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Maroon town and heritage celebration · South Coast

Accompong, Accompong, St Elizabeth: a local's guide

Researched by Michael RainfordPrices & hours checked Sources

Rebuilding after Hurricane Melissa. Check the latest before you go; details are in the guide below.

No car?

There is no simple public transport up to Accompong. Hire a licensed JUTA taxi or a driver for the day from Montego Bay, Negril or Treasure Beach, and agree the round-trip fare and waiting time before you leave.

On this page
  1. My local take
  2. How to get there
  3. What to expect
  4. Local tips
  5. Before you go
  6. FAQ
  7. Sources

My local take

Accompong is not an attraction in the usual sense. It is a living community, the home of the Accompong Maroons, descendants of Africans who freed themselves from slavery and fought the British from the hills until a peace treaty recognized their freedom and their land. The town is named after Accompong, one of the Maroon leaders and a brother of Kojo (Cudjoe, the spelling most Jamaicans know), whose forces forced the British to the table. Their sister was Nanny, Jamaica’s only National Heroine. The community runs its own affairs through its Maroon Council, led by a chief, and many Maroons hold strongly to their sovereignty under the treaty. That is a live question between the community and the Government of Jamaica, and it is worth understanding before you go: you are a guest on Maroon land.

The big day is January 6, when Accompong marks the treaty and Kojo’s birthday with the march to the Kindah tree, the abeng horn, Maroon drumming, dancing, singing and cooking. Hurricane Melissa did enormous damage here, but the Maroon Council still held the celebration on January 6, 2026, with the Prime Minister among the speakers. My take: if you care about Jamaican history, this is one of the most meaningful days on the island’s calendar, and far more rewarding than another beach day. Come with respect, buy food and crafts from the community, and don’t treat the ceremonies as a show put on for you.

Accompong pairs well with the rest of inland St Elizabeth: the Appleton Estate rum tour in the Nassau Valley below, and a swim at YS Falls. For the history behind it, read my short history of Jamaica, and for the wider area see my South Coast guide.

How to get there

Accompong sits high in the Cockpit Country hills of northern St Elizabeth, above the Nassau Valley where Appleton Estate is. The last stretch is a narrow, winding country road up into the hills. From Montego Bay, allow roughly two hours each way; from Negril or Treasure Beach, plan on roughly an hour and a half to two hours. Those are estimates, not timed routes, and roads in St Elizabeth were badly hit by Hurricane Melissa, so leave extra time.

On January 6, traffic on the single road up can back up for a long way. Leave early in the morning and be ready to park and walk the last part.

What to expect

The January 6 celebration. The Jamaica Information Service describes the day as the anniversary of the peace treaty with the British, signed in 1739 (you will also see 1738, from the old calendar), and the birthday of Kojo. Government reports of past years describe the ceremonial march to the Kindah tree, the blowing of the abeng, the Maroon war drums, traditional dancing and singing, a feast and speeches. JIS reports have described thousands of people turning out. The Culture Ministry calls it the largest and most important commemorative event of the Accompong Town Maroons. Some rituals are for the Maroons themselves, so follow what your hosts tell you about where visitors can go.

After Hurricane Melissa. The hurricane hit the town very hard on October 28, 2025. In November 2025 the community’s leader, Richard Currie, told the Jamaica Observer that about 80 percent of homes were uninhabitable, and the Observer reported that the roof of the Accompong Maroons Museum and Community Centre was torn off. The Gleaner put the damage at about 80 percent of the community’s 260 houses. Rebuilding is under way through the Maroon Council and its partners, with government roof repairs reported in January 2026. The celebration went ahead on January 6, 2026, in the rain, according to the Prime Minister’s published remarks. I could not confirm whether the museum has reopened.

Other times of year. Outside January 6 there is no visitor center with set hours. Visits to the town, the museum and sites such as the Kindah tree are arranged with the community, so go with a driver or guide who has contacts there and let them make the arrangements.

Local tips

  • Ask before you photograph people, elders or ceremonies. A friendly question goes a long way here, and sometimes the answer will be no.
  • Bring cash in Jamaican dollars for food, crafts and any donation or guide fee; there are no card machines to count on in the hills.
  • Spend your money in the community. Buying a plate of food or a craft from a Maroon vendor helps a town that is still rebuilding.
  • Wear shoes you can walk in on hilly, uneven ground, and bring rain gear in January; the Prime Minister's own remarks noted the crowd standing in the rain in 2026.
  • Combine it with Appleton Estate or YS Falls on another day, not on January 6, when the celebration needs the whole day.

Before you go

  • The town is still recovering from Hurricane Melissa. Many homes were damaged and the museum lost its roof, so don’t expect full visitor facilities.
  • The celebration’s program is set by the Accompong Maroon Council. I found no published program for the next January 6 when I checked, so look for the council’s own announcements and JIS reports closer to the date.
  • On January 6 the crowds are large and the only road in is narrow and steep. Expect long waits getting in and out.
  • This is a sovereign-minded community with its own leadership and rules. Visitors follow local protocol.
  • Facilities such as toilets and parking are basic, especially on the big day.

Questions people ask

When is the Accompong Maroon festival?

Every year on January 6. The Accompong Maroons mark the anniversary of their peace treaty with the British and the birthday of Kojo (Cudjoe) on that date, according to the Jamaica Information Service and the Culture Ministry. The program is set by the Accompong Maroon Council, so check its announcements closer to the day.

Did the Accompong celebration happen after Hurricane Melissa?

Yes. Despite heavy damage to the town, the Maroon Council held the celebration on January 6, 2026, and the Prime Minister spoke there, according to his published remarks and the Jamaica Observer.

Who are the Accompong Maroons?

They are descendants of Africans who escaped slavery and built free communities in the Cockpit Country hills. After years of war, their leader Kojo signed a peace treaty with the British that recognized their freedom and land. The Jamaica Information Service has described Accompong as the largest of Jamaica’s Maroon settlements.

Can visitors go to Accompong outside January 6?

Yes, but there is no visitor center with set hours, and the town is still rebuilding after Hurricane Melissa. Go with a driver or guide who can arrange the visit with the community, and ask whether the museum is open.

How do I get to Accompong from Montego Bay?

By car, taxi or tour. Allow roughly two hours each way on country roads into the hills of northern St Elizabeth, more on January 6, when traffic backs up.

Sources & updates

Update log

  • — New guide; status after Hurricane Melissa and the January 6 celebration checked with government sources and Jamaican media.

Spotted something out of date? Tell me and I’ll check it.