Les Cayes (Kréyòl: Okay; English: "The Cays") is a town and seaport in southwest Haiti near the river Ravine du Sud, on the Caribbean coast. It is the capital of the Sud Département. Formerly known as "Aux Cayes".

Les Cayes is at about 196 km southwest of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince. It is also the chief town of an arrondissement (a part of a department) with the same name. The arrondissement has six communes (a commune is like a municipality): Les Cayes, Camp-Perrin, Chantal, Île à Vache, Maniche and Torbeck.

History

In 1504, Diego Velázquez founded the town of Salvatierra de la Sabana[1] (or Salvatierra de la Zabana) where is now Les Cayes. From here, he left for Cuba to take control of that island on 7 November 1511.

But people left completely the town in 1540 and the French Monsier de la Lance founded the modern town of Les Cayes in 1726. The town was destroyed by two hurricanes in 1781 and 1788.

On 24 December 1818, Simón Bolívar came to Les Cayes looking for help to fight against the Spanish government in South America. Bolívar left Haiti on 10 April 1816 for Venezuela, but came back in September of that year to this Haitian town when he lost some battles in South America. He went back to South America in December of the same year.

Travel to Les Cayes - Visa Requirements

Antoine Simon Airport, with the name of a president of Haiti that was born in Les Cayes has daily flights from the capital.

Tours and Getting around Les Cayes

Les Cayes tourist attractions and sightseeing

Les Cayes city tours

Les Cayes souvenirs and shopping

Les Cayes Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Les Cayes nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs

Les Cayes cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels and lodging

Contact

Get out

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