Pros

  • Amazing oceanfront location on Haiti’s secluded Ile-a-Vache island
  • Secluded, quiet beach plus free kayak and canoe rentals
  • Beachy rooms with vaulted ceilings, ceiling fans, air-conditioning, and balconies
  • Some rooms have kitchenettes, while others have ocean views
  • Buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included in room rate
  • Game room with foosball and other entertainment
  • Welcome cocktail upon arrival
  • Live music during peak season
  • Nearby heliport cuts travel for quick Port-au-Prince access
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout the resort
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Cons

  • No pool
  • Most rooms do not have TVs (a plus for some)
  • Mosquitos and sand flies on the beach can be bad
  • Breakfast buffet ends early -- a problem for late risers
  • Ferry transportation from mainland not included with stays
  • Many stairs to reach non beachfront rooms
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Bottom Line

Abaka Bay Resort is a three-pearl beachfront property on Haiti’s Ile-a-Vache. The hotel’s set on a stunner of a secluded beach with amazing sunset views. The 26 air-conditioned rooms are painted in warm pastels and have vaulted ceilings, king or queen beds, and most have amazing ocean views. Many aren’t fancy and are a bit underwhelming for the price, and many lack TVs. A pool is also missing. Tasty buffet meals served at the beachfront restaurant are included with all stays, but drinks are extra. Freebies include kayaks, canoes, a foosball table, and Wi-Fi. Mosquitos and sand flies can be bad, so don’t forget bug spray. For an Ile-a-Vache alternative with panoramic Caribbean views and an amazing pool, check out the nearby Hotel Port Morgan as well.  

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Internet
  • Pets Allowed

Oyster Hotel Review

Abaka Bay Resort

Scene

Secluded tropical vibe with little to do but relax on the beach 

Abaka Bay opened in 2002 and feels like a deserted tropical beach -- albeit one with bright pastel-colored bungalows nestled along a beautiful sandy beach. It's a homey, simple affair at this hotel, and there’s no lobby. Instead, the casual vibe kicks off in the hotel’s rustic, thatch-roofed restaurant. The resort’s grounds are lush, and stretch up a manicured hill behind the main buidings. Be forewarned though, there’s lots of stairs to reach the non-beachfront rooms and no elevator. In any event, the small size, lack of a pool, and humble style make this a quiet, calming place to kick back for those wanting nothing more than a beach and a few meals a day. Hotel guests are mostly Europeans and Haitians, although some Americans pass through as well. Guests usually stay for a night or two, though, as there really isn't much to do. It’s also possible to visit the resort just for the day. 

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Location

On a quiet beach on Ile-a-Vache, a 35-minute boat ride from the mainland

This calm hotel is located on the remote Ile-a-Vache, a big, mostly undeveloped island surrounded by azure waters and sandy beaches on Haiti’s southern coast. There’s not much to do on the island beyond laze by the beach. Rocky paths connect small villages and the closest village to the hotel is a 15-minute walk. Lover’s Island, a small deserted island (essentially a sandbar) that guests visit for a romantic afternoon is a 30-minute boat ride away. 

Getting to Ile-a-Vache can be challenging. It’s a four-hour and twenty-minute drive from Port-au-Prince International Airport to Les Cayes, followed by either an hour-long public ferry or a 25-minute private boat to the resort (though weather can be a factor). There’s a helipad near the hotel that cuts the trip down to an expensive hour-long journey for those with the means. For a beautiful mainland beach, Port Salut is a ferry ride plus another 45-minute drive from the resort. To experience one of the Caribbean's largest cave systems, Grotte Marie Jeanne, is a ferry ride from the resort to Les Cayes followed by an hour drive. 

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Rooms

Beachy, air-conditioned rooms with ceiling fans and balconies, although not all have ocean views

Rooms at Abaka Bay are a mix of oceanfront bungalows and guest rooms set on a lush, manicured hillside. They’re not fancy and many are a bit tired, but they do the trick for a few days on the beach. Standard features include air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, ceiling fans, and either a king or two queen beds. Most rooms lack TVs. The upstairs rooms are the hotel’s older offerings and have amazing vaulted wood ceilings, stone walls or palm tree murals, and colorful Haitian paintings on the walls. However, expect to see old bedspreads, dated furniture, and a bit of wear. The beachfront rooms have beautiful ocean views and are slightly more updated. Interiors are painted in neutral tans, have vaulted ceilings, and ocean-view balconies. The Luxury Suite is the resort’s choicest offering -- though not exactly luxury caliber -- with its big kitchenette, flat-screen TV with satellite channels and DVD player, and a sitting room with plush couches. 

Overall, bathrooms are a mixed bag. Some are fully tiled, while others are partially tiled. All have stand-up showers and (most of the time) hot water. The glass brick skylights are a nice touch in some, and keep them bright. Soap, shampoo, and conditioner are included with all rooms, but no hairdryer. Other room amenities include one free bottle of water and a fire-proof safe. Irons and ironing boards are available to borrow at the front desk and Wi-Fi is free in all guest rooms.  

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Features

Amazing beach, free kayaks and canoes, a restaurant, and basketball court, but no pool

Abaka Bay’s all about the beach. Its long sandy shore stretches across the resort and is lined with palm trees, plastic lounge chairs (a few have cushions), and thatched cabanas. There’s also a beach-volleyball court. Kayaks and canoes are free to borrow. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included with all stays (although not soda or alcohol). Meals are a mix of Haitian and international cuisine and served at Chez Fernent, either at the thatch-roofed outdoor seating area or nautically-themed indoor dining area when mosquitos are bad. Meals are also served at the oceanfront Sunset Grill. An a la carte menu is available at non mealtimes, though it will incur an extra fee. 

Other activities include an oceanfront basketball court, an outdoor game room with a foosball table and table tennis. Snorkels and fins are available to rent (for a fee). The front desk can assist in arranging island excursions like horseback riding, snorkeling, trips to Lover’s Island, and airport transportation. They also sell mosquito spray (but it’s extremely expensive, so bring your own). There’s free water at the bar and Wi-Fi is free throughout the resort. 

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Abaka Bay Resort

Scene

Secluded tropical vibe with little to do but relax on the beach 

Abaka Bay opened in 2002 and feels like a deserted tropical beach -- albeit one with bright pastel-colored bungalows nestled along a beautiful sandy beach. It's a homey, simple affair at this hotel, and there’s no lobby. Instead, the casual vibe kicks off in the hotel’s rustic, thatch-roofed restaurant. The resort’s grounds are lush, and stretch up a manicured hill behind the main buidings. Be forewarned though, there’s lots of stairs to reach the non-beachfront rooms and no elevator. In any event, the small size, lack of a pool, and humble style make this a quiet, calming place to kick back for those wanting nothing more than a beach and a few meals a day. Hotel guests are mostly Europeans and Haitians, although some Americans pass through as well. Guests usually stay for a night or two, though, as there really isn't much to do. It’s also possible to visit the resort just for the day. 

See More Scene

Location

On a quiet beach on Ile-a-Vache, a 35-minute boat ride from the mainland

This calm hotel is located on the remote Ile-a-Vache, a big, mostly undeveloped island surrounded by azure waters and sandy beaches on Haiti’s southern coast. There’s not much to do on the island beyond laze by the beach. Rocky paths connect small villages and the closest village to the hotel is a 15-minute walk. Lover’s Island, a small deserted island (essentially a sandbar) that guests visit for a romantic afternoon is a 30-minute boat ride away. 

Getting to Ile-a-Vache can be challenging. It’s a four-hour and twenty-minute drive from Port-au-Prince International Airport to Les Cayes, followed by either an hour-long public ferry or a 25-minute private boat to the resort (though weather can be a factor). There’s a helipad near the hotel that cuts the trip down to an expensive hour-long journey for those with the means. For a beautiful mainland beach, Port Salut is a ferry ride plus another 45-minute drive from the resort. To experience one of the Caribbean's largest cave systems, Grotte Marie Jeanne, is a ferry ride from the resort to Les Cayes followed by an hour drive. 

See More Location

Rooms

Beachy, air-conditioned rooms with ceiling fans and balconies, although not all have ocean views

Rooms at Abaka Bay are a mix of oceanfront bungalows and guest rooms set on a lush, manicured hillside. They’re not fancy and many are a bit tired, but they do the trick for a few days on the beach. Standard features include air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, ceiling fans, and either a king or two queen beds. Most rooms lack TVs. The upstairs rooms are the hotel’s older offerings and have amazing vaulted wood ceilings, stone walls or palm tree murals, and colorful Haitian paintings on the walls. However, expect to see old bedspreads, dated furniture, and a bit of wear. The beachfront rooms have beautiful ocean views and are slightly more updated. Interiors are painted in neutral tans, have vaulted ceilings, and ocean-view balconies. The Luxury Suite is the resort’s choicest offering -- though not exactly luxury caliber -- with its big kitchenette, flat-screen TV with satellite channels and DVD player, and a sitting room with plush couches. 

Overall, bathrooms are a mixed bag. Some are fully tiled, while others are partially tiled. All have stand-up showers and (most of the time) hot water. The glass brick skylights are a nice touch in some, and keep them bright. Soap, shampoo, and conditioner are included with all rooms, but no hairdryer. Other room amenities include one free bottle of water and a fire-proof safe. Irons and ironing boards are available to borrow at the front desk and Wi-Fi is free in all guest rooms.  

See More Rooms

Features

Amazing beach, free kayaks and canoes, a restaurant, and basketball court, but no pool

Abaka Bay’s all about the beach. Its long sandy shore stretches across the resort and is lined with palm trees, plastic lounge chairs (a few have cushions), and thatched cabanas. There’s also a beach-volleyball court. Kayaks and canoes are free to borrow. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included with all stays (although not soda or alcohol). Meals are a mix of Haitian and international cuisine and served at Chez Fernent, either at the thatch-roofed outdoor seating area or nautically-themed indoor dining area when mosquitos are bad. Meals are also served at the oceanfront Sunset Grill. An a la carte menu is available at non mealtimes, though it will incur an extra fee. 

Other activities include an oceanfront basketball court, an outdoor game room with a foosball table and table tennis. Snorkels and fins are available to rent (for a fee). The front desk can assist in arranging island excursions like horseback riding, snorkeling, trips to Lover’s Island, and airport transportation. They also sell mosquito spray (but it’s extremely expensive, so bring your own). There’s free water at the bar and Wi-Fi is free throughout the resort. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Beach

  • Cabanas

  • Cable

  • Cribs

  • Full Kitchen

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Pets Allowed

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Supervised Kids Activities

  • Swim-Up Bar

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.