La Tortue

Tortuga (or Tortuga Island is a Caribbean island that forms part of Haiti, off the northwest coast of Hispaniola. It constitutes the commune of Île de la Tortue in the Port-de-Paix Arrondissement of the Nord-Ouest department of Haiti.

Named by Columbus, who, upon happening on the isle in 1492, forming out of the mist of the morning, likened its shape to that of a turtle, it was initially settled by colonists from Spain, but, first made a colony of Santo Domingo by the French. More people would eventually come, as, in the first quarter of the 1600’s, additional French settlers, along with some English ones, would travel there. These new residents would, however, face an attack four years later by Don Fadrique de Toledo, who would see to their expulsion before fortifying the island.

Mid History: It wasn’t until the 17th and 18th centuries that the island became synonymous with pirates. French, English and a smaller concentration of Dutch pirates would use Tortuga as their operations base, and the island quickly got the reputation for ill-repute often associated with locales considered the pirate capital of their regions.

Modern Times: Today, Tortuga has left its buccaneer past behind and has become synonymous with mountains, beaches and other natural attractions that make it a great tourist destination. With a population of just over 35,000 people, recorded in 2009, the tiny island is the perfect getaway for those seeking a Caribbean beach vacation.