Les Cayes, often referred to as Aux Cayes (Kreyol: Okay) is an arrondissement in the Suddepartment of Haiti. As of 2015, the population was 346,276 inhabitants. Postal codes in the Les Cayes Arrondissement start with the number 81.
The arondissement consists of the following municipalities:
Les Cayes☆ (151,696) This port city is the seat of government of Les Cayes Arrondissement and the Southern department of Haiti. This city, populated more than 520 years ago by the Tainos, has been strongly influenced by the culture of various sub-Saharan African groups and by European culture. During colonial times, it was called Salvatierra de la Sabana, (English: "the land saved from the waters"). In 1815 the South American liberator Simón Bolívar visited here to accept Haitian arms and a contingent of troops to aid him in his fight against Spain. The area offers many breathtaking views of the hills overlooking the Caribbean and the beach. The city is also famous for its beautiful sunrises and sunsets in the sea. In 2013, the city was ranked number nine by MondoBlog magazine on its annual top-ten list of the "most beautiful communes" in Haiti.
Camp-Perrin(45,053) This small town is widely known for its flagship landmark, the Saut-Matherine, the biggest waterfall in Haiti. An amazing moment to engage with nature, it is surrounded by exotic wildflowers, lush green bushes and tall trees. The local economy is based on agriculture (Maize, beans, and livestock) and trade. The town is also rich in coal deposits. Additionally, this town has been ranked the fourth most beautiful commune in Haiti.
Chantal(34,121) This small town, with its expansive plains and mountains, serves as an important storehouse for the markets of Port-au-Prince and Les Cayes. It is home to Les Platons Citadelle, a fort built in 1804, and to the Macaya Peak, the second-highest mountain in Haiti. The local economy is based on agriculture, livestock, and trade (maize production and charcoal production).
Île-à-Vache(15,399) Located about 19.5 km (12 miles) from Les Cayes, this amazing little island is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Haiti. The island is home to swamps, mangrove forests, valleys, and a lagoon. For more than two centuries, the island was controlled by the Spanish Empire, until it was finally incorporated into Haiti. During the Civil War, the island had been considered a prime location for the settlement of freed black slaves who lived in the United States. However, the idea never materialized due to a lack of funding. Between ten and fifteen thousand people live on the island. Two major tourist resorts, Abaka Bay and Port Morgan are located on this enchanting island that sits just off the shore of the Haitian mainland. The infamous pirate Henry Morgan used Île-à-vache as his base of operations during his career of looting. A short boat ride from Les Cayes will take you to the heart of some of the most beautiful scenery the Caribbean has to offer. While Abaka was voted the 57th best beach in the world, this island town was voted the second most beautiful commune (after Port-Salut) in Haiti.
Maniche(23,934) This outlying rural town consists of remote mountain villages, isolated by a broad river with a valley and some foothills. The local economy is based on agriculture (maize and other vegetables). There is an annual fair held in December where locals congregate to exhibit and sell the products of the region like corn, guava, pounded rice, oranges, cassava, and pineapple; as well as processed products like corn wine, orange wine, liqueur, guava jelly, cremas, cassava, and derived products.
Torbeck(78,603) This small town has its own plain; a plain so vast that, according to agronomists, respecting agricultural standards, it can feed all of Haiti. Adding to this, the town benefits from an irrigation system, facilitating the watering of the fields. The region has some favorable conditions such as a very diversified agricultural production and topography relatively favorable to agriculture. The local economy is based on agriculture and there are at least four different agro-zones, with maize, rice, millet and black beans grown in the plains, and tubers like sweet potatoes, cassava, taro, and yams in the heights. Fishing is practiced along the coast.
