Island Village Entertainment Park

Since its 2002 opening, Island Village Entertainment Park, at the junction of Main St and DaCosta Dr, has changed the face of Ocho Rios. The 2-hectare development, brainchild of resort and media visionary Chris Blackwell, claims to resemble a 'Jamaican coastal village.' It doesn't.

Quibbles aside, you will find a peaceful beach, upscale craft shops, a cinema, Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville and Blue Runnings (both with bars and restaurants), a video-casino, Reggae Xplosion and a village green and amphitheater for live performances. The fences around the place reveal that this is not a public space, but rather a kind of daycare center for skittish, newly arrived cruise-ship passengers who lack the will - or the confidence - to explore the streets of Ocho Rios. Admission to the village is free, but you will be charged to use the beach or visit Reggae Xplosion, and also for some special events.