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Why Top:
The Park is one of the most extensive and well-preserved mountain ecosystems in the West Indies, so far very little impacted by settlement. It contains many endemic and endangered species and the levels of endemism recorded in the flora are amongst the highest of any in the world. Its transect from cloud forest to coast has sufficient area, elevational and climatic range to support the existing diversity in a warmer future.
Description:
Complex geology and varied topography have given rise to a diversity of ecosystems and species unmatched in the insular Caribbean and created one of the most biologically diverse tropical island sites on earth. Many of the underlying rocks are toxic to plants so species have had to adapt to survive in these hostile conditions. This unique process of evolution has resulted in the development of many new species and the park is one of the most important sites in the Western Hemisphere for the conservation of endemic flora. Endemism of vertebrates and invertebrates is also very high.
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Almost all visitors to the Park are local people or researchers, although national and international ecotourism is promoted by the government. There are two small visitor centres with guided and self guided interpretative trails. Accommodation and campsites have been prepared and in 2000 Taco Bay and nearby beaches within the site were being heavily developed with hotels.
Clothing:
Seasonable
Climate:
The Park has a hot subtropical climate year-round. Most rain falls between May and October and it is subject to hurricanes between August and October. Humidity is high, varying between 75% and 95%. The cooler months are January to April when the least rain falls. The maximum temperature is 32°C, the minimum is 15°C.
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Ok