It is advisable to avoid local water. Not even the locals drink it. Much of the water on Ile-a-Vache is cistern stored rainwater.
The mainland town of Les Cayes nearby (10km) has water available and local lads offer the service of obtaining this for you. Les Cayes is accessible by ferry from Ile-a-Vache.
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Ile a Vache
The approach to Isle a Vache is totally encumbered with fishing floats which are plastic bottles, very difficult to see sometimes, and even though we were being really careful we picked one up both entering and leaving. We were charged a one-time fee of $5US for anchoring by the local council and given an official receipt.
As we were only there for a couple of days we did not have time to go to Les Cayes to clear. Labour is very cheap and there were many offers to clean stainless steel, polish etc. Children come out in dug-out canoes wanting biscuits etc and if you give to just one you will be constantly pestered. Better to donate by taking things ashore and refusing any handouts to visiting canoes.
There are many boats still trading and fishing under sail – their seamanship is superb and they are a wonderful sight. Old sails are a very welcome gift as they recut them for their boats.
Roger Morgan and Sue Lister
SV Wapiti April 2015
Lovely visit. We used Jasmine and McKinley to bring diesel from the main island. I would recommend them. I would also advise against young boys contracting for diesel as carrying substantial cash into the city and it is not fair to young lads from a safety perspective.
You pay the water taxi, moto bike, and cargo surcharge on the water taxi and if you have any heart at all their lunch. Always Set a price before they go, so you avoid disagreements later. None of the boat boys wanted to specify a price but will if you insist. Washing water can be canned over by any of the boat boys.
We had 11 yo Clevins whose English was good as a guide — charming young fellow. Felix is building a small hostel/hotel and his girl did us a lovely fish dinner at a reasonable price. The very nice guy look out for his coming soon dive Center. Mary Ann II
Now there is also Internet in der Baye on the west side. There is a little museum about captain Morgan and there Jean has installed internet. He also has a compressor to give you electric to your laptop. The internet is fast and it cost only 1 US $ an hour. He also offers other services (eating and so on). He is very friendly and helpful, he speaks French, English and Spanish.
In the hotel, I did not find any help!
There is a home for children in Madame Bernard, the “chief” is Flora. There are living very strong handicapped children and we gave them some help. (More information at sy-elessar.com is “Logbuch”)
Ile A Vache, Haiti
We also had a wonderful week there. What noonsite says about what they need is right on about the local people. But what they say about the “marina” there is incorrect. Don’t expect ANYTHING from them. There is no dock or moorings. There is no help from them of any kind. They did have diesel because I had emailed them several times asking about it.
It was on the dock in 55-gallon drums and was so old and smelly I almost didn’t get it. If I hadn’t been headed west toward Honduras I would have passed. As it was, it clogged my filters twice even though I ran it twice through a Baha filter before putting it in my tanks.
The marina claims to have internet but unless you want to pay a HUGE price for a mediocre dinner they won’t give you the code. They have NOTHING to offer cruisers.
The local people are wonderful and will help all they can but don’t really have anything to offer beyond a few fruits and nuts. Don’t buy any seafood from them. First of all, it’s the bottom of the barrel and you may literally be taking food out of the mouths of their families.
But if you need some easy task like cleaning or waxing done on your boat, definitely hire a local. We left our boat with our 2 dogs aboard in the care of one of the boys while we went with another boy to the island market. We felt very safe and everything was fine when we returned.
Don’t miss the market! There was nothing we felt like buying there for ourselves, but we bought a pair of shoes for our guide and it was the most interesting experience. Take your dinghy to the market instead of walking unless you’re young and ready for a real hike.
All that being said. If you are anywhere near Ile A Vache, don’t miss it! Just don’t expect anything from the joke of a marina.
Ile A Vache, Haiti.
We had a wonderful week there. The boat boys were very helpful, wanting to work for their money, not wanting handouts. We had at least 12 boys on the boat washing, polishing and cleaning. For the few dollars and the meals, it cost us was worth every cent.
We felt totally safe and never felt threatened at all. I personally feel there is no need for a marina or moorings there, it would just ruin the feel of the place. The only people to get rich out of this venture would be the owners.
Wendy Shields
SV Outsider Australia