Haiti – The Tragic Caribbean Island with Joyous Attractions

Haiti is an attractive Caribbean island that is adorned with many best draws such as natural marvels, parks, and historic monuments and sites. As compared to other Caribbean islands, Haiti as witnessed quite dreadful natural attacks along with the dark past. The most recent one was the devastating earthquake of January 2010 and also this was perhaps the most tragic one in its history taking away optimism and a death toll until thousands.

However, in spite of all this bitter experiences, the people here are still strong enough and ever smiling seeming to bring back optimism and spirit. I wish that this always be with them no matter what ever may be the forthcoming situations.

I visited the island before the quake and as per my experience, visiting Haiti needs patience and time; otherwise, it will not yield much value of your time, money, and efforts.

Haiti Tourist Attractions

• Cap-Haitien:
  This is the second city in the country and was once the richest city on the Caribbean during the French colonial area. Offering you a calm and close-minded atmosphere, take a walk on its streets made in a grid system or take a tour of the old port architecture whose shops and balconies welcome you for a pleasant roam. Many people know this city or say this city as Cap or OKap. Within the city, only this much is there for the visitors, but its nearby surroundings offer some worth visiting sights, which are La Citadelle la Ferriere and the beaches of Plage Labadie.
• Labadie Island:
  This is most famous draw of the nation due to its picturesque scenery. We took a cruise to explore the wonderful beaches and coves around the island. Try to experience its superb sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling chances. Do not miss the reefs of the Bay of Acul and the Haitian town of Caracol. Lastly, we headed towards the Amiga Island where we were amazed to view its verdant greenery.
• Henri Christophe’s Citadelle Fortress – La Citadelle:
  This amazing military fortress was built by the Haitian Revolution leader Henri Christophe who after independence from France became the king in 1811 A.D. This construction was completed after 15 with the support of around 20,000 men on the mountain top scaring the close by town of Cap Haitien. We reached at the base after an hour drive from Cap Haitien on really a bad road and then took up the 45-minute hike to reach atop the steep mountain for exploring the fort. For the people of this country, this fort is the UNESCO World Heritage Site and the 8th wonder of the world. The fort was built to look like a ship for safeguarding the land against any further French invasion. Its thick walls of 4 m and height of up to 40 m make this fort impassable. If you cannot hike, rent a horse from the parking lot close to Sans Souci. Several guides can be found here approaching visitors when they come, but bargain well for their rising prices.
• Ruined Palace of Sans Souci:
  Situated at 20 km south of Cap Haitien, this palace saw its end of completion in 1813 A.D that was an answer of Haiti to Versailles in France. We reached here after trekking over the strange road. In its history, after the era of Christophe, it was largely plundered after which the remaining glitter was taken away by the earthquake of 1842. This wonder was built out of the vast bricks joined together with a mixture of sugar cane syrup and sand. Now, these relics have restored their earliest colors of yellow and black. The palace holds the Salle du Roi, the place where Christophe assassinated himself and the Tree of Justice, the place where the majestic court gave decisions. All of these are now voiceless. Its vacant ringing gardens were full of beautiful fountains, pools, and busts. Currently, you can only see the Goddess of Comedy. I recommend to take a local guide with you after a good bargain to have more detailed information. One more interesting thing here is that each guide’s aunt or sister vends native crafts close by.

• The Citadelle:
  This is the primary historic attraction of the country that reveals it a clear picture of its past. Here, you can also head towards for the Musee de Guahaba, which is a special museum where you can glimpse at the displayed various art and artifacts.
• Barbancourt Rum Distillery:
  Explore here the production procedure of superb quality of rum.
• The Plaine du Cul de Sac:
  This is another popular sight and therefore, a tourist attraction, which is a vast extend of fertile land near the border with the Dominican Republic.
• Petionville:
  Located in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, this is one more famous tourist attraction full of good large shops and restaurants. If you are interested in knowing about the cultural legacy of the nation, head towards one of cultural institutions here.
• Étang Saumatre:
  One more must visit place to your list, this salty water pool is the home of many flamingos, water buffaloes, and crocodiles.
• February Carnival:
  This is the biggest festival of the nation during which the town of Port-au-Prince enjoys music, dancing, singing on streets, parade floats, and all-night parties. This festival is followed by the advent of Rara, a type of music that marks the African origin and voodoo culture of the nation.

Best Time to Visit Haiti

There is no such favorable time.

Haiti Accommodations

Apart from deluxe hotels, there are budget hotels available starting at $56 per night. The deluxe ones are booked starting at $200 per person.

• Villa Creole at $105 – $170
• El Rancho at $99 – $139

• Abaka Bay Resort Beachfront at $85 – $160
• Hotel Montana at Petionville at $108 – $170
• Dan’s Creek Hotel at $120 – $150

Tip

Traveling between the cities of Cap Haitien and Port-au-Prince is not recommended by land.

Rather, take a flight from Cap Haitien.