When most people think of Jamaica, they picture white sand beaches but 50% of the island is rugged and mountainous. Jamaica’s largest mountain range is the Cockpit Country which is three times the size of the Blue & John Crow Mountains, spanning 780km2 and five parishes. Cockpit Country got its name from its unusual karst landscape, where steep-sided limestone hills and deep valleys create a terrain that looks like the cockpits of old ships, or an upturned egg carton if you will. Before this hike, the closest I’d come to visiting the Cockpit Country was to Accompong, a Maroon village located on its outskirts. Why? The Cockpit Country is one of the most inhospitable places in the world. However, when an invitation came to hike the forgotten Troy to Windsor trail which traverses the Cockpit Country, I accepted. Here’s how this adventure went.
Continue reading “Cockpit Country: Historic Hike from Troy to Windsor”Nanny Falls in Portland, Jamaica: Explore its History & Beauty
Nestled in the highlands of Portland, eastern Jamaica lies the beautiful Nanny Falls. Nanny Falls is located in the historic community of Moore Town, one of Jamaica’s four remaining maroon communities. Formerly known as New Nanny Town, Moore Town was founded in 1740 after the signing of a Peace Treaty between British colonial authorities and the Windward Maroons following the First Maroon War. This treaty granted the Windward Maroons 500 acres of land on which they currently reside. Today, Moore Town is a quiet village and its residents enjoy self governance and a self-sufficient way of life in harmony with nature and ancestral ties. Despite this, Moore Town faces modern challenges such as a dwindling community and aging population, as many of its young people migrate to urban centres or overseas in search of greater opportunities. That being said, here’s how to plan a trip to Nanny Falls and enjoy a slice of Jamaica’s rich maroon heritage.
Continue reading “Nanny Falls in Portland, Jamaica: Explore its History & Beauty”