The Best Beaches in Ocho Rios | Top 5 Ocho Rios Beaches

With so many inland attractions in Ocho Rios, it’s easy to forget about its lovely coastline and miles of beautiful beaches.

If you’re ever in Ocho Rios, and want to spend the day relaxing in the sun with the Caribbean Sea at your feet, choose one of the following beaches that will ensure that you get to experience the best that Ocho Rios has to offer.

Ocho Rios Bay Beach / Turtle Beach

One good thing about the Ocho Rios Bay Beach is that if you’re coming to Jamaica on a cruise ship, you won’t have to go far to get to this beach. It will be the closest beach to you.

The beach is secure, has silky soft white sand and water so calm and clear you’ll see schools of little fish swimming around from the shore.

The water stays knee height for a while so if you want water up to your shoulders, you’ll have to go out a bit.  But on the brighter side, the shallow water makes it perfect if you have kids with you that aren’t the best swimmers.

Some people complain about the cruise ships blocking their view when they come in but I think they’re impressive and a sight to behold.

If I had to find a complaint, it would be the showers and the bathroom. The last time I saw them, they needed an update.

Bamboo Beach Club

The Bamboo Beach Club is a private, secure beach, a few miles outside of Ocho Rios.

It’s an overall beautiful beach but the sand isn’t as white and silky smooth as I’ve come to expect from Jamaican beaches. It has a somewhat gritty feel but still soft and feels good on your feet.

The water is crystal blue (as expected in Jamaica), cool and refreshing. It’s pretty calm and not too wavy at all but you can tell there’s no reef blocking the ocean current.

When you arrive, you’re assigned a waitress who will take your orders and deliver them to your lounge chair. There’s also an all-inclusive package so if you like to keep the drinks flowing while you wait for your Jerk chicken, that may be a good option.

There’s a little craft market but the sellers are very low-key and won’t be hassling you to buy if you’re not interested.

There’s also a live DJ playing kid-friendly reggae and if you get there at the right time of day, there’s a show that the kids will love.

James Bond Beach

The James Bond beach is about 20 minutes drive outside of Ocho Rios in a town called Oracabessa. It is renowned as the former home of the “James Bond” novelist, Ian Fleming.

It is said that this was his secret hideaway where he wrote 14 of his famous “007” thrillers.

It’s a relatively small beach with a rustic vibe. You can expect to find a few locals playing football (soccer) or dominoes nearby so if you’re looking to have an authentic Jamaican vibe, this is your place.

This little cove has extremely calm water with next to no waves.

There’s a bar on property that makes a mean cocktail and the food is pretty good and done to order.

If you’re looking for touristy comforts, this beach is not for you. But if you get a kick out of hanging with the locals and hearing some stories about the adventures of a local fisherman, this place is a must.

Pleasure Cove – right beside couples San Souci

Located next door to Couples San Souci in Ocho Rios, Pleasure Cove is one of the least spoken about beaches on this list.

It’s a beautiful beach and there’s no entry charge so it’s a wonder why there was hardly anyone there. We felt like we had the beach all to ourselves.

The restaurant and bar has free wifi and the escovitch fish is freshly caught and well seasoned.

According to our waitress, the locals mostly come out on Sundays when they have time off from work. Other than that, just a few savvy tourists pass through during the week.

The water is fairly shallow and calm so it’s a great beach for kids and non-swimmers.

There’s also a few lounge chairs and an almond tree that’s perfect for shade. A very sweet way to spend the day.

Beach at Dunns River Falls

Dunn’s River Falls is one of Jamaica’s most visited landmarks. And with climbing the falls being the main attraction, it’s easy to ignore the beach that sits at the bottom.

In all honesty, the beach at Dunn’s River Falls isn’t the best. It’s nice and has a great view, but the roar and beauty of the cascading waterfalls will grab your attention and have you turning your back to the ocean.

The beach, however, is great for snorkeling. Underwater formations are interesting and extremely colorful.

Entrance to the beach is included with the falls’ entrance fee. So run back down and take a dip after you’ve conquered climbing the falls.

Expect to be surrounded by tourists, especially if there’s a cruise ship in town.

If you’ve been to any of the beaches above, please share your thoughts below in the comments section. And if we left out a beach that you think should’ve made the list, let us know.