Ocho Rios Shopping and Districts

(Ocho Rios, St. Ann, Middlesex, Jamaica)

Ocho Rios has a decent blend of shopping centres and markets, although the shopping is more expensive, say, than Montego Bay. Market vendors are also notoriously aggressive, trying to get in on the action from cruise ship arrivals.

Ocho Rios crafts are similar to what you will find elsewhere on the island and you should haggle hard, as every vendor marks up. Shopping hours in Ocho Rios are usually office-type hours (08:00 to 16:00) in the week, with shortened hours on weekends. You may also find shops closing in the afternoon on a Thursday.

When to Shop and Where

Most obvious in Ocho Rios is the large number of shopping centres and malls. There are numerous malls right in the town centre, almost up to the main beach, and many are huge, all-encompassing places with eateries and entertainment to boot.

The Ocean Village Shopping Centre is right in the thick of it on Main Street and is loaded with boutiques, food stores and a variety of services. The New Ocho Rios Plaza is a more recent addition, as is the Taj Mahal Mall, with its many duty free shops, and the nearby Harbour Shops. The Island Plaza is part of the Island Village complex and is also popular.

The other main shopping option in Ocho Rios is the markets. The Ocho Rios Craft Park is the top one, with its 130-plus stalls. You can pick up all sorts of (relatively) overpriced items here, and can even have a hat woven while you wait. Handbags and statues are especially popular.

Locally made fabrics, embroidered goods and silks are also in abundance in Ocho Rios, along with woodcarvings, rugs, china and pewter. There are a number of factories outside of the resort area that churn out interesting items, including Wassi Art for pottery and Quakers for wickerwork.

For genuine Jamaican handicrafts and art work in air-conditioned comfort, Harmony Hall on Tower Isle is the place to go. This beautiful, restored house is a tourist attraction in its own right and has fine views. There is also a grocery supermarket downtown - United Supermarket.