Where He leads...: My Favorite Places: Kokoye Beach

My Favorite Places: Kokoye Beach

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[This is a post I wrote for FHM's blog.] I plan to do a series of posts throughout the next couple of months on some of my favorite places in Haiti. This first one always comes to mind...

Kokoye Beach ("kokoye" means coconut in Creole) is about a 1.5 hour drive from the guesthouse. To get there you go west toward Petit Goave. After driving through Petit Goave, you go another ten minutes or so and turn right onto a gravel road. Then it's around 20 minutes on that road to where you park your vehicle and commence the 45 minute(ish) hike down to the water. The trail is steep and rocky and slippery, so wear good shoes!

You'll get a sneak peek of the crystal blue water less than 15 minutes into your trek down the mountain. The beautiful view definitely motivates you to keep going!

And of course the view once you reach the beach is worth the hike down the slippery slope!

You are charged a nominal fee of $5 to spend one day at the beach. You can also camp on the beach overnight. I haven't done that yet. And if the hike seems too daunting (it takes a bit longer for most people to hike back up!) you can have a boat ferry you from Petit Goave to Kokoye for a pretty penny—though perhaps not a bad deal if you have a large group.

Like any beach in Haiti, there are people ready to cook you a fresh meal. The typical choices of lobster, fish, and lambi (conch) are offered with fried plantains and piklis accompanying. It's best to call ahead if you have a big group so the vendors can be stocked with plenty of cold drinks... especially bottled water. A meal generally runs $10-15.

Of course you'll be welcomed by the locals, especially the kids. They are typically happy for you to take their photo if you let them see it after you take it. And they'd be especially excited if you printed it out to give to them on your next trip!

Don't forget to take your mask and snorkel! There's a ton of coral to explore and colorful fish to admire. There's even a cave that you can swim into if you're not too claustrophobic!

I don't think it takes much convincing to explain why Kokoye Beach is one of my favorite places in Haiti! It's actually the most gorgeous beach I've ever been to in all my travels! It's an adventure of a lifetime... well worth the effort! Add an extra day to your trip next time you're in Haiti and make a point to visit this tropical paradise!