Route Departementale 401 (RD-401) is a secondary highway in southern Haiti that runs for approximately 82 kilometers (50 mi) between Carrefour Bois d’Ormes in Aquin, South Department, and Coq-Chante in Jacmel, Southeast Department, where it connects to Route Nationale 4. An auxiliary of the RN-4, the route follows a coastal alignment along the southern peninsula, serving as the primary east–west connection for several rural communities, including Côtes-de-Fer and Bainet. Along its course, Route 401 intersects with other regional roads such as RD-202, RD-203, and RC 400-B. Maintained by the Ministère des Travaux Publics, Transports et Communications (MTPTC), the road provides both local access and a scenic alternative to inland national routes.
Route 401 in La Vanneau, near Carrefour Madame-Louis
Route Description[]
Route Departementale 401 begins at Carrefour Bois d’Ormes in Aquin, South department, where it intersects with RD-202 and RD-203. From this western terminus, the road travels east through mostly sparsely populated coastal areas, connecting villages such as Mouillage Fouquet and Hatte Joli Bois before crossing the departmental boundary into Sud-Est. Shortly after crossing, Route 401 traverses the newly restored Côtes-de-Fer Bridge and enters the township of Côtes-de-Fer, located just about one kilometer from the town center. Within Côtes-de-Fer, the route follows Gérard Martelly Boulevard, passing local businesses and residences before making a significant switchback to descend to a lower elevation near the coast.
Continuing along the shoreline, Route 401 passes through a series of small communities including Sous-Fort, Plaine-Marion, Marion, La Source, Plaine-Galbi, and Mayombe. The route then reaches Pointe Ravine-Blanche, where it enters the Oranger section of Bainet. From Bainet, the highway continues eastward, passing through areas such as Plaine Sabousse, Fond-Dennas, Terre-Rouge, and Nan Diamant, before proceeding into the town center of Bainet. The road becomes a main thoroughfare through the modest but vibrant town center, known for its central market, local shops, and a small public square that serves as a community hub.
Route 401
From the center of Bainet, Route 401 crosses the Rivière Penn and continues through the Nan San Nègre area, passing a local soccer field that serves as a community landmark. The route then proceeds eastward for several kilometers to its junction with Route Communale 400-B at Trou-Mahot, where the road splits - Route 400-B continues straight along the coast while Route 401 veers left northward, leaving the coastal part of Bainet as it turns inland into the countryside and begins its final approach toward Jacmel through the mountainous interior.
Rural section of RD-401
Carrefour Blockhauss
The road continues through the rural countryside, passing through several small communities including Douzil, Manoir, Basse, Nan Cadet, and Carrefour Blockauss before entering the commune of La Vallée-de-Jacmel. Here the landscape transitions from the coastal plains into the more mountainous terrain characteristic of the Jacmel Borough, with the route winding through increasingly hilly country as it approaches the foothills surrounding Jacmel.
Upon entering La Vallée commune at Muzac, the route passes through the town center of La Vallée further down the road, a modest mountain community that serves as the municipal seat, before continuing to Musac. The road then enters Jacmel commune proper at La Vanneau, where the terrain becomes more rugged as it winds through the mountainous approaches to the historic port city. From La Vanneau, the route continues through Zabado and Source Gabriel before reaching Bodin and crossing the Rivière Gauche. The highway terminates shortly thereafter at Haut-Coq Chante, where it connects to Route Nationale 4, providing access to central Jacmel and completing the coastal connection between the rural communities of the South and Southeast departments.
Route 401 Quick elevation chart
Junction list[]
| RD401 Direction: East 🔽 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borough | Municipality Section |
km | Locale | Notes |
| Aquin | Aquin Flamands |
0.0 | Bois d'ormes | JCT  
|
| 0.6 | Mouillage Fouquet | . | ||
| Frangipane | 3.1 | Grann Do Beach | . | |
| 4.9 | Ti Sale | . | ||
| 7.5 | Coby Beach | . | ||
| 9.2 | Hatte Joli Bois | . | ||
| 10.8 | Rivière Côtes-de-Fer | ~ ~ ~ | ||
| Bainet | Côtes-de-Fer Ville de Côtes-de-Fer |
11.5 | Ville de Côtes-de-Fer | . |
| 13.6 | Sous-Fort | . | ||
| 13.8 | Rivière Jean-Paul | ~ ~ ~ | ||
| Gris Gris | 16.1 | Ravine Déstiné | ~ ~ ~ | |
| 16.5 | Plaine Marion | . | ||
| 17.4 | Rivière Marion | ~ ~ ~ | ||
| 18.3 | Marion | . | ||
| 18.8 | Rivière La Source | ~ ~ ~ | ||
| 19.3 | La Source | . | ||
| 20.9 | Rivière Maillette | ~ ~ ~ | ||
| Labiche | 22.1 | Plaine Galbi | . | |
| 22.7 | Dariol | . | ||
| 22.9 | Ravine Dariel | ~ ~ ~ | ||
| 23.7 | Ravine Blanche | ~ ~ ~ | ||
| 24.3 | Pointe Ravine Blanche | . | ||
| Bainet Oranger |
26.2 | Plaine Sabousse | . | |
| 28.0 | Stream | ~ ~ ~ | ||
| 28.5 | Fond-Dennas | . | ||
| 29.2 | Terre-Rouge | . | ||
| 29.8 | Stream | ~ ~ ~ | ||
| 32.7 | Ravine Vincent | ~ ~ ~ | ||
| 34.4 | Nan Diamant | . | ||
| 36.2 | Rivière La Coupe | ~ ~ ~ | ||
| 44.7 | Rivière Bainet | ~ ~ ~ | ||
| Ville de Bainet | 46.2 | Ville de Bainet | . | |
| 46.8 | Rivière Penn | ~ ~ ~ | ||
| 47.2 | Nan San Nègre/Soccer Field | JCT 
| ||
| Trou-Mahot | 49.6 | Douzil | . | |
| 53.4 | Manoir | . | ||
| 56.4 | Basse | . | ||
| 57.6 | Nan Cadet | . | ||
| 60.3 | Carrefour Blockauss | . | ||
| Jacmel | La Vallée-de-Jacmel Muzac |
62.8 | Tiquita | . |
| 67.4 | Ville de La Vallée | . | ||
| 72.4 | Musac | . | ||
| Jacmel La Vanneau |
76.0 | La Vanneau | . | |
| 76.1 | Zabado | . | ||
| 76.4 | Carrefour Monbin | . | ||
| 77.5 | Carrefour Mango | . | ||
| 79.0 | Source Gabriel | . | ||
| 80.1 | Carrefour Madame Louis | . | ||
| 81.3 | Bodin | . | ||
| 81.7 | Rivière Gauche | ~ ~ ~ | ||
| Haut-Coq Chante | 81.8 | Carrefour Route La Vallée | JCT 
|
Gas/Automotive:
16.0 Titi Auto service (Marion)
23.5 Guide-a-Gauche Gas Station (Pointe Ravine Blanche)
66.6 Go Gas Staion (Ville de La Vallée)
81.8 Station Moto Gas station (Carrefour La Vallée)
Route Departementale 401, Sud-Est, Haiti
RD-401 Urban section
Bridge between Frangipane (Aquin) and Jamais Vu (Côtes-de-Fer)
References[]
Pont Route La Vallée De Jacmel - Stevenson Dominique (Sonlove Favaro TV) [1]
Cotes de Fer river crossing - Rapidspan [2]
Église St Antoine De Padoue, Lavanneau - Medjeen Abraham [3]
Carrefour de Blokos - Kattia Jules [4]