Whether travelers go to Ocho Rios on a cruise ship or stay at an all-inclusive resort, Ocho Rios is a fun family friendly travel destination with lots of things to do and places to see. Ocho Rios is one of Jamaica’s most popular travel destinations because of its fabulous white sand beaches, rivers and waterfalls. However, for vacationers who want to see more than Dunn’ River Waterfalls and Dolphin Cove, there are other unique and adventurous tourist attractions to enjoy.
Rainforest Bobsled at Mystic Mountain
Within a few minutes drive of Dunn’s River Waterfalls and other water attractions is Rainforest Bobsled. Mystic Mountain is an eco friendly tourist attraction that takes visitors on a unique canopy tour of Ocho Rios’ tropical forest. The zip line tour takes gliders 170 meters through the jungle at a near vertical descent of 10 meters before they are landed on a wooden platform. This platform also doubles as the mid-station for the Rainforest Sky Explorer.
The rainforest Sky Explorer takes a more relaxing approach than the other rides and allows its riders to keenly enjoy the beautiful views of the town of Ocho Rios from an elevated angle, as well as enjoy the rich tropical foliage.
By far the most exciting and fast paced ride, at Mystic Mountain, is the Bobsled Jamaica Ride. The ride was inspired by the first Jamaican bobsledders to enter a Winter Olympics. The ride starts at a replica 1900s Jamaican Railway Station and continues through twists and turns in a gravity driven 3,280 feet fall. Riders have the option of controlling their descent with an in-sled hand brake or can go for an all out thrill ride by allowing the sled to freely plunge at up to 40miles per hour.
Chukka Cove Farm’s DogSled Tours
For visitors who want to be a musher for a day, without enduring the discomfort of the cold, the Jamaica dog sled team, located at Chukka Cove Farm, offers a very unique vacation experience. Visitors can learn about the amazing history of how Jamaicans became involved in this most fascinating and grueling Alaskan sport and can also participate in attaching the dogs to the buggy (sled).
Once the dogs are attached, visitors can hop on board and enjoy the ride while the dogs take them along a tour of the Jamaican countryside. The ride will take visitors to the location where legendary screen star, Steve McQueen, shot the movie Papillion. After a quick stop for refreshments and some photos, it’s back to home base, where the dogs are given treats and other displays of appreciation from the visitors for a fun and fantastic experience.
Explore The Green Grotto Caves Near Ocho Rios
The green Grotto caves is among Jamaica’s most prominent natural eco attractions, and should be on your list of attractions to see if you are in Ocho Rios. The Green Grotto Caves is located on the North Coast Highway, between Ocho Rios and Montego Bay and is exactly 3.2km from Discovery Bay to the west, and 4km from Runaway Bay to the east.
The caves have a rich history, being a haven for the Spanish in 1655 when the English took over Jamaican, and also other groups such as the Arawak Indians (Tainos). The caves were also a hideout for runaway slaves during the 18th century.
The cave has numerous rock formations including stalactites, stalagmites, over ceiling pockets and light holes. The Green Grotto cave is 1,525 meters long and 12 meters deep. In the belly of the cave is the Grotto Lake on which visitors can take a short canoe ride.
Mystic Mountain, the Green Grotto Cave and the Dogsled Tours at Chukka Cove offer visitors fun alternatives to the popular Dunn’s River Falls and white sand beaches of Ocho Rios and the North Coast of Jamaica. These attractions are also alternatives for visitors who don’t want to get wet but still want to do something fun; eco-tourist should find these guilt-free options to their liking as well.
