Holywell Park, Kingston

If you’re looking to enjoy the breathtaking scenery and majesty of the Blue Mountains you need to check out Holywell Park.

It’s situated within the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park. Located just 90 minutes from Kingston, the park spans three parishes, and is located on more than 300 acres of land. The National Park is the countries only indigenous park, and one-third of the island’s national forests are located within this protected area.

Holywell Park is one of the eco-tourism sites in Jamaica, which functions as a park within a park.

Located at the height of 3500 feet above sea level, you can explore the lush vegetation which is often covered in tropical mist, as well as any of the ten major rivers that flow through the area. From the park, you can see Kingston, Porto Royal, and Portmore.

Nature Trails

Holywell Park offers five beautiful nature trails that are well-loved by hikers, especially the waterfall trail which is about two kilometers long and leads to an untarnished waterfall and river which features many awesome swimming holes to cool off in. The Oatley Mountain Trail is roughly five kilometers long and leads through a jungle-like tropical forested area.

The trails feature educational sign posts along the route and viewpoints with panoramic vistas of the misty mountains. There are variously covered gazebos and picnic tables that are ideal for picnic lunches and barbecues. The park also includes a special area for children called the Kids Discovery Zone.

This gorgeous environment is also a treat for bird watchers, featuring a wide variety of birds, including all thirty of Jamaica’s prevalent species. As you walk through the park, you will also be able to see many nonpoisonous species of lizards, frogs, and snakes, including the Jamaican Boa, the largest snake on the island.

There are tons of different plants in the park. This includes some of the tiniest orchids in the world. There’s also a bamboo plant here which is said to bloom once every 33 years. The largest butterfly in the Western Hemisphere, the Giant Swallowtail Butterfly can be seen fluttering around the park.

Nature enthusiasts will enjoy seeing the natural vegetation, where the chilly climate invites many species to grow. Many of these species do not grow anywhere else on the island, such as raspberries and strawberries.

One of the primary purposes of the park is nature conservation, and there is an area dedicated as a tree nursery which is used to grow trees to be used in reforestation developments.

If you would like to enjoy a night in nature, three inexpensive self-catering wooden huts are available. The beds have foam mattresses. These rustic cabins can sleep four to eight people, and each one features a kitchenette and hot water. The cabins also have balconies, from which you can savor the most awe-inspiring views over Kingston.