Surf: The north coast is a long way from the capital city for weekend expats, but the south coast can be reached within 3-4h to cover the short 86km/54mi distance to Jacmel. The main wave is called Pistons, because it breaks off an 80-year-old shipwrecked engine, located deep in the Bay of Jacmel. Good lefts will appear when ESE winds create enough fetch to reach 4-6ft (1.2-2m) seas with 5-7 sec periods. Morning offshores dive off the steep mountains in the background plus the wave is shaped by the rivermouth, piling sand up on the reef. Locals Vadim and Russell (who have pioneered and named this spot) might appear on the weekend, and there are now a few Jacmel based surfers, such as Chachou. Directions: There is a free park next to beachside food stalls. Environment: Jacmel is renowned for its distinctive artist traditions and is one of the major production centres for indigenous arts and crafts such as bright papier maché masks depicting animals and mythical creatures. An old coffee port, Jacmel sports graceful mansions, merchants’ warehouses and elegant iron-railings – and now has an outstanding local art community. The people are proud, active troubadours - making things, performing, all culminating in carnival every February.