Haiti Travel Information, Tips & Travel Pictures

• From Port-Au-Prince by air, bus or rental vehicle.
• From Florida (Miami and Ft. Lauderdale) via Lynx Air (book these legs first, as they fill up fast). Find flights to Haiti here
• From Turks and Caicos, about 45 minutes away by air from Providenciales, on Sky King.
• From Montreal, Canada Air Canada flies to Port-Au-Prince.
• From the Dominican Republic by road, take a bus from the border, or rent a vehicle in Puerto Plata or Santo Domingo. The border is open only during the day. As of January 2008, several tour companies in Playa Dorada, east of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, offered long one-day tours to go from there to just over the border at Dajabon into Haiti (see Haiti Hwy). When pressed, they stated that was as far as they would go. Tours include a stop at a nearby Haitian school, and a staged voodoo ceremony.
• From Santiago DR by Caribe Tours bus to Cap-Haitien

The Republic of Haiti takes up one third of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. Haiti's seven mountain ranges are squeezed into a land mass about the size of the U.S. state of Maryland or the Canadian province of Nova Scotia

Travellers to Haiti can take full advantage of technology: Flashlights that use LED bulbs, and don't need batteries, solar powered lights, solar powered batteries and radios (See Travel Safety Tips). Consider a personal water purification system to save on bottled water, or if you will be on the road.

What to wear in Haiti Generally, Haiti has tropical weather year round, though it can be chilly in rainy weather. Female visitors generally dress modestly; longer loose-fitting skirts or loose-fitting slacks, no skimpy tops, no heavy makeup, no flashy jewellery. Everyone: Cotton or breathable fabrics recommended (polyester, nylon etc can set up a terrific rash; jeans draw attention and are hot). Closed shoes are advisable to keep feet clean and protected. Try to blend in, not stick out. See also Travel Packing for more suggestions.

Maps of Haiti Find a Dominican Republic Haiti map.

Languages French and Creole are the official languages, though there are some English-speaking and French-speaking staff at the larger hotels. For Creole, get a copy of the Haitian Creole Dictionary Phrasebook (new) and Creole Made Easy , plus a work book and pronunciation guide.

Books about Haiti For my travel guide, I used an older edition of the Lonely Planet Dominican Republic and Haiti guide book. There are a number of good books about Haiti to read before you travel, but some can be hard to get through. For insight on Haiti history and conditions, I recommend Paul Farmer's The Uses of Haiti. An easier read is Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder, about the work that Paul Farmer does in Haiti and elsewhere. On a different note, with a bit about voodoo and a lot of interesting neurotoxin information to perhaps explain zombies is The Serpent and The Rainbow, by Canadian author Wade Davis.

Do I need a Travel Visa for Haiti? Go to Haiti Embassy -- Citizens of only four countries require a visa; other nationals receive a tourist visa upon arrival. Double check with the Haiti embassy or consulate in your home country.

Currency - What money do they use in Haiti? Haitian Gourde (HTG) :: about 1 HTG = 3 US cents OR $1USD = 35 HTG (Rates may fluctuate; Haitians also use the term Haitian dollar :: about 7 Haitian dollars = $1 USD.

Haiti Tourism Try Haiti Tourism (site in French, but with English links. Support Haiti tourism -- let them know we think it's time for travel in Haiti once again!

Travel Health - do I need shots for Haiti? Always check with your local travel health clinic well before travel and be sure the usual vaccinations are current. Diseases like polio and tuberculosis do surface in Haiti, as well as the usual culprits like dengue fever, typhoid and malaria. See travel tips vaccinations here.

Hotels - Where to stay in Haiti See hotels in Haiti (Roi Christophe, Cormier Plage resort, Mont Joli, Cap-Haitien; Norman's Place, Labadee, and Port-au-Prince and beyond.

Make calls to and from Haiti Generally, making calls FROM Haiti phone cards are not offered by phone card companies, but many calling cards will let you make cheaper calls TO Haiti. See calling card page for general information. In Haiti, go to the local phone company offices. Many visitors and locals use cell phones; transmission may be dependent on clear weather for satellite uplinks.