Gonâve Island has no airstrip. The only way to reach it is by boat from the Haitian mainland.
The most direct connection is from Montrouis, a coastal town about 80 km north of Port-au-Prince on Route Nationale 1. Small motor boats (lanchas) make the crossing to Anse-à-Galets, the island's main town, in roughly two hours depending on conditions. Boats also depart less frequently from Port-au-Prince itself, from the dock at the Portail Léogâne area. Journey times from Port-au-Prince by sea are longer — three hours or more.
There is no formal ferry service with a published schedule. Boats leave when they are full, which generally means early morning. Come to the dock before 7am and expect to wait. The crossing can be rough in afternoon winds, so morning departures are both more likely and more comfortable. The fare is negotiated, typically a few hundred Haitian gourdes.
Supplies, petrol, and communications on the island are limited. Bring everything you need from the mainland — including any medicines, cash, and water purification. There are no ATMs on Gonâve Island.