Things to see
Beaches, waterfalls, islands, mountains and historic sites in southern Haiti.
Grosse Caye
A small 2 km² island, part of a protected area since 2013.
Pic Formon
One of the two high peaks of Pic Macaya National Park.
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.
August 15 Festival in Les Cayes
Every August 15, Les Cayes celebrates its patron saint, Our Lady of the Assumption. Thousands come from across Haiti and the diaspora. There's a kite contest on Gelée Beach and a konpa music festival in mid-August.
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.
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.
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.
Saint Anne Festival in Camp-Perrin
Camp-Perrin's patron saint festival for Saint Anne, with music at La Prise. Saint Anne's church stands on the old military camp that gave the town its name.
Kounoubwa Cave
A limestone cave about a 30-minute walk from Camp-Perrin. Visits by appointment, flashlights provided. Entry: 100 gourdes per adult (2025).
La Prise (Balanier)
The intake of the Davezac canal at Balanier, a popular swimming spot. Music is played here during the patron saint festival.
Lachaux Pond
One of the ponds in the mountains of Camp-Perrin.
Saut-Mathurine Waterfall
One of the largest waterfalls in Haiti: about 27 m high and 30 m wide on the Cavaillon River, some 7 km northeast of Camp-Perrin. A natural pool at its base is great for swimming. The August 14, 2021 earthquake damaged it badly.
Île-à-Vache
An island about 15 km by 5 km, 10 km southeast of Les Cayes. The boat ride from Les Cayes takes 30 to 45 minutes. In the 17th century it was the base of the pirate Henry Morgan.
Madame-Bernard and its market
The island's "capital", with a lively market where boats from other villages and the mainland come in.
Île-à-Vache National Natural Park
Protected since 2013 (11,235 hectares): coral reefs, more than twenty beaches, a lagoon and one of the largest mangrove forests in Haiti.
Abaka Bay Beach
A white-sand beach with calm water on the northwest coast of Île-à-Vache. Visit Haiti ranks it among the country's best beaches.
Lovers' Island
A sandbank in the middle of the sea, 15 minutes by boat from Île-à-Vache.
Maniche December Fair
A small fair in front of Maniche church showing local produce: corn, guava, rice, oranges, cassava, pineapple, corn wine, jams and cassava flour.
Saint Joseph Festival in Torbeck
Torbeck's patron saint festival. Saint Joseph's parish dates back to 1719.
Fort des Platons
Ruins of a fort built after independence in 1804 under General Nicolas Geffrard, to defend Haiti in case the French returned.
Touyac Waterfall
A small waterfall about a half-hour walk inland from Port-Salut.
Dauphinée Beach
One of the best-known beaches in Port-Salut.
Pointe Sable Beach
About 2 km of golden sand, coconut palms and little thatched-roof bars, some 30 km west of Les Cayes. One of the South's favorite weekend spots.
Pointe l'Abacou
A peninsula in Saint-Jean-du-Sud, protected as a habitat and species area since 2013.
Destination Aquin Festival
An international festival of traditional music and dance since 2008, with Haitian and foreign artists.
Saint Thomas Church, Aquin
The church in downtown Aquin. The town's patron saint is Saint Thomas.
Ruins of the English fort, Aquin
The ruins of an old English fort on a small island in one of Aquin's rivers.
Vieux-Bourg d'Aquin
Site of the final battle between Rigaud and Toussaint Louverture.
Cavaillon River
A river that rises in the Massif de la Hotte, runs through Cavaillon, feeds the Saut-Mathurine waterfall and flows into the sea east of Les Cayes.
Saint Louis Festival
Saint-Louis-du-Sud's patron saint festival, for Saint Louis (Louis IX).
Fort des Oliviers
A fort on a rocky peninsula in the Bay of Saint-Louis, from the same era as Fort Saint-Louis. Free entry; local guides expect a tip. No facilities on site.
Fort Saint-Louis (Fort des Anglais)
A French fort built in 1702 on an islet in the Bay of Saint-Louis. The British captured it in 1748, which is why locals call it "Fort des Anglais". You reach it by small dugout canoe, and there's a shipwreck just nearby.
Olivier / Zanglais Protected Area
One of the five marine protected areas in the South, created in 2013.
Chardonnières Grape Festival
Every year Chardonnières celebrates grapes: it is Haiti's leading grape-growing commune.
Saint Anne Festival in Chardonnières
Chardonnières' patron saint festival for Saint Anne on July 26, followed by a beach day on July 27.
Pic Macaya National Park
A national park in the Massif de la Hotte with two high peaks: Pic Macaya (2,347 m) and Pic Formon. Forests, birds and plants found nowhere else. Hike with a guide.
Fort and Cape Tiburon
The British attacked Fort Tiburon in February 1794, and André Rigaud took it back in December 1794. In 1670, Cape Tiburon was a pirates' meeting point.
The 500 Steps of Côteaux
500 steps climbing a hill above Côteaux to a chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. A pilgrimage site with a fine view over the town.
Marie-Jeanne Cave
The longest known cave in Haiti: more than 5 km on several levels, with Taíno drawings on the walls. A 15-minute walk from Port-à-Piment. Town hall guides unlock the gate; entry is about 100 gourdes.