Port Morgan

Port Morgan opened in 1991 and is set on a hilltop peninsula ringed by a beautiful turquoise bay and a marina full of rustic sailboats. According to legend, the pirate captain Henry Morgan used the island as a base of operations. While the pirates are long gone, the island still has a lost-in-paradise feel. Arriving guests disembarking at the resort jetty should be ready to climb dozens of stairs or follow a rocky switchback path that leads to the resort and its slightly disorganized lobby. Horses wander the nearly 100-acre property, grazing on its grassy fields full of blossoming flowers and fruit trees. Guest room buildings, scattered throughout the grounds, have traditional Haitian gingerbread-style architecture with white clapboard exteriors and delicate foam-green latticework accents. The hotel’s restaurant could be pulled from an old fort, with its bleached-white rocky pillars, floors, and arches. Lots of buildings also have vaulted thatched roofs and just about every vantage from the resort is excellent – especially the sea views from the saltwater pool. Guests are usually members of the Haitian diaspora, Europeans, and Canadians, and while Port Morgan has more activities than other nearby hotels, lounging is probably the top activity. 

Port Morgan’s amazing location has a lot of appeal. It’s located on Ile-a-Vauche, a largely undeveloped island on Haiti’s southern coast. The hotel is a 25-minute boat ride from the wharf in Les Cayes, the nearest mainland town. Getting to Les Cayes is a four-hour drive from Port-Au-Prince International Airport. There’s also a helipad on the island that's a 15-minute walk from Port Morgan (and cuts the trip down to an hour). A small village with a local bar is a five-minute walk from Port Morgan. Madame Bernard, the island’s main village, has a bustling market and is a 15-minute boat ride away. Lover’s Island, a small sandy island that many guests visit for a romantic picnic, is a 30-minute boat ride away. Nearby mainland attractions include the amazing beach at Port Salut, which requires taking a ferry to Les Cayes followed by a 45-minute drive. Grotte Marie Jeanne, one of the Caribbean’s largest cave systems, requires the ferry trip plus a one-hour drive. 

Rooms at Port Morgan are simple and plain, despite touches like vaulted ceilings with exposed wood beams, poster beds with mosquito nets, and -- in some rooms -- entire walls of stone. Colors palettes are mostly neutral tones plus baby blue curtains, richly-hued hardwood furniture (made on-site), and plush red futons with a blocky patterned fabric. The combination of fabrics and furniture actually make the rooms look a bit dated, though things are mostly well kept. The Studio, which come with a kitchen, flat-screen TVs with cable or satellite channels, and and two futons. The private balconies or terraces with wood recliners and amazing marina or bay views are a real plus, and sunsets are phenomenal. 

Bathrooms are fully tiled and also feel slightly dated, with their wood accented fixtures. Expect stand-up showers, two sinks with lots of counter space, bar soap, and shampoo. Other room amenities include a reasonably priced minibar, safes, ceiling fans, luggage stands, beach towels, and standing fans. Power is 220v with European-style plugs, but all rooms have an inverter for US plug types. Wi-Fi is also free in all rooms.  

Without a doubt, Port Morgan’s saltwater pool is its best feature. It’s surrounded by a rocky deck and thatched cabanas with wooden lounge chairs. There’s a walk-up pool bar, a cold-water whirlpool, and amazing views of the surrounding bay and marina. The hotel’s beach is manmade and has a rocky shoreline, but still feels rustic and tropical. It’s well maintained but some of its sun-bleached lounge chairs are overdue for replacement. There’s also great snorkeling right offshore. Kayaks, wind surfing boards, and snorkeling equipment are available to rent for a fee. 

The restaurant has amazing sea views and serves Haitian and international cuisines. Its reviews are solid, and be sure to try mamba, a delicious spicy peanut butter spread that’s a local specialty. The hotel can arrange island tours, trips to Lover’s Island, diving, fishing trips, massages, horseback riding, babysitters, and grocery provisioning. They also arrange sailing trips with local fisherman on their traditional wood sailboats -- something we didn't see frequently on our recent trip. There’s a gift shop in the lobby that sells sundries, souvenirs, and bathing suits. Close to the marina is a beach volleyball court, bocce court, and basketball court. Wi-Fi is also free throughout the hotel.