Moore Town, a remote village high in Jamaica's John Crow Mountains, is the capital of the Windward Maroons, whose ancestors were slaves who were freed by the Spanish in the mid-1600s and who later battled English colonists.
Getting to Moore Town is not easy, partly because you have to travel a bumpy, winding road from Port Antonio (8 mi/13 km away, on the north coast of the island). It is better to see Moore Town as part of a tour. Several companies in Port Antonio can make all the arrangements. If you want to go on your own, be prepared for a rough ride through the Rio Grande Valley.
Moore Town gives you a glimpse of Maroon culture and history and provides a close-up look at the backcountry of Jamaica. A highlight is Bump Grave, located near the school, which is the resting place of Nanny, the Maroon warrior queen. Try to visit with Mother Roberts, a faith healer who holds private sessions in her backyard.
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