The turquoise pool
Clear water.
Intellect'Art — CC BY-SA 4.0 · HOPE Art — CC BY 2.0 · Louvens Wisner — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Alex Carroll — CC BY-SA 3.0
Bassin Bleu is a chain of turquoise pools in a rocky gorge northwest of Jacmel in southern Haiti. Clear blue water lies between plant-covered limestone walls, and a white cascade falls into a deep pool. The pools sit on the Petite Rivière de Jacmel, and their French names are Palmiste, Bleu, Clair and Cheval. The best known has a 10 m cascade falling into it. The water comes from a karst spring that flows all year, and it can turn muddy brown after heavy rain. You reach the best pool after a walk of about 20 minutes and then lower yourself on a rope down a rock face about 3.7 m high, usually with local people helping. You swim in the cool, clear water and see the cascade up close. The pools are about 5 km in a straight line west of Jacmel, about 12 km by the mountain road, best with a four-wheel drive. The rocks are slippery, so only jump if you are sure of the depth, and visit after dry days for the clearest water. The UK advises against all travel to Haiti because of the security situation, so check current advice before you go.
Clear water.
Into the pool.
Limestone walls.
Petite Rivière de Jacmel, northwest of Jacmel, Sud-Est department
A short walk, then a rope descent with local help.
After dry days; heavy rain clouds it.