Haiti.

⚠️ Critical safety context: Haiti is currently in acute crisis. Mainstream tourism essentially halted as of 2026. This section describes the destination's seasonal patterns under historical normal conditions, useful for diaspora travelers, future planning when conditions improve, or context. Do NOT plan a Haiti trip in 2026 without consulting current US/UK/French/Canadian government advisories (which currently advise against all travel).

Haiti is a tropical Caribbean country at sea level for most attractions, with mountainous interior (Pic Macaya 2,347m). Climate: 22–32°C year-round at coast.

Tropical Caribbean pattern:

• Dry season (December–March): clear sunny skies, lower humidity, comfortable temperatures.
• Rainy season (April–November): afternoon thunderstorms, peak rains September–October. Hurricane risk significant, in main Atlantic track.

Festivals worth knowing about (theoretically when safe):

• Jacmel Carnival (mid-February): Haiti's iconic Carnival celebration with elaborate papier-mâché masks, among the Caribbean's most spectacular and authentic.
• Independence Day (January 1): with Soup Joumou (pumpkin soup) tradition, the famous post-independence symbolic dish.
• Saut-d'Eau Vodou pilgrimage (July 16): annual pilgrimage to the sacred falls.
• Easter (April 5, 2026): Holy Week processions; Rara street parades.
• Festival International de Jazz Haiti (annual, varies): when running.

Currency: Haitian Gourde (HTG), chronic instability with rapid devaluation. USD universally preferred. Card acceptance very limited; cash for everything. ATMs: limited; bring USD cash.

⚠️ All locations described below are subject to current security restrictions. Travel should not be undertaken without expert security advice.

Citadelle Laferrière (UNESCO World Heritage), the largest fortress in the Americas at 900m above the plain. Built by King Henri Christophe 1805–1820 to defend Haiti from feared French re-invasion (which never came). Walls 4m thick, 365 cannons (though many never fired), drum-shape design with massive vaulted halls. Combine with Sans-Souci Palace ruins below (Henri Christophe's royal palace, destroyed in 1842 earthquake; ruins remain). Reach via: Cap-Haïtien (1.5 hours by road to base, then 30-minute hike or horse to summit). Plan 1 day from Cap-Haïtien, historically.

Cap-Haïtien, the country's second-largest city and the more relaxed northern coast destination. Highlights: Cathédrale Notre-Dame de l'Assomption (1942), Place d'Armes, beaches at Labadee Bay and Cormier Plage. Reach via: domestic flight from Port-au-Prince or 6-hour drive (the 'main road' from Port-au-Prince is currently affected by gang activity). Plan 3–4 nights under safe conditions.

Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private resort enclave on the northern coast. Walled off from broader Haiti with security perimeter; cruise-ship-only access. Beach activities, ziplines, watersports for cruise passengers. The only 'safe' Haiti tourism currently available for most international travelers, but it's effectively a cruise-line property, not authentic Haiti experience. Plan 1 day as cruise port stop.

Jacmel, the southern bohemian arts town, traditional center of papier-mâché art and Carnival masks. Highlights: Maison Cadet (boutique-luxury hotel in restored colonial mansion), Place Toussaint Louverture, gingerbread architecture (the iconic Haitian decorative wooden houses 1830s–1900s), Bassin Bleu waterfalls (30 minutes outside Jacmel). Jacmel Carnival (mid-February) is among the Caribbean's most spectacular and authentic. Reach via: 3-hour drive south from Port-au-Prince (currently affected by gang activity on the road). Plan 3–4 nights under safe conditions.

Saut-d'Eau, sacred Vodou pilgrimage falls. Annual pilgrimage July 16 brings thousands of practitioners for syncretic Catholic-Vodou ceremonies (Erzulie/Virgin Mary).

Port-au-Prince (capital, currently dangerous): National Museum, Iron Market (Marché en Fer), Pétion-Ville (the safer hill suburb where most NGOs and embassies are based). Currently most areas controlled by gangs.

Île-à-Vache, small offshore island in the south, one of the country's most peaceful escapes (when the country itself is peaceful).

A clean 'when safe' two-week structure (theoretical, not 2026): 1 night Pétion-Ville → 4 nights Cap-Haïtien (Citadelle, Sans-Souci) → 4 nights Jacmel (Bassin Bleu, Carnival if February) → 2 nights Île-à-Vache → 2 nights Pétion-Ville → 1 night transit return.

⚠️ Current travel advisories (as of 2026), read carefully before planning.

US State Department: Level 4 'Do Not Travel' for Haiti since 2021 (citing kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, healthcare collapse). UK FCDO: 'Advise against all travel to Haiti' since 2024. Canada Global Affairs: 'Avoid all travel to Haiti'. France Quai d'Orsay: 'Formellement déconseillé' (formally discouraged).

Visa-free 90 days for citizens of the US, UK, EU member states, Canada, Australia, NZ, Japan, and most Caribbean Community countries. Stamp on arrival when entry possible. Tourist Card $10 USD on arrival.

Currency: Haitian Gourde (HTG), chronic instability. USD universally preferred at hotels, tour operators. Card acceptance very limited; cash for everything. ATMs: limited; bring USD cash. Mobile money: increasingly common.

Transport (when operating).

• International airports: Port-au-Prince (PAP) Toussaint Louverture, main hub, most flights suspended or limited 2024–2025 following gang control of airport area; Cap-Haïtien (CAP) Hugo Chavez, limited service from Miami.
• Domestic flights: Sunrise Airways Port-au-Prince–Cap-Haïtien when operating.
• Roads: the Port-au-Prince to Cap-Haïtien road and Port-au-Prince to Jacmel road are currently affected by gang activity, even non-tourist travelers face significant risks.
• Cruise ships: Labadee continues to receive Royal Caribbean ships; this is the safest 'Haiti' tourism currently.

Safety, CRITICAL.

• Haiti has the world's highest kidnapping rates (since 2021). Over 2,500 kidnappings reported in 2024 alone.
• Port-au-Prince: most of the city under gang control; even diplomatic compounds have been under direct threat.
• Cap-Haïtien: relatively calmer but security has deteriorated since 2024.
• Jacmel: relatively calmer but road from Port-au-Prince unsafe.
• Cholera outbreak: ongoing since 2010 (Haiti has the world's largest cholera outbreak in modern times).
• Solo female travelers: DO NOT travel to Haiti currently.
• All travelers: DO NOT travel to Haiti currently without expert security planning, hostile-environment training, and evacuation insurance.
• Diaspora travelers visiting family: should consult family on current local conditions; avoid airport transfers without trusted contacts.

Health. Hepatitis A, Typhoid recommended. Cholera vaccine recommended. Malaria prophylaxis. Tap water unsafe, bottled universal. Healthcare system collapsed, private clinics in Pétion-Ville the only reliable care; medical evacuation insurance essential.

Plug: Type A/B (US standard 2-prong/3-prong), 110V, same as US.

Under current 2026 conditions, Haiti is not a viable mainstream tourism destination. The data below describes pre-crisis pricing for context and future planning.

Daily budget guidelines (when safe, pre-2021):

• Backpacker / hostels: $40–80/day. Hostel dorm $15–30; budget guesthouse $30–60; restaurant meals $5–12.
• Mid-range / 3-star hotels: $120–240/day per couple. Mid-tier hotel $80–180/night; restaurant meals $15–30/main.
• Comfort / 4-star and lodges: $300–700+/day per couple. Top hotels (when safe): Karibe Hotel (Pétion-Ville), Ibo Beach Resort, Cormier Plage Resort, Maison Cadet (Jacmel boutique).

For two adults, 14 days, mid-range, on a Pétion-Ville–Cap-Haïtien–Jacmel circuit (when safe): budget $3,000–5,000 on the ground, plus international flights.

Current 2026 reality: Royal Caribbean Labadee day stop is the only practical 'Haiti' tourism, included as port stop in Caribbean cruises starting from $700/person/week + Labadee excursion fees ($50–150/person).

Where the costs hide (when safe):

• Citadelle entry: $5/person; horse rental $25/person.
• Bassin Bleu: $5/person.
• Security/personal driver: $80–150/day for trusted driver, strongly recommended.
• Tipping: 10–15% standard.

Where to save (theoretical):

• Stay in diaspora-family-arranged accommodations ($30–80/night).
• Eat at bouillon restaurants for $5–10 traditional meals.
• Use tap-taps (shared local trucks), $0.50 per ride.
• Avoid Port-au-Prince entirely if possible, fly direct Cap-Haïtien from Miami.