Active vacation in Haiti - things to do, entertainment and nightlife

Haiti is an island country in the Caribbean that shares the same island with the Dominican Republic. The country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the north and by the Caribbean Sea in the south. The capital of Haiti is Port-au-Prince. The local climate is tropical; the temperature is up to +35°C in summer and up to +28°C in winter. The storm period starts in June and ends in November. This is not the best time for beach recreation. The country has mostly mountain terrain, and this helps to protect the inland regions from ocean winds. Mount de la Selle is the highest peak in Haiti (2,777 meters). Picturesque mountains make the region perfectly suitable for alpinism and trekking.

Hiking enthusiasts can easily find many interesting routes in the La Visit National Park and Pic Macaya National Park. La Visit mostly has forests and steppes. This national park is suitable for hiking and cycling. In Macaya, tourists can visit the second-tallest peak in the country – 2347 meters. The mount gave its name to the park. This is an attractive and scenic place with multiple tourist routes. The area is home to many species of birds and animals. There are four national parks in the country, and they are almost the only places in Haiti that still have forests. Almost 60% of the country’s territory was covered with woods in the mid-20th century. Nowadays, the situation has worsened significantly. It might sound strange but even a small number of tourists in Haiti help to preserve the wild nature of the country.

Haiti is considered a relatively safe country for tourists. “Relatively” is the key word here. The truth is, the territories near hotels, tourist resorts, and upscale residential areas have police guards. These regions are safe and have almost zero crime levels. However, there are slums in the country. People in these areas live in poor houses that they make from the plastic, carton, or iron – basically, anything that they can find in the garbage. The majority of people in the slums are unemployed because there are no jobs for them. Tourists shouldn’t enter areas like Cité Soleil simply because slums are not safe for foreign guests. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

There are many poor people in Haiti, and they automatically consider every white person rich. In poor areas, there is always someone who asks “blanco” or “bla” (a typical way to call white people) to give 10-20 dollars because this sum is nothing for a rich white guest. In tourist areas, mendicancy is very rare. In short, people who like traveling independently should be very careful when they choose places to visit. Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitien, Jacmel, Petion-Ville, Les Cayes, Labadee Peninsula are popular tourist destinations. It is also worth visiting Lake Peligre and Lake Etang Saumatre.

Labadie is a port and a popular tourist resort that occupies a coastal area of a small peninsula. Sometimes Labadie is even called an island because this is a closed private territory that belongs to the cruise company Royal Caribbean. Large cruise ships regularly arrive in Labadie. The resort territory is separated from the rest of the region by a wall. Labadie has a strict pass system. Only tourists and resort staff can enter. For tourists who look at the rest of Haiti from Labadie, the island looks like a paradise place. The resort has excellent beaches, beautiful lagoons for snorkeling and diving, and moderately tall mountains that are perfectly suitable for hiking. Restaurants, shops, and a market with all kinds of souvenirs make it pleasant to stay in Labadie as tourists do not need to go anywhere else.

The city of Petion-Ville was established in 1831. It got its name after the fighter for the independence of Haiti and the second president of Haiti - Alexandre Pétion. The city is home to many upscale Haitians. Petion-Ville is safe for tourists – guests can explore the historic center, visit cafes and shops without any worries. The city of Jacmel on the south coast of the island is also suitable for strolling and getting oneself familiar with the historic views. Jacmel is an old city – it was founded in 1698. There is one more reason to visit Jacmel – the Bassin Bleu Waterfall located nearby. This place is famous for its turquoise water.

Cap-Haitien, the city on the north coast, is big in terms of the island’s population. Founded in 1670, this is the former capital of Haiti. There are usually no high waves near Cap-Haitien, so this area is not very suitable for surfing. However, it is interesting to explore the city. On Sunday, you will certainly notice excited people on their way to church. There will be many different groups of people that go to Catholic, Baptist, Protestant, or Adventist churches. There are many religious people in Haiti. Besides that, the traditional cult of Haiti – Vodou – is still popular here. Cap-Haitien has a university, Antenor Firmin – UNAF, as well as a cinema, markets, and modern shopping centers. In short, the city has an ordinary urban life. There are poor people here, but they are not many. Everyone is friendly with tourists.

From Cap-Haitien, tourists can make excursions to Laferrière and Haitien fortresses (citadels) or choose to visit the Palace of Sans-Souci. The first and only king of Haiti, Henry Christophe, ordered to build the gorgeous palace. Sans-Souci suffered much damage in the 19th century because of the earthquake. The palace has been in ruins since that time. Haitians consider it cursed because the king committed suicide in this palace. Citadel Laferrière is located seven kilometers from the palace ruins. This is the largest fortress in the Western Hemisphere. It has 40-meter-tall walls. To get to the citadel, tourists need to walk 910 meters upwards to the mountain top (a gorgeous observation spot). If you don’t like walking, you can always get a car and reach the top in minutes. Locals also offer to reach the citadel in a horse-driven cart. Cap-Haitien is suitable for nighttime entertainment. Tropicana, a popular nightclub not far from the city center, has energetic parties. Of course, tourists can organize parties themselves.