Practically opposite one another on the coast road west of Ocho Rios, are the well-known Dunn’s River Falls and Dolphin Cove, the latter a kind of mini-theme park which provides the opportunity to swim with dolphins, stingrays (with barbs removed), and nurse sharks.

The entrance fee charged at Dolphin Cove gives visitors a run of the complex, including a walking trail where handlers let people get up close to macaws, snakes, iguanas, and goats. It also covers snorkeling in the bay and the use of glass-bottom kayaks. Dolphin, shark, and stingray encounters, of varying degrees, take place throughout the day but cost extra.

Just up the road is Dunn’s River Falls, a magnificent cascade of multiple tiers pouring over smooth limestone rocks, encircled by interesting ferns and foliage, and ending in the sea. Guides lead easy and invigorating climbs up the falls, with everyone holding hands daisy-chain style. While the surrounding land has undergone extensive development, with plenty of car parks and an abundance of concrete, the falls themselves remain spectacular, as does the white-sand beach at their base. There is also a lively reef offshore and it is possible to rent snorkel gear. Snack outlets abound on-site and there is a local craft market on the way to the exit.

Both Dunn’s River and Dolphin Cove can get a little crowded on cruise ship days, (mostly late in the afternoons).