Runaway Bay used to be just a western satellite of Ocho Rios.However, with the opening of some large resorts, plus a colony of smaller hotels, it's now become a destination in its own right. Runaway Bay has developed as a small resort for several reasons, mainly its beaches of white sands, which are superior and less overrun than those of Ocho Rios.

 It is especially recommended for those who want to escape from the hordes descending on Ocho Rios, where cruise-ship crowds and aggressive vendors can intrude on your solitude, which now overpopulate Ocho Rios.

 Ocho Rios has better shopping, more things to do, and more dining options.The real reason most vacationers select Runaway Bay over Ocho Rios is that they want to hang out at a particular resort.

 This part of Jamaica's north coast has several distinctions: It was the first part of the island seen by Columbus, the site of the first Spanish settlement on the island, and the point of departure of the last Spaniards leaving Jamaica following their defeat by the British.