Haiti Travel

Simply put, Haiti is an enthralling Caribbean country that hopefully, following the re-building program forced upon it by the latest earthquake, will entice you with its magnificent scenery, colorful customs and spectacular beaches.

This article will give you a few examples of what this wonderful country offers to those who plan a Haiti travel vacation.

Grand Imperial-Era Architecture

The top tourist spots of many Caribbean countries consist mostly of beaches, but not so in Haiti. Citadelle Laferriere, Milot's picture-perfect mountaintop fortress, was built in the early 1800s by Haiti's Emperor Henri Christophe.

Visitors can ride horseback up the mountainside to access this towering old mountain citadel. Those who wish to stay on lower ground can view the ruins of the Sans-Souci Palace, Henri Christophe's imperial residence, at the foot of the same mountain. Both are located just outside Milot and are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Labadee, Cap-Haitien and du Nord

Not far from Milot, Labadee is a private tourist beach/resort operated by the Royal Caribbean cruise line. Labadee offers a safe haven for vacationers, and merchants at the resort can help you provision yourself for a trip into nearby Cap-Haitien, Haiti's second-largest city.

Compared to Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, Cap-Haitien offers a decidedly laid-back atmosphere. The city's dining establishments primarily offer Haitian and French cuisine, but even pizza is available for those with a craving. Cap-Haitien is conveniently located near several points of interest, including Milot and the du Nord district of the country.

Du Nord offers a look at Haiti's countryside, complete with dirt roads, remote villages and wandering farm animals grazing wherever they choose. Compared to most Western houses, the huts the region's inhabitants live in are small and quite primitive. However, du Nord also gives you an appreciation for the simple things in life that we all seem to take for granted.

Du Nord's glorious sky, lush vegetation and rugged mountains will give you the feeling you're on a tropical island.

The Capital City

You probably won't be able to skip Port-au-Prince, the country's highly urbanized capital, even if you wanted to. Port-au-Prince's Toussaint Louverture International Airport is one of Haiti's two airports and serves as the country's main gateway to the outside world.

Rah-rah Season

Rah-rah season in Haiti roughly corresponds to the Christian Lenten season and occurs before Easter. Voodoo is strongly associated with Haitian culture, and it's highly visible during rah-rah season.

Voodoo priests wearing elaborate red headdresses and brightly-colored skirts carry banners and poles through the streets. At night, the priests are joined by drummers filling the streets with eerie sounds and throngs of dancing, singing and chanting people.

Tasty Haitian Cuisine

Many Haitian dishes combine elements of African and Caribbean cuisine. If you're fond of Spanish food, you'll discover that Haiti's spicier variations offer a nice twist from foods offered in other countries. Poulet creole, griot, kabrit and du riz jonjon are a few tasty examples.

Fruit, including mango, guava, pineapple, melon, bananas and breadfruit, is plentiful and sold on Haitian streets. Before biting into one, however, make sure it's been properly washed and peeled.

Delicious Beverages

Haiti takes great pride in the beverages it offers. Prestige is an excellent beer, and Barbancourt 5 Star is a good choice for rum. If you're walking the streets of a Haitian city, try one of the street vendors' special milkshakes called Papye.

As you can see, Haiti is different from other Caribbean vacation destinations. If you're intrigued, why not plan a Haiti travel vacation today?

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