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Contact:
Susan Otuokon
29 Dumbarton Avenue, P.O. Box 1225
Kingston 10, Jamaica
Tel: +876/960-2848-9, +876/920-8278-9
Fax: +876/960-2850
jcdt@cybervale.com
www.greenjamaica.org.jm
Certified by:
Green Globe 21 represented in the Caribbean by Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST) (June 2005)
Type of accommodation:
Campsite
Research station
Features:
Hot water
Kitchen
Private bathroom
Year founded: 1988
Number of employees: 25
Percent of employees who are local residents: 100%
Number of rooms: 3 self-contained cabins
Type of destination:
Forest/rainforest
Mountain
Able to accommodate:
Families
Gay/lesbian
Handicapped
Seniors
Singles
Singles with children
Description of the area:
The property is located within the tropical montane rainforests of Jamaica’s only National Park. Holywell boasts spectacular views of wide open rainforest areas, the city of Kingston, and world famous Blue Mountain coffee plantations. There are 5 hiking trails, one of which runs through 2 parishes, another leads to a waterfall, and one leads to a stream. The area is a favorite of bird watchers, campers, and hikers. Visitors will come in contact with a wide variety of endemic plants and birds, and become familiar with conservation programmes. Children can enjoy the newly built Kids’ Discovery Zone, an interpretive play area where children learn about the plants and animals of the park. Nearby attractions include: New Castle Jamaica Defense Force Training depot which boasts a rich history, Twymam’s Coffee Farm, Gardens of Cold Spring, Catherine’s Peak, and park buffer zone communities.
Available activities:
Bird watching
Eco/nature/wildlife
Educational, research, volunteering
Mountain climbing
Tours
Visits to conservation projects
Walking/hiking
How to get there:
Holywell is accessible all year-round via two-wheel drive vehicle.
Making a difference:
Holywell is the premier recreational area inside the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park. This park is dedicated to the conservation of Jamaica’s natural resources and to providing nature-based recreational opportunities for Jamaicans and foreigners. Holywell is used as a focal point for developing appreciation for nature in the wider public, and hence support for conservation initiatives. Holywell employs a largely local workforce from nearby communities, and uses local products. The site houses a tree nursery where native forest trees are grown for use in reforestation projects and for sale to visitors. About 80% of the Holywell property is dedicated to habitat conservation, and therefore is under forest cover. The visitor center at the site provides educational materials about the natural environment, and the newly built Kids Discovery Zone entertains children with interpretive games.
General rates:
$$ ($26-$50)
Cabin 1 sleeps 5 people
Cabins 2 and 3 sleeps 2 people
For each additional person Ja$200 (US $3) up to a maximum of 4 additional people in each cabin
Date this information was provided: November 2007
