Blue Mountains

We landed at Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport long after dark. The city was celebrating Friday night in its traditional manner; the “Friday Night Jam” filled the streets with people glad the work week was over. The aromas from corner barbecues wafted through the air; reggae blasted from a radio on another corner.

We were in Kingston. But not for long.

Our ride was taking us out of the city and up the Blue Mountains to Strawberry Hill. For the next hour, we wound our way through the city streets that we’d return to in later days, finally making our way out of the humidity and crowds and into the hills. The air grew cooler as we climbed, moving slowly back and forth on the switchback road. Finally, we were there. A pale glow lit the main building and restaurant, around the property we could see the small cottages outlined in dim light. But the real sight was from the restaurant itself. From here, we could see the lights of Kingston in the distance, far below us. The city was still partying down there, but here all was quiet as most visitors went to bed early, ready to rise the next morning to a foggy sunrise and a forest draped in quiet mist. We’d be bird watching the next day.

It was time for our Friday Night Jam to end, not to reggae or dancehall music, but to the sound of night frogs and insects in the nearby forest.

In the Blue Mountains, you'll find plenty of opportunities for birding, hiking, and just enjoying one of Jamaica's most beautiful regions:

Blue Mountains-John Crow National Park
B1 to Newcastle is the main route.
At 300 square miles (193,260 acres), the park is filled with sites to challenge adventure travelers of all types – hikers, birders, mountain bikers. The country’s second largest national park has three distinct areas: the Blue Mountains Peak (the highest mountain in Jamaica); the Clydesdale Forest Reserve (a wilderness filled with mahogany, eucalyptus, and blue mahoe); and the easily accessible Hollywell Recreational Park (see below).

One of the best ways to experience the park (which in many areas is so heavily forested you need a machete to hack your way through) is with a guide.

Hollywell Recrational Park
Two miles from Newcastle
Tucked high in the mountains, this park is a great place to escape from the heat. With great views, Hollywell offers picnicking and hiking.