Gelee Beach

Gelée runs for several kilometres of open sand south of Les Cayes, shallow and gently shelving, with a line of small restaurants and bars behind it. It is a local beach rather than a resort one: crowded and loud on Sundays and holidays, quiet on weekdays. In August it hosts the Fête de Gelée, when the beach fills with music, food stalls and several days of people, which is either the reason to come or the reason to avoid the date.

The landscape

• The beach - several kilometres of open, gently shelving sand.
• The beach restaurants - a line of small places serving fried fish and drinks.
• The Sunday crowd - Les Cayes families out in numbers, which is the beach at its most alive.
• The August festival - the Fete de Gelee, several days of music and stalls on the sand.

When to go

November to March is the dry season. Sundays are busiest year-round. The August festival is the biggest event on this coast and fills every room in Les Cayes.

Things to know

This is not a picture-postcard Caribbean beach: the sand is coarse and grey-gold, and litter is a real problem on the busier stretches. Facilities are basic. The sea is shallow and safe enough, but there are no lifeguards.

Nearby

Les Cayes is a few kilometres north, and Ile-a-Vache lies offshore.