Tortuga Island, also known as Ile de la Tortue in French, is a Caribbean island located off the northern coast of Haiti, going through Port-de-Paix across the sea. It was settled by European adventurers in 1629 with the intention of organizing a base related to the neighboring island of Hispaniola (now comprising Haiti and the Dominican Republic).
Tortuga Island covers an area of 180 square kilometers (69 rectangular miles). During the 17th century, it served as a chief middle for Caribbean pirates and a haven. Its tourism enterprise and references in many works have made it one of the most recognized areas in Haiti. The village of Lan Palmiste is situated at the very best location on the island.
Tortuga Map
| Name | Tortuga (French: Île de la Tortue; Haitian Creole: Latòti; Spanish: Isla Tortuga) |
| Country | Haiti |
| Department | Nord-Ouest |
| Coordinates | 20°02′23″N 72°47′24″W |
| Area | 180 km2 (69 sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 |
| Population | 38,868 (2015) |
| Airport | N/A |
The Pirate History of Tortuga
The "discoverer" of the Americas arrived at the island in early 1942 through the strait that separates it from another island (Hispaniola); even though it did not become the pirate paradise depicted in novels, many brilliant historical occasions did arise in that place.
The initial settlers on the island were not Spanish but English. In 1625, a giant organization of French people also arrived and started out planting (and trading) tobacco. They were called pirates because they used a smoking technique known as "bucán" for meat and leather.
The southern part of the island was ideal for his or her activities: it had a port, naturally protected through rocky bays, and inaccessible from the north due to cliffs, each by using sea and land.
In 1640, the French envoy Levasseur took control of the island. He commanded several squaddies and expelled the English, which became helpful for the pirates as they could easily keep meals and gunpowder. They failed to deliver their loot for months; however, they may want to depart it there because it turned into an afternoon's adventure from the island to the river mouths and ports of gift-day Haiti.
The Spanish attempted to retake it, but they were defeated by the castle's cannons and had to retreat. Levasseur gained mammoth popularity within the Caribbean for this negative victory. Underneath his set-up rule, a historical choice was made inside the Caribbean area: establishing its ports and welcoming all fugitives, pirates, and outlaws within the region.
In exchange for a positive percentage of income, criminals were not pursued or arrested as long as they had been on Tortuga Island, no matter their activities.
However, this pirate utopia got here to give up: in 1653, Levasseur was murdered over a dispute with a female, likely through one in every one of his deputies. The new governor of the island did not take many precautions to protect the port, and shortly after, it was reoccupied by the Spanish.
Between 1665 and 1670, all through the tenure of the brand new governor and previous pirate Bernard D'Obregon, who reopened the port but banned sailors, pirate activities, in short, resurged on the island. However, after that, the bold days of Tortuga came to a cease, leaving a mark in history.
Things to Do in Tortuga, Haiti
The mountainous regions of Tortuga remain beautiful, but much of the area is still undeveloped. The northern coast is rocky, making much of the land and sea inaccessible. Tobacco farms dot the south-facing slopes of the mountains, while Basse-Terre is bustling with small fishing boats.
Hiking
For those who seek to explore solid ground, dense foliage conceals the habitats of local wildlife and bird species. Hiking up the mountains in nature reserves offers the opportunity to trek through these habitats. Additionally, one can even partake in canopy tours, soaring through the treetops on exhilarating zip lines before returning to the forest floor.
Fort de Rocher
On the southern coast of Tortuga lies a ruined citadel called Fort de Rocher, which changed into a pirate stronghold in the seventeenth century, reminiscent of the time when the island was divided into French and English colonies from 1630 onwards, serving as an impartial ground for pirates' primary activities.
By 1640, the numbers of pirates, which included French Huguenots and English Protestants, gradually improved, at the side of Dutch, Spanish, and African sailors, in addition to runaway slaves and fugitives from many nations. They mentioned themselves as the "Brotherhood of the Coast," ruled through legislative selections, hierarchical structures, character rights, and identical distribution of earnings. By 1680, new parliamentary acts prohibited cruising below foreign flags. Pirates were both suppressed or became suppressors of the royal army.
Diving and Snorkeling
The waters surrounding Tortuga are a paradise for divers and snorkelers. Along the coastline lie three sunken ships, where divers can explore wrecks and search for buried treasures. These waters are abundant with fish, and schools of flying dolphins, sharks, and batfish roam freely.
Beach and Sunset
Obviously, the beach with clear water is the most striking thing about this place. Pointe Ouest Beach is considered one of the top ten most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean Sea.
Sun lovers can hire sun loungers on the white sandy seashores, indulging in the wealthy kind of meals and beverages offered here. Meanwhile, the ones looking for more activity can interact in seashore and water sports.
The Pacific sunset affords the best opportunity for postcard-perfect pictures, shooting the end of a day spent in the pirate paradise of Tortuga.
How to Get to Tortuga, Haiti
To reach Tortuga, you'll need to first get to Port-de-Paix. You can take flights from the United States to Port-de-Paix with airlines such as American Airlines, JetBlue Airways, or Spirit Airlines.
Port-de-Paix is located on the coast of Hispaniola because the call suggests it boasts a harbor. It serves as a departure point for ships heading to Tortuga. We advise touring with a manual as tourism improvement isn't sizable.
Upon arrival, you won't find public transportation, so you'll need to hitchhike or set up for transport from one seashore to another. While some seashores are handy through the road, others may additionally require transfers at "autostop" or "boat stop."
