Jacmel restaurants include vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.
Jacmel, Haiti, is three hours' drive from the Haitian capital Port Au Prince. The town is known for its colonial architecture and agriculture including farms and coffee, banana and cocoa plantations. The January 2010 earthquake destroyed 50-60 percent of Jacmel, including the colonial townhouses and buildings popular with visitors. Jacmel customarily hosts festivals throughout the year including the Festival Film Jakmel, the festival Mizik Jacmel and the famous annual January-March Carnaval festival. The earthquake halted Carnaval festivities in 2010. The event is normally an economic boom for the town.
Beaches
Some beaches were affected by the earthquake while others remained intact.The white sand beach Cyvardie remained untouched by the ecological disaster but the beach promenade in Jacmel was heavily damaged by the 'quake. It has since experienced artists working to fix what was damaged ,as of July 2010 ,including a popular mask shop.
Jacmel's beaches all feature white sand and abundant palm trees. Small hotels and fish restaurants were opening along the beaches west and east of Jacmel, as of July 2010. According to the website Global News Highlights, these beaches prior to the January 2010 earthquake were ideal for long walks and and for watching the sun rise and set.
Bassin Bleu
Bassin Bleu is a series of waterfalls located in the hills of Jacmel and is untouched by the earthquake. The waterfall area is accessible by car or by horseback. The area is home to numerous exotic birds and vegetation while the hills offer views of the Jacmel Bay. You will have the opportunity to jump from the waterfalls, swim in its basins and enjoy a cool vegetation cover in your own private grotto.
Local guides are on hand to help you navigate the area and can provide ropes for getting into the pools. A $5 to $10 tip, as of 2010, is recommended for local help according to the Bassin Bleu website. A limited amount of tourists can visit the waterfalls per day to preserve the area and keep it beautiful. You are expected to leave the area exactly as you found it. The Bassin Bleu website recommends checking with your local resort if you will be allowed to travel to Bassin Bleu on the desired day. Artists around Bassin Bleu will sell you their work but only accept cash.
Shopping
Jacmel has artisan shops that sell handmade crafts, sculptures, papier-mache masks, animal figure wood carvings and food wares, although many were destroyed by the earthquake. Jacmel was home to rich coffee merchants until the late 19th century and made Jacmel a premiere coffee trading destination. You can purchase quality coffee beans in Jacmel relatively cheaply.
Architecture
The architecture in Jacmel is reflective of the French colonization of Haiti and includes buildings with pillars and balconies made of cast iron. Many buildings became rubble or were severely damaged by the earthquake. Colonial townhouses that still stand in Jacmel have residents working to repair the damage, as of March 2010.
Tags: Bassin Bleu, 2010 earthquake, Bassin Bleu website, Bleu website, Jacmel Haiti, January 2010, January 2010 earthquake
