Visitor Information -- The local office of the Jamaica Tourist Board is at Office #3 in the Ocean Villa Plaza on Main Street (tel. 876/974-2582). It is open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm.
The Town Layout -- Ocho Rios is hardly a place you can explore on foot, except for its inner core. Most of its uncontrolled development lies to the east of the center. The actual town stretches some 6km (3 3/4 miles) between Dunn's River Falls to the west and White River to the east. Connecting these far corners is the A3, often called Main Street. Mercifully, this traffic-clogged road bypasses the congested heart of town; curved like a snake, Main Street borders Turtle Bay with its beach. In the very center of town stands a handy-as-a-landmark clock tower. Main Street and Da Costa Drive meet at this point.
If you'd like to explore this northern part of Jamaica in more depth, especially by car, purchase the big fold-out map called Ocho Rios and Beyond, sold at all news kiosks in the center of town.
Getting Around -- It is not really necessary to rent a car in Ocho Rios. Taxis will make pickups when called to hotels. Taxis are governed by JUTA (tel. 876/974-2292). In the center of town, they are plentiful in the parking lot adjacent to Ocean Village Plaza. You can also hire a taxi from Maxi Tours (tel. 876/974-2971), which operates from premises directly across the highway from Sandals Ocho Rios.
There is no bus service within Ocho Rios.
Special Events -- The Caribbean's most important jazz festival is the weeklong Ocho Rios Jazz Festival, held at various venues during the second week in June. Big names like the Jimmy Smith Trio appear here. Although Jamaica is primarily associated with reggae music, it has also contributed great jazz artists to the world, including Bertie King on saxophone and Jiver Hutchinson on trumpet. For more details and information, contact the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival (tel. 866/649-2137 or 323/857-5358; www.ochoriosjazz.com).
