The waterfall is about 10 metres tall and quite wide — the river spreads out across layered shelves of rock before leaping into the pool. After heavy rain, the whole thing turns into a thundering curtain of white water. On calmer days the flow is gentler, and you can wade in the shallows nearby.
The valley around Saut-Mathurine is lush and green all year round because the river keeps the air moist. Mango trees, bamboo, and flowering plants grow along the banks. Butterflies and dragonflies dart through the spray. It feels like stepping inside a living painting.
On weekends, Haitian families often come to Saut-Mathurine for picnics on the grass beside the river. They bring food — griot pork, fried plantain, rice — spread it on cloths on the ground, and spend the whole day enjoying the sound and coolness of the waterfall. It is one of Haiti's favourite outdoor gathering spots.
The name 'Mathurine' is a traditional Haitian name, and locals say the falls have been visited and admired for hundreds of years. It is the kind of place that reminds you that Haiti has always been rich in natural wonders.