Fort Liberte Haiti Travel Pictures
Dajabon Dominican Republic & Ouanaminthe Haiti area
I'd come to Fort Liberte, Haiti from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic to go to Cap-Haitien. On the way back, still on the Haiti side, we turned off the main highway to go about 4 km (2 1/2 miles) into Fort Liberte, a small village that was busy making improvements to its public areas. Originally inaugurated as Fort Dauphin in 1731, it became Fort Liberte in 1796, when Toussaint L'ouverture took the town. There is bus service from the border at Dajabon, Dominican Republic, and Ouanaminthe, Haiti, to Cap-Haitien, but first check with a travel agent in the Dominican Republic (try Puerto Plata or Santo Domingo) about tours or renting a vehicle. The travel situation changes rapidly in this area, and you will get the most current information from a local business. Travel Information at Haiti country page; Haiti books here, Haiti art and Labadie photos. Find Haiti hotels here.
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Haiti Border Bridge Riviere Massacre This bridge crosses the Massacre River at Dajabon, DR to Ouanaminthe, Haiti. There are no hotels in Ouanaminthe, but tap taps run from here into Cap-Haitien. On the Haiti side, vendors were selling bottles of the renowned Barbancourt rum, reputed to be the world's finest. The price varies depending on the quality -- the number of stars on the label -- but is around $10 USD per 750 ml (25 ounces) bottle. The fees (at the time I was here) to cross from the DR to Haiti (and back, each way) were $40 USD for the Haitian portion and 650 DOP (about $20 USD) for the DR portion. |
Highway to Cap-Haitien The marked contrast between the lush and tidy Dominican Republic and the poverty of Haiti shows dramatically at the border crossing. The DR seems positively First World compared to the bleakness of Haiti. The paved roads to Dajabon, in the Dominican Republic, gave way to this typical Haiti road at Ouanaminthe. I found this very disorienting, as if I'd crossed not only the geographical/political border, but also a border that divided the modern era into pre-Industrial Revolution times. These young boys by the highway were running out with small buckets of gravel and sand they were using to fill potholes, in the hope that passing drivers would show their gratitude with a tip. |
Highway near Fort Liberte This is as good as it gets, and it is much better on the stretch of the highway shown here than it was in others. It's 70 kilometres (43 1/2 miles) from Dajabon to Cap-Haitien, but it takes several hours, if the roads are good, and not washed out from rains. (See more Haiti highway.) The Dominican Republic had paved roads, North American bank branch offices (I changed money at a Scotiabank in Dajabon) and Codatel offices with pay phones. Haiti didn't. There's no way you can stay in your lane on the right hand side of the road; you drive slowly, and try to avoid pot holes and washouts by meandering from one side to the other, and sometimes into either ditch. |
Fort Liberté Fort Liberté is sited on the north coast of Haiti, on a peninsula that allows sweeping views to the horizon. The fortress dates back to 1756, and was built by the French. The town was the venue for a world anti-slavery meeting in the 1860s, says my guidebook. |
Fort Liberte sea wall The fort lies mostly in ruins, and though it would be interesting to wander through, I never got the chance. With the driver quite some distance away and out of sight, and the persistent children who came rushing up to beg, I didn't want to go further from sight by heading down into the ruins. It was just too isolated. I was told there was an orphanage near here that welcomed visitors, but I couldn't make arrangements at the time. |
Fort Liberte fortifications
A closer look at the fortifications along the sea wall. |
Fort Liberte Children A wide field lies between the fort and the road, and this is where my driver had parked, still some distance from the fort. As I got out of the van to get a closer look, he told me to be quick, and pointed to a group of kids in the distance who were running full tilt to come to us. I did manage a few photos before they mobbed me, grasping at my bags and camera, and asking in several languages for money and my earrings. They were quite clear they wanted pesos or dollars only, not Haitian gourdes. |
Fort Liberté Photo Op These youngsters spoke Creole, and a bit of French and Spanish; as border kids, they learn to beg in many languages. It was quite touching how the oldest girl fussed over the younger ones, smoothing their hair and wiping off their faces before posing them for the photo that they insisted I take. Please don't offer them candy or sweet treats, I was advised: Hungry children in many poor, hot countries already have sugar canes to chew on. Cavity-causing sugar cane and candies are empty nutrition; you are only adding to their plight. |
Fort Liberté municipal building This colourful building is close to the arch (below). I recall it being a town building with a small museum. partly laid new interlocking-style brick walks in this area gave evidence of the town's getting a bit of a makeover. From here, it's 18 kilometres (11 miles) from Dajabon. Leaving Haiti, the border guard was smiling and winking at me while chatting with my driver in Creole. Before allowing us to enter the DR, the Dominican guards sprayed our van with an insecticide, all around the outside bottom panels and tires. It smelled like malathion. I am not sure which made me more nervous. |
Fort Liberté Archway This archway is much photographed by those who travel this route. The mounds of earth beside the road were being used to install a new brick paver sidewalk. |
Paradis Hotel in Ouanaminthe Haiti Jean Cleantus Junior (see Comments section below) sends this photo of the Hotel Paradis in Ouanaminthe, Haiti, that he took on a recent visit to the area. This view is from the front of the hotel, at street level. |
Ideal Hotel view of swimming pool This second Jean Cleantus Junior photo of the Ideal Hotel shows the back view with the swimming pool. Thanks, Jean! You can visit Jean's web site at ftliberte-googlepages .
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More Haiti Travel Pictures and Travel Information
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Thanks!
This would be great if you could do this.
Are you in the DR?
Another visitor to Haiti posted a comment about her trip to Cap-Haitien that seems to agree with you that Haiti travel is not all 'doom and gloom'.
It's on bottom of this page
http://www.snapshotjourneys.com/caphaitien.html
I look forward to seeing the pictures. If you stay there, or if you can get permission form the hotels, see if you can take a picture of one of the rooms, etc. And see if there is any internet access.
Thanks so much!
Problem is no one took pictures of those Hotels, and no one published them. That''s why you can''t find any listings of .
If you would like to, I'm going back to Haiti on April 24th. I will take some pictures and will share with you.
Sometimes some foreigners lie about Haiti, because it is the poorest country, they say everything they want. They should ask more questions.
Thanks.
Hi Jean
Thanks for letting me know. I can't find any listings for these hotels, and unless someone like you passes on travel information like this, we wouldn't know about them.
It's nice to have your recommendation!
Cheers!
I'm not agree with you when you said there is no Hotels in Ouanaminthe,
I want to tell you that there are 2 good Hotels in Ouanaminthe which are clean enough,with electricity and good water food for anyone.
Names are Ideal Hotel and Paradis Hotels.
You should come back there and ask for those hotels.
http://ftliberte.googlepages.com/home
http://cleantusjuniorjean5.googlepages.com/home