Haiti is a fantastic, spellbinding country to visit with beautiful beaches, stunning mountain landscapes, plateaus, lush forest, plains and of course cities and towns filled with things to see and do. Located in the Caribbean, Haiti has a fascinating history and an extremely rich culture. Incredible music - the famous “compas” style, impressive art, historical sites, the famous carnival held every year, a delicious cuisine and the friendly, welcoming people - Haiti really does seem to have it all.

Some facts for the visitor

Language: French and Haitian Creole
Population: estimated to be over 8,500,000
Capital city: Port-au-Prince
Total area: 27,751 square kilometres
Time zone: UTC/GMT -5
Currency: Haiti Gourde

Weather

Being in the Caribbean, the climate is hot, with some humidity. Generally you can expect temperatures of around 30 degrees Centigrade during the day and around 20 degrees Centigrade at night, although at higher elevations you can of course expect sometimes much lower temperatures. There are two rain seasons, one of which starts in April and continues into May, and the second which is in September and October. If you intend to do any off the beaten track type trekking, it is probably better to avoid these months.

Things to see and do in Haiti

Of course there is the bustling capital city of Port-au-Prince with a population of around one million people to explore. The Museum of Haitian Art and other museums, colorful markets and street vendors, churches, galleries, a cathedral, Defly Mansion, plus all the restaurants, shopping and entertainment you could want. For Haiti tourism is an important part of the economy. The Presidential Palace is located in the park Champs de Mars. On the North coast there are some lovely beaches, green mountains and Haiti’s incredible Citadelle, which overlooks Cap Haitian. Below the Citadelle is Christophe’s Sans Souci Palace. In the South you will find rain forest, more beaches, the national park Parc Macaya and even waterfalls. The town of Jacmel has a thriving art scene and Artists from all over the world visit.

Travel Advisory

Haiti is a wonderful country to visit, but it is advised that before you visit Haiti you check with your embassy or relevant government department to confirm the the security and current status in regards to Haiti tourism.