Sud Department: Caves, Forts, and Saut Mathurine

In Sud Department, highlights range from Grotte Marie-Jeanne, considered Haiti’s longest known cave, to Saut Mathurine, Haiti’s highest waterfall. Other notable destinations include steep gorges, caves with distinct features, and forts with well-documented histories. If you’re looking for hotels in Sud Department, you can start planning your trip around caves and nature, cultural heritage, or a combination of both.

Caves with distinct features

At 5.3 kilometers long, Grotte Marie-Jeanne is considered Haiti’s longest known cave. It has nine entrances across an area of four hectares. Grotte Goudron is connected to its cave network. It is considered an easy cave, but has rope sections; a tour is listed as taking one to three hours.

Other caves offer different highlights: Grande Grotte is equipped with a practice wall for training in vertical caving. It is a 15-minute walk from Port-à-Piment. Grotte Geffrard is classified as a cave without rope sections; from Geffrard, a 20-minute walk along the river leads to it. In Grotte Soulas, an 18-meter-deep entrance shaft leads to several chambers with numerous stalactite and stalagmite formations. A tour of Grotte Kounoubwa begins with a descent through a 40-meter-deep shaft.

Gorges, river trails, and swimming pools

Trou Zombi is a 90-meter-deep vertical gorge in the commune of Chantal; the approach on foot takes two minutes. Canyon Casse-Cou narrows into a corridor only a few meters wide and more than 100 meters deep. Rappelling there is reserved for experienced athletes. In Canyon Ravine Blanche, cascades lead to natural pools, along with short, playful rappelling sections.

At Tête L’Acul, you’ll find a pool of clear, blue freshwater suitable for swimming. From Le Prêtre, a well-marked, 45-minute walking trail follows the L’Acul River to the pool. Walking times and trail conditions may change; confirm them locally. You should also check locally in advance on the listed tour duration for Grotte Goudron and its participation requirements.

Parc National de Macaya lies in the Massif de la Hotte in Sud Department, on the border with Grand’Anse Department. It is one of the most important areas in Haiti and the Caribbean for biodiversity conservation. Saut Mathurine is in the mountains of Camp-Perrin and is considered Haiti’s highest waterfall. You’ll need a four-wheel-drive vehicle or a motorcycle taxi to reach Saut Mathurine; the road is unpaved and particularly bumpy during the rainy season. Check local information before setting out.

Forts and cultural significance

Fort des Anglais, formerly called Fort Saint-Louis, is on an island off Saint-Louis-du-Sud. The French built it in 1702 to protect the town and as the headquarters of the Compagnie de Saint-Domingue. On August 28, 1995, a presidential decree added Fort Saint-Louis to Haiti’s national heritage list. A fishing boat near Fort des Oliviers is intended to provide access to Fort des Anglais; confirm locally whether a crossing is possible.

Fort des Oliviers is a historic monument in Saint-Louis-du-Sud in Sud Department. The French built it in 1754. Forteresse des Platons is considered a fortification near Dussis in Sud Department. The department’s caves also have important ceremonial significance in Vodou: they preserve memories of ancestors, and Taino, African, and European spirits are worshipped there.

Trip planning and hotels

You can plan your trip around the experiences that interest you most, while taking into account the walking times and access conditions listed for each destination.

Discover more destinations: Port-Salut, Cacor, Les Cayes, Torbeck, Nippes, Artibonite Department, Northeast Department, Grand'Anse Department.

For the main travel overview: Haiti.