Description

Located just north of Haiti with its unique mountain that, seen from afar, gives it the shape of a resting tortoise, this magnificent island that can be admired from Port-de-Paix, Saint Louis du Nord or Anse-à – Foleur and whose lights, at dusk, are an invitation to undertake the journey, has a particular history, a history made of adventures and battles. Turtle Island is 37 km long and more than 7 km wide. It is very small and is administratively divided into only two communal sections: Pointe des Oiseaux and Mare Rouge. Lost in the Caribbean Sea, forgotten by almost everyone despite its history full of twists, this island has made more than one dream. Literature makes it mythical, especially in works such as “Turtle Island” (part of the collection The Great Legend of the Sea) by Frantz Funck Brentano, or the comic “Turtle”. It is also present in the cinema, clear examples of this are: “Captain Blood” by Michael Curtis, “Pirates” by Roman Polanski, “The castaways of turtle island” by Jacques Rozier, or the turtle island in the series Pirates of the Caribbean. This island is associated with intrepid freebooters who pursued Spanish galleons, and with these wondrous treasures buried upon return from memorable raids. 

Biodiversity

In the heart of a natural charm, Turtle Island fascinates with its paradisiacal landscapes. It benefits from a biodiversity that promotes hiking in the forests and allows you to explore the natural attractions of the island, and its marine ecosystem is unique in the Caribbean. The south coast of the island presents a 37 km strip of white sand with areas populated by mangroves, rocky areas, shallow bottom areas and deep water areas. In addition, one of its beaches, “La pointe ouest” has been designated as one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean by the tourism magazine “Condé nast traveler”, a benchmark for world tourism.

Ecotourism potential

Turtle Island has a special story, full of twists and turns, a story made of adventures, battles that could astound any tourist avid for an incredible story. Therefore, the island has enormous tourism potential, they can come to visit its beautiful sandy beaches, stroll among the coconut palms and retrace its improbable past as a pirate hideout. Because this corner of paradise was, in the 17th century, one of the main meeting points for French filibusters.