waterfall
Bassin Bleu, Haiti
A series of cobalt-blue natural pools and waterfalls hidden in the mountains above Jacmel, reachable by horseback and hiking.
5 km · about 10 min drive
North AmericaHaitiSud-Est
Jacmel
Sud-Est, Haiti · North America
About Jacmel
Jacmel is worth a stop: 30 minutes from Cayes-Jacmel, 5km from Bassin Bleu, Haiti.
Jacmel is in Sud-Est, Haiti, with about 140,000 people. The nearest town is Cayes-Jacmel, about 15 km away.
Jacmel (French pronunciation: [ʒakmɛl] ; Haitian Creole: Jakmèl) is a commune in southern Haiti previously founded by the Spanish in 1504 before the relocation of the Dominicans to the eastern side of the island after the Devastations of Osorio and repopulated by the French in 1698. It is the capital of the departmentRead more
of Sud-Est, 24 miles (39 km) southwest of Port-au-Prince across the Tiburon Peninsula, and had a population of 221,965 at the 2024 Census. The town's name is derived from its indigenous Taíno name of Yaquimel. In 1925, Jacmel was dubbed as the "City of Light," becoming the first in the Caribbean to have electricity.
The city is known for its well-preserved Gingerbread houses built in the early 19th century. The town has been tentatively accepted as a World Heritage Site. It sustained damage in the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Jacmel is home to the country's leading film school, the Ciné Institute.
Where to Stay in Jacmel
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Jacmel?
Within an hour or so of Jacmel: Bassin Bleu, Haiti (5 km).
Where is Jacmel?
Jacmel is in Sud-Est, Haiti, about 15 km from Cayes-Jacmel.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 137,966
- Continent
- North America
- Country
- Haiti
- Region
- Sud-Est
- Timezone
- America/Port-au-Prince
- Coordinates
- 18.2357, -72.5369
Tags
Worth the detour from Jacmel
1 notable place within an hour's drive.
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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