Americas · CaribbeanOutline guideCountry in the Caribbean
Photo: Rémi Kaupp from Coventry, Angleterre, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Haiti (Haitian Creole: Ayiti, French: Haïti) is a Caribbean country on the western half of the island of Hispaniola. The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, the country suffers from a myriad of social, economic, and political problems and since the 1950s, it has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. However, for those with patience and an open mind, Haiti reveals a rich culture that is unique among post-colonial nations. This is the only country in the world that was established by a successful slave revolt, the first country in the Americas to abolish slavery, and all of the country's first leaders were former slaves. Haiti has a sizeable diaspora around the world, and many influential figures including W.E.B. Du Bois, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable (the founder of Chicago) and former Canadian Governor-General Michaëlle Jean were of Haitian origin.
Answers to what travellers most often look up about Haiti.
French, Haitian Creole
The official languages of Haiti are French and Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisien), which is a French-based creole language, with 92% of the vocabulary being derived from French and the rest primarily from African languages.
Mobile networks
Tap water should be avoided.
Sanitary conditions in Haiti are poor and medical care is woefully inadequate. If you get ill or injured whilst in Haiti, you may need to leave or be evacuated.
One thing visitors to Haiti learn very quickly is that Haitians are a very friendly and down-to-earth people, despite all they have had to endure.
Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.
Haiti's big, crowded, and chaotic capital city.
the country's second biggest city, on the Atlantic coast near some beautiful beaches and interesting old forts.
a relaxed town with a beautiful historic center and a claim not easily dismissed to be the country's artistic and cultural capital, albeit in ruins following the earthquake.
Haiti's westernmost and profoundly isolated town is a sleepy little charming place.
Southern Haiti's principal port and a popular jumping off point for Île à Vache.
a wealthy and much safer suburb of Port-au-Prince, where you will find most of the capital's nightlife, restaurants, wealthy Haitians, and foreigners.
President Aristide's birthplace, home to miles of gorgeous, empty white sand beaches.
Places in Haiti on the World Heritage List.
National History Park
Listed 1982
Ramiers
Listed 1982
List from Wikidata (CC0). Photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Haiti's population center at the heart of the country—the sprawl surrounding the capital, Port-au-Prince, and lands to the north.
Home to the country's most important cities outside the capital, as well as the foreign tourist's favorite beaches near Cap-Haïtien.
The Caribbean side of the country is the nation's less hectic region, with the up-and-coming Haitian backpacker destinations of Jacmel, Port Salut, and Île à Vache.
Public transport and paid services in Haiti.
By bus
"Tap-taps" are the most economical way to travel in Haiti. Haitian tap-taps are modified trucks or vans and are ubiquitous throughout Haiti.
Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in Haiti.
Finding apps for Haiti…
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Port-au-Prince · International · PAP
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Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.
Average conditions in Port-au-Prince
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high | 30° | 30° | 30° | 31° | 31° | 32° | 32° | 32° | 32° | 31° | 30° | 30° |
| Avg. low | 22° | 22° | 23° | 24° | 25° | 25° | 26° | 26° | 26° | 25° | 24° | 23° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 19 | 16 | 24 | 37 | 62 | 41 | 38 | 64 | 49 | 75 | 56 | 28 |
| Humidity | 66% | 64% | 64% | 64% | 67% | 67% | 64% | 66% | 68% | 71% | 70% | 67% |
Choose your passport and destination to see whether you need a visa.
Budget
$90
Per person, per day
Mid-range
$255
Per person, per day
Luxury
$670
Per person, per day
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $45 | $140 | $385 |
| Food and drink | $25 | $60 | $145 |
| Local transport | $10 | $25 | $60 |
| Activities | $10 | $30 | $80 |
Estimate from World Bank price levels (2025). Actual costs vary by city and season. World Bank
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We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.
US Department of State
Level 4 of 4Do not travel
Do not travel to Haiti due to the risk of crime, kidnapping, terrorism, unrest, and limited health care. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Haiti has been under a national state of emergency since March 2024. This state of emergency remains in effect. U.S. government employee travel restrictions U.S. government employees working in Haiti are not allowed to travel away from the U.S. embassy for non-essential reasons due to safety risks. The U.S. government has an extremely limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Haiti because of security-related travel restrictions. Due to safety risks, family members cannot join U.S. government employees who work in Haiti. Air Travel U.S. commercial flights are not currently operating to or from Port-au-Prince. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that prohibits U.S. air carrier flights to Port-au-Prince due to ongoing instability. For more information, U.S. citizens should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices. Crime Violent crime is rampant in Haiti, especially in Port-au-Prince. There has been an increase in gangs, organized crime, and terrorist activities. Crimes involving firearms are common. Crimes include robbery, carjackings, sexual assault, and kidnappings for ransom. The escalation of fighting between armed groups has led to a rise in random gunfire incidents. There is risk of being struck by stray bullets, even for people not directly involved in the violence. Local law enforcement has an extremely limited ability to…
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Advises against all travel to the whole country
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Consular support is also severely limited where FCDO advises against travel. FCDO advises against all travel to Haiti FCDO advises against all travel to Haiti due to the volatile security situation. There are currently no British consular officials in Haiti and our ability to provide consular assistance is severely limited and cannot be delivered in person in Haiti. British nationals may get consular services assistance at our diplomatic mission in the Dominican Republic. If you choose to travel to or stay in Haiti against FCDO advice, try to avoid all crowds and public events, and take appropriate security precautions. Travel insurance If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. About FCDO travel advice FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. Get travel advice updates Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. Follow FCDO: travel advice on X travel advice on Facebook Travel Aware on Instagram
Stories, itineraries and practical advice for travelling in Haiti.
Travel tipsChristopher Columbus (Italian: Cristoforo Colombo; Spanish: Cristóbal Colón) made four voyages from Spain to the Caribbean from 1492 to 1503.
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsLasting from the 1500s to the 1800s, the Atlantic slave trade was a crime against humanity of extraordinary proportions, leaving a huge mark on four continents and irreversibly changing world history and geopolitics.
Wikivoyage
InspirationSome hotels have a heritage from the golden age of steam railways and ocean liners, before the Second World War, in the 19th or early 20th centuries. These hotels were where the rich and the famous of the day would stay.
Wikivoyage
Nature & adventureAs of 2023 the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves is made up of 738 reserves in 134 countries of which 22 are transboundary.
Wikivoyage
Culture & historyEurope has a great deal of history and has strongly influenced other parts of the world, and many of its historical sites are now tourist attractions.
Wikivoyage
Culture & historyManipur (Manipuri: Kangleipak) is known for being the birthplace of polo sports. It hosts numerous polo tournaments at international, national and state levels.
Wikivoyage
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