Things to see and do North

Opened in 2002, this attraction welcomes hundreds of visitors every day to swim with the dolphins. Seven dolphins imported from Mexico with their Spanish-speaking trainers occupy a two-hectare pool. They swim in a natural bay closed by a stone wall. The animals swallow tens of kilos of fish per day to be admired, caressed and thrown in the air. They never go out, and on the contrary, are occasionally visited by free companions attracted by their presence. As far as approaching the dolphins is concerned, visitors can choose between three formulas: touching a pontoon/touchencounter, the least expensive or the one for bad swimmers, touching the bath/encounterswim, accompanied by a dance and game demonstration, and finally the total, the real bath with dolphins/swimwith dolphins, for 45 minutes. The highlight of the show: the "foot push" or how to be propelled in the water, then in the air, by two dolphins that push you by the feet. You will certainly be happy to leave with your pictures, kissing or swimming with the dolphins. Recently, you can also swim with the sharks. Apart from this central attraction, Anse des Dauphins is a human-sized place and has a mini-zoo showing some of the island's animal species including iguanas, snakes, turtles, parrots... and pirates! On site: restaurants, bars, a swimming pool and some souvenir stores.

This natural phenomenon resulted in an amusement park style sound and light show, with an on-site restaurant open for dinner. It is the meeting of the fresh, cool water of the Martha Brae River with the warm, salty water of the Caribbean Sea that has given rise to microorganisms called "bioflagellates", an extremely rare phenomenon that has only been observed in 5 other places on the globe. These tiny organisms create a bioluminescence that translates, in simple terms, into bluish glows triggered by any movement. Thus, from the boat launched in the night, we can see beams moving at the bottom of the water: fish. We are surprised to see the boat's wake take on incredible fluorescent hues. A highlight: volunteers can immerse themselves in these sparkling waters to see the contours of their bodies light up as they swim, a truly magical moment to experience at least once in a lifetime. The guided tour also includes a historical review of the town of Falmouth and the lagoon. A lagoon that, just before the arrival of violent cyclones, sees many boats come to anchor there. The reason is that the" luminous lagoon ", protected by a compact mangrove, is the safest cove of the whole north coast when strong winds blow and the sea gets rough, it remains sheltered. We recommend the Falmouth Mystic package which, in addition to the luminous lagoon, offers you a drink and a show of traditional Jamaican dances.

If there's one tourist attraction in Jamaica that you shouldn't miss, it's Dunn's River Falls! You'll hear about it long before you enter the Ocho Rios area and you'll see it on every tourist brochure and postcard. No matter what you do, you can't escape it, it would be a crime of lèse-Jamaïque, so you might as well make up your mind, you must visit Dunn's River Falls.

As soon as you arrive, even before entering the property, the tone is set: signposting, huge parking lots for buses, welcome banners in all languages, multiple ticket booths, queues, turnstiles, swarms of tourists crowded around the banners of the guides, rubber sandal rental stands that prove to be very useful for climbing in the bed of the waterfalls, concrete tracks and stairs... It is a real amusement park, don't expect wild falls. As for the natural charm of the landscape, it is better to forget it, but it is still beautiful and pleasant to bask in it.

Visit. The concrete path winds along the tumultuous falls that drop some 180 meters to the sea where the river ends its course. The impressive falls are set in a lush green setting, alternating turbulent cascades and natural pools. However, some passages seem to have been tamed and consolidated by the hand of man. The principle of the attraction consists in integrating yourself in a quasi-permanent human chain and to go up the falls laboriously, in line, hand in hand in the middle of the tumultuous waves, with organized photo stops. The ascent lasts about 30 minutes, but the effort is not negligible. The help of a guide is advised because some passages are quite perilous and the current is very strong in some places. The pictures of the soaked tourists taken by photographers will be proposed on the way out. The less adventurous will be able to choose the dry and emotionless option, that is to say to go down and go up along the waterfalls by the stairs. At the bottom of the falls, the beach is pleasant and deserves a swim stop. The exit of the site will be done, without possible detour, by the immense market of craft industry, obviously very expensive, where the salesmen spend their day sitting in front of their stand to call the tourists.

On the spot. A bar-restaurant and its few shaded tables serves simple dishes directly on the sand. There is now a picnic area, a children's playground and a pizza kiosk within the park.

Tips. Because of the crowds, it is better to go on a weekday morning than on a Sunday afternoon. Avoid cruise ship days, and arrive early in the morning for a more intimate time with Mother Nature. Don't forget to bring: bathing suits and towels, sunscreen, tennis shoes or water shoes, waterproof phone bag and a change of clothes.

Tip: Little Dunn's River will be your free stop of wonder! The Dunn's River falls end in the sea, and it's really worth the trip. Hot and cold currents and natural massages under the waterfalls will complete your freshness break. A small beach very appreciated by the locals since they have free access to it.

This spot has remained wild and preserves an intact biodiversity, a rare thing on this side of the Jamaican coast, which is overrun by huge tourist resorts . It is composed of a desolate landscape, a lagoon with brackish brown waters (the reason why it was not built), bristling with bare tree trunks. On arriving, a few photographs are necessary. Small stalls offer wooden objects and shells from the nearby reefs, truly local and sincere handicrafts, as well as freshly picked fruits to refresh under the sun.

Built in 1798, this austere building between neoclassical and neo-gothic testifies to the skill of Jamaican craftsmen of the 19th century. High ceilings and black and white marble floors characterize its interior design. It is the first Masonic temple on the island built by the Scottish lodge of Athol Union. From expansion to embellishment, it put the Scottish Lodge in such debt that it had to be sold. The Baptists bought it at auction in 1832 and occupied it until 1950. William Knibb College moved in in 1961 for 14 years.

This unofficial site is a tiny gaseous spring that escapes from the rock into a basin, before flowing directly into a river. The special feature? The gases make the water flammable on the surface, flooding the water with yellow flames all over the basin. The demonstration is operated by some rastas who squat the place, waiting for visitors. To negotiate the demonstration before any lighting of lighter. Coming from Ocho Rios, turn left 10 m before the sign "Welcome to Saint Ann's Bay" until you reach a small bridge, turn left.

The former Shaw Park hotel has moved far away from the sea to the taste of white sand lovers. From its first life, only its outbuildings remain its outbuildings, its magnificent 10 ha lush gardens on the sides of a gentle hill dominating Ocho Rios. Fougères, bromeliaceae, hibiscus, orchids, anthuriums… Praise for local flora is no longer to be done. The vegetation on the terraces that match the sides of the hill, poeny it and there by fountains. Visits are guided.

The management of the place has changed hands, and name. The Coyaba Garden has become Konoko Falls but the attractions offered on the site hardly change. The nature lovers will not miss to visit this nice botanical garden located on the heights of Ocho Rios. It is planted with a dense but well-tamed tropical vegetation, wet with a natural fresh water spring that supplies most of the city of Ocho Rios with drinking water, embellished with a small waterfall, ponds inhabited by carp, crayfish or mullets... It offers a pleasant and relaxing walk, especially during the hot weather. Go up the falls with your guide before taking a refreshing bath in the natural pool Maja. Don't miss a stop at the mini-zoo to discover some of the local wildlife.

Museum. In a large colonial style house, the museum traces the eventful history of the island, from the dawn of the pre-Columbian Arawak civilization to the post-emancipation period, passing through the glorious hours of piracy and the darker hours of the slaves' struggle for freedom. We have not forgotten to celebrate the great Jamaican figures from the region, and Bob Marley shares a small space with Marcus Garvey. The bar, a refreshing stop, offers natural fruit juices and coffee from the Blue Mountains. A good cultural and historical stop in the middle of this green earth Eden.

The modest Kaz Kreol Beach Lodge offers affordable access to the small beach at the mouth of the White River (with translucent emerald waters), between the luxury Jamaica Inn and Couples Sans Souci. A truly beautiful turquoise haven, lined with vegetation and white sand, with a row of comfortable loungers on a concrete jetty, another under the shady vegetation on the white sand and a river side beach. The bar restaurant serves juicy barbecued pork chops, grilled fish and lobster.