The Caribbean country of Haiti occupies a third of Hispaniola Island and it is a country that has gone through many trying times in its troubled past and there is also a lot of uncertainty regarding its future. Having survived decades of coups, dictatorship, instability, environmental degradation and poverty, Haiti has resulted to being the poorest western hemisphere country. If you are not ready to enjoy your vacation surrounded by an environment of grinding poverty, Haiti is definitely not the best place to visit.
However, Haiti is rich in unique culture that can be explored by the open minded people. When planning a holiday in Haiti, it is best that you do so with the help of local contacts such as a hotel or church as you can never be certain of anything in Haiti. Haiti is highly vulnerable to hurricanes, droughts, earthquakes and occasional flooding as it lies along the Caribbean hurricane belt.
Carrying your first aid kit is important when visiting Haiti as a disaster can strike at anytime without prior warning. Northern Haiti has some of important Haitian cities and also several beaches of touristic interest. Southern Haiti has backpacker destinations like Porte Salut and Jacmel. The capital city of Haiti is Port au Prince which is the biggest and most crowded.
The city of Cap Haitien has the most beautiful beaches as well as interesting old forts that you should consider visiting. Political instability in Haiti has devastated tourism industry in a great way. Nevertheless, the rich history and culture of Haiti makes the country worthy a visit. Champs de Mars used to be a beautiful park before the earthquake strike and was thus used for housing homeless people. Before the catastrophe, this park located near National Palace used to be a great spot for relaxation.
Guest houses are many and distributed all over the country. However, most of them are quite expensive and you need to confirm your stay before travelling. Haiti is not a great destination for camping as it is very risky due to earthquakes and storm that can occur unexpectedly. After the devastating earthquake, most of the population still lives on the streets.
