Tortuga (Île de la Tortue in French, Latòti in Creole) is a 40-kilometre-long island just off Port-de-Paix, separated from the mainland by a narrow channel. It is one of the most historically loaded places in the Caribbean — the original pirate haven of the buccaneer era — and one of the least visited. Most travellers who come are surprised to find it inhabited (around 30,000 people), poor, and almost entirely without infrastructure for visitors.
Boats cross from Port-de-Paix when they fill up; the trip takes 30–60 minutes depending on conditions, and the channel can be rough. There are no hotels of any quality, so most visitors come for a day. The north coast has empty beaches, the interior is hilly and green, and the old French settlement of Basse-Terre on the south side has the ruins of the fort that once held off the Spanish navy.
Bring water, food, and a tolerance for improvisation. There is nothing organized for tourism — no signs, no guides, no transport beyond shared motorcycles.