Sunday, April 8, 2012

ARTICLE - ARCHAEOLOGICAL TOURISM

THE FUTURE OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL TOURISM IN HAITI
(Haiti Libre) -

An unknown heritage, the caves in Haiti; such as those of Pestel, Port-à-Piment and Camp Perrin, are places of mystery and legend. The caves are an excellent resource for the ecotourist... They attract both tourists in search of adventure and those who just want to admire the wonders of nature. The Haitian public is very sensitive to the caves because of the many legends surrounding this natural heritage.

The French Institute in Haiti (IFH) offers an immersion in the enchanting underground caves of Haiti such as Marie-Jeanne, Bellony and Kounoubois. Let yourself be marvelled by this hidden world, these underground labyrinths and the supernatural atmosphere that reigns in these places. How were these caves formed? From where come the decorations that are inside them At what stage are the explorations in the country? Carole Devillers, Olivier Testa and Jean-François Fabriol, speleologists and photographers, will answer these questions at the occasion of a photographic conference, Monday, April 9, at 19h at the IHF.

Learn more about some caves :

Cave Bellony, in Pestel :
A little jewel located 45 minutes from the idyllic harbor of Pestel, this cave presents exceptional concretions. Discovered in 2009, the cavity is still preserved intact from degradation. A locked gate (the guide has the key) protects access to the most beautiful room and a path is marked on the inside to channel visitors (15 min by car and 30 minutes walk).
Visit time : 1 hour
Contact : Town hall of Pestel 3767-1587

Cave Marie-Jeanne in Port à Piment:
Located in Port-à-Piment it is the longest cave of Haiti known to date. The cave is a labyrinth of four kilometers of galleries on three levels. Accompanied by a guide, you can venture deep into the earth and discover many types of underground landscapes. Access to the cave by a trail from the city center. 15 minutes walk.
Visit time : between 1 and 4 hours depending on your availability.
Contact : Jean Baptiste Eliovil (guide) 3638-2292 or 3782-3275

Cave Kounoubwa (Kounoubois) in Camp Perrin :
Located at a 30 minute walk from Camp Perrin, the cave is a huge underground void, a place of pilgrimage. Several rooms can be visited, and for the more adventurous, many passages are hidden and can be explored with a guide. The atmosphere is speleological !
Contact : Fresnel or Joël Constant (guides) 3669-5458 or 3810-5075

Initially supported by the Foundation Lucienne Deschamps, the Foundation Odette Roy Fombrun and ORE, the enhancement program of underground heritage began in 2009 at the initiative of Carole Devillers and Olivier Testa. Brought in in 2010 by the Foundation Macaya for the Local Development, in 2011 it received the patronage of UNESCO and the financial support of the Embassy of France in Haiti. The same year the Foundation Françoise Canez Augustus, the Foundation Lise Antoine Saint-Natus Health Education Women (FLASSEF) and the company Valerio Canez SA joined as partners to support the project.

Learn more about the speakers :

Olivier Tesla:Project Manager, speleologist and photographer, he has prepared and participated in speleological explorations in Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, China, Chilean Patagonia, in Haiti, and has also coordinated humanitarian and tourist projects in developing countries.

Carole Devilliers:
Photojournalist she lived twenty years in Haiti, spent ten years as a photographer of Reuters news agency in Port-au-Prince and has to her credit several articles in the ethnographic National Geographic Magazine. Her work was widely published in the international press.

Jean François Fabriol:
Speleologist and photographer, he has lit with his flashes hundreds of caves around the globe. He reports from his expeditions photos with a unique style. Explorer from an early age, his experience guides his photos.

Visit the website of the caves in Haiti
www.grottesdhaiti.org

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