Established in 1993, the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park (BJCMNP) is Jamaica's first and only National Park. In 2015, BJCMNP was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is the first "mixed" site (having both natural and cultural significance in the Caribbean, and one of only 32 around the world.
BJCMNP is comprised of 26,252 hectares of tropical montane rainforest, and is often referred to as "the lungs of eastern Jamaica."
The park is rich in biodiversity, and home to several endemic species, including the Giant Swallowtail Butterfly, Jamaican Coney and Jamaican Boa.
The Blue and John Crow Mountains are culturally significant because of their association with the Maroons. These former enslaved Africans escaped from the nearby sugar plantations, and established settlements, trails and hiding places in the lofty altitudes. You can still hike many of the Maroon trails, including the Nanny Town Heritage Route, named after Queen Nanny, who led the Maroons in their battle for freedom against the British.