DaCosta Drive. The largest of these are Taj Mahal Shopping Centre (almost directly across from the terminal), Ocean Village Shopping Centre (in the center of Ocho Rios), Pineapple Place (just east of town) and Coconut Grove Shopping Centre.

Shopping for island-made products requires determination, shrewdness and a good eye. Ocho Rios has five outdoor crafts markets: the Ocho Rios Craft Market off Main Street, Olde Market Craft Shoppes next to Seow Supermarket, Pineapple Craft Circle beside Pineapple Place, Coconut Grove Craft Market next to the Coconut Grove shopping center and Fern Gully Craft Centre at Fern Gully. Most of the straw work, wood carvings and leather goods are of good quality, but you'll notice a sameness in the merchandise. Individual shops offering one-of-a-kind items include Irie Ceramics (east of Couples Hotel) for pottery and Seagull Pewter (in Ocho Rios) for traditionally wrought pewter.

You'll encounter many aggressive vendors along the way. This can be very intimidating if you're not familiar with Jamaica. If you aren't interested, a firm "No thank you" should suffice. Keep walking. If you do see something you like, expect to bargain: It is a time-honored tradition, always conducted with humor and mutual respect. Never pay a vendor the first asking price.

Outside of Ocho Rios are several studios where you can visit with the artists as well as view their paintings, sculpture, carvings and ceramic work. Southeast of Ocho Rios on the road to Kingston, look for a retaining wall painted with the name Wassi Art. Ta ke the unpaved road toward Great Pond and you'll enter a world of fanciful but functional pottery created by a group of young, self-taught artists. (Open Monday-Friday 10 am-4 pm)

One of the best art galleries in Jamaica is located in Harmony Hall, a graciously restored stone and wood Victorian mansion off the coast road east of Ocho Rios. The works of contemporary local artists-Kapo, David Boxer, Everald Brown and Judy MacMillan-are on display in the manse, which was built in 1886 as part of a pimento estate. (Gallery open daily 10 am-6 pm) Prices are marked in either Jamaican or U.S. dollars. (Always establish the currency up front.)

Be aware that the local shops recommended by the cruise lines generally pay for the privilege. Prices at these shops may be somewhat higher than those elsewhere, but passengers usually get a money-back guarantee, valid for 30 days, if anything goes awry. As always and everywhere, buyer beware.
Shopping Hours: Monday-Satur day 9 am-5 pm or 6 pm. Some shops close for lunch, and many close at 2 pm on Thursdays. Most stores are open on Sundays if a ship is in port

Best buys are Blue Mountain Coffee and world-famous Jamaican rums from Appleton Estates and Edwin Charlie. Colors (the one at the entrance to Soni's Plaza) has a walk-in humidor with a wide selection of Cuban and Jamaican cigars. Local spices and seasonings are a wonderful way to bring home a taste of Jamaica.

You can explore the hilly, jungled terrain above Ocho Rios in two gardens that can be reached off the Kingston road east of town. Coyaba River Garden and Museum, on the site of an ancient Arawak village in Shaw Park Ridge, is a natural river garden made accessible by walkways and footbridges that lead you over a cascading stream and past natural aquariums formed by deep pools. Among the labeled plants are many rare species, and there's also a cactus garden. Owner Simon Stuart or manager Toni Allen will be happy to answer your questions if they are around. A museum at the gardens covers Jamaica's history-look for the replica of an Arawak bohio (house). And don't miss the small art gallery of local art and the gift shop: We found more high-quality selections there than in most stores.

Sharing the Shaw Park Ridge with Coyaba is Shaw Park Botanical Gardens, which displays the island's flora in a formal setting. Artfully planted trees and flowering shrubs such as hibiscus, bougainvillea and oleander vie with the many species of ferns. (It's said that a cutting from the park's Jamaican sword fern was taken to Boston in 1793 and crossbred to yield the Boston fern.)
The gardens are open daily 8 am-5 pm.

Jamaica has more than 500 species of ferns, and many of them can be seen in Fern Gully, an old creek bed south of Ocho Rios that you can drive through. Stop and look, but please don't touch: In the 1960s and 1970s Fern Gully was almost decimated by cutting-happy tourists. Jamaicans are understandably sensitive about such removals. (Most countries won't allow you to bring in plants anyway.)