There are many resorts located in Ocho Rios. Your resort experience will likely include your room, access to pools, and other smaller resort activities, but assistance with scheduling tours and adventures will be required. That said, it’s always best to do your research and look for the best possible deals.
Sandal’s Vacations offers 4 different experiences in Ocho Rios. The Riviera Seaside resort is right on the coast of the Caribbean Riviera. Highlights of this resort include the Ochi Beach Club, with private cabanas, pool, hot tub, and swim-up bar, but there are no fun activities outside the resort without paying extra. The boardwalk with waterfront gazebos, spa treatments, and dining sounds good, too, but you can get the same experience at an Ocho Rios villa, plus save money to pay for your water sports. Deluxe rooms at any of Sandal’s resorts range from $222 to $519 per night, per person. With all of this in mind, you’ll end up paying less per night for a villa in Ocho Rios, leaving more money available to purchase those water sports activities.
For example, a deep sea fishing experience on a chartered private fishing boat will range from $99 to $260 per person. The captain of this adventure will guide you on your journey to catch red snapper, grouper, striped tuna and many more deep sea fish. A dolphin encounter tour can be scheduled for $140 per person. This tour includes boat rides, glass-bottom kayaking, and swimming with dolphins. Horseback riding on the beach on the Caribbean Sea is also offered at many of the Ocho Rios beaches. It can be scheduled with Heritage Beach Tours for just under $70 per person and Dunn’s River Falls and Beach Horseback Riding Tour is priced at $75 per person.
For around $57 per person, you can take a river tubing ride with White River Valley Tubing Safari. This safari includes a tube ride along the White River where you’ll take in the scenery and navigate through challenging rapids. Irie Adventures offers their Martha Brae River rafting ride on a two-person bamboo raft and a guide that soars through the water to the top of a waterfall. The price to participate in this adventure is just under $100 per person. The Swim, Hold and Feed the Sharks program offers the opportunity to touch and feed the sharks at Treasure Reef. A shark show is also included, all for $130 per person.
There are also many other water sports charters and activities available in Ocho Rios, including catamaran cruises, jet skiing, parallel sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, sunset cruises, and windsurfing. These exciting low-cost adventures range from $30 to $70 per person, and group discounts are usually available.
When you stay at an Ocho Rios resort or villa, you’ll pay the same price no matter where you stay. The difference is that with a villa, you are saving money, freeing up your vacation spending to participate in more of these fun water activities so you can experience Jamaica to the fullest.