In 1981 the Jamaican government commissioned expressionist sculptor Christopher Gonzáles to create a memorial to Bob Marley for Kingston's Celebrity Park. The result was a visually arresting 2.7m half-man, half-tree, the defiant Marley apparently growing out of the ground. Unimpressed Marley fans pelted the statue with rocks and fruit upon its unveiling – and so it was relocated to Ocho Rios’ Island Village.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
4.65 MILES
High on the White River, Jamaica's heavenly Blue Hole is a vision and is an undisputed highlight in Ocho Rios. To reach this popular spot, make your way…
7.23 MILES
This historical park overlooking the sea, less than 1km west of present-day St Ann’s, marks the site of the first Spanish capital on the island – Sevilla…
13.82 MILES
Set amid wide lawns high atop a hill 5km east of Oracabessa and 5km west of Port Maria, Firefly was the home of Sir Noël Coward, the English playwright,…
1.71 MILES
These famous falls, 3km west of town, are Jamaica’s top-grossing tourist attraction. Great throngs of people at peak hours can sometimes make it seem more…
5.77 MILES
You'll need a car to reach this delightful swimming spot on the White River, 5km beyond Blue Hole on a rough road, but it's worth the adventure. The stone…
0.17 MILES
This park is a tropical fantasia of ferns and bromeliads, palms and exotic shrubs, spread out over 11 hectares centered on an old great house (once a…
20.59 MILES
Tacky Falls is so pristine and isolated that, if you stumbled across them wandering up the coast from Robin’s Bay, you might be tempted to claim them as…
1.01 MILES
The small and charming Mahogany Beach is particularly popular with locals; it comes to life on weekends with loud music, smells of jerk cooking and…
Nearby Ocho Rios attractions
0.1 MILES
The compact Island Village Beach, located at the west end of Main St, is a peaceful small beach with lockers, towels, beach chairs and umbrellas for hire…
0.14 MILES
Immediately west of Island Village Beach is the tiny public Fishermen’s Beach, with colorful fishing boats and several eateries serving fresh fish and…
0.17 MILES
This park is a tropical fantasia of ferns and bromeliads, palms and exotic shrubs, spread out over 11 hectares centered on an old great house (once a…
0.29 MILES
This park is a pleasant place for a gentle stroll, with well-tended flower beds and shrubs. There are, alas, no turtles in the small stream running…
0.31 MILES
The main beach of Ocho Rios, popular with tourists, is the long fenced-off crescent known variously as Turtle Beach and Ocho Rios Bay, stretching east…
6. Konoko Falls & Botanic Garden
0.35 MILES
This beautiful botanic garden has walkways and trails leading past pools and streams, and feeders buzzing with hummingbirds – a lovely quiet escape from…
0.57 MILES
The center of Ocho Rios is marked by this old clock tower near the market and transportation center. The streets around here are lively at any time of day…
1.01 MILES
The small and charming Mahogany Beach is particularly popular with locals; it comes to life on weekends with loud music, smells of jerk cooking and…