A Perfect 3-Day Ocho Rios Itinerary

Day one: water

Leave the villa by 8.30 and be at Dunn’s River Falls (about 15 minutes) when the gates open. Climb the falls in water shoes, then dry off on the little beach at the bottom. Lunch back in town at Miss T’s, then Shaw Park Gardens on the way home (7 minutes from the villa) for the view from the top of the ridge. Sunset from the rock at the front of the property. Dinner on the deck, cooked by the chef.

Day two: river and coast

A slower morning: a floating breakfast in the pool, arranged the day before as an extra. Then east along the coast to the White River (about 22 minutes) for two hours of tubing or bamboo rafting under the bamboo. Afterwards, Reggae Beach (about 20 minutes from the villa) for a swim and a beach-bar lunch. Back to the villa for a nap and a game of giant chess before dinner.

Day three: your choice

Adventurers: Mystic Mountain (13 minutes) for the chairlift, the bobsled and the zipline. Romantics: the drive east to Firefly (about 51 minutes), Noël Coward’s house on its hill above Port Maria, and lunch at James Bond Beach on the way back. Families: the Blue Hole (15 minutes) in the morning, the pool in the afternoon, and a birthday cake if anyone can find an excuse. Everyone: jerk at Scotchies on the way to or from something.

If you have a fourth day

Do nothing. Read in the courtyard. Walk the grounds and count the fruit trees. Let the chef cook a long lunch. Watch a ship come in from the balcony. This is the day guests write about in their reviews.