Foto: Rency Inson Michel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Travel guides
Les Cayes, Haiti: the complete travel guide
Things to do in Les Cayes, where to stay, car rentals and how to get to the capital of southern Haiti.
Les Cayes is the capital of Haiti's Sud department and the gateway to the whole region: Port-Salut, Île-à-Vache, Camp-Perrin, Torbeck. If you're heading South, you'll most likely pass through Les Cayes first.
Getting there
Antoine-Simon Airport is about 9 km north of town. It became an international airport on March 6, 2025, and since November 10, 2025 there has been a direct Miami ↔ Les Cayes flight (IBC Airways). Sunrise Airways flies Cap-Haïtien ↔ Les Cayes. See Getting there for details.
Things to do in Les Cayes
- Gelée Beach: one of the longest and most visited beaches in Haiti, a 20-minute drive from downtown. Come for tonm-tonm, grilled conch, fish and lobster.
- Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral: an 18th-century church (1722–1726) with a white dome, right in the center of town.
- Simón Bolívar Bust: Bolívar arrived in Les Cayes on December 24, 1815 to ask President Pétion for help liberating South America.
- Les Cayes Botanical Garden: endemic and medicinal plants, in Bergeaud on RN2. Call before you go.
- The August 15 festival: the town's biggest celebration, with a kite contest on Gelée Beach.
Gelée Beach
One of the longest and most visited beaches in Haiti, a 20-minute drive from downtown Les Cayes. Restaurants and vendors serve tonm-tonm, grilled conch, fish, lobster and fritay.
Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral
An 18th-century church (1722–1726) and the cathedral of the Diocese of Les Cayes. A neoclassical building with a white dome in the heart of town.
Simón Bolívar Bust
This bust commemorates Simón Bolívar's stay in Les Cayes. He arrived on December 24, 1815 to meet President Pétion, who gave him weapons and soldiers to liberate South America.
Les Cayes Botanical Garden
A botanical garden founded in 2003 by agronomist William Cinéa, with endemic and medicinal plants and a nursery. In Bergeaud, on RN2 at the northern entrance of town. Call before you go.
Where to stay in Les Cayes
Auber Cayes Guest House
Caribbean Hotel Cayes
Flaming House & Hotel
Hotel La Cretonne
Hotel Las Cabanas
Price: to be confirmedHotel Le Meridien
Hotel Oasis Garden
La Cayenne Hôtel
Le Parisien (ansyen Villa Orphée)
Regi Hotel & Bar
Renting a car
A car saves you a lot of time getting around the South. Some agencies in Les Cayes can pick you up at the airport.
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Jean Elouius Louis Location
Timo Location
Top Fresheur Location Haiti
Near Les Cayes
- Île-à-Vache: 30 to 45 minutes by boat. Read the Île-à-Vache guide.
- Camp-Perrin and Saut-Mathurine: in the mountains north of Les Cayes. Read the Camp-Perrin guide.
- Port-Salut: Pointe Sable Beach, about 30 km to the west. Read the Port-Salut guide.
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