Haiti

A vibrant country rich in art and music, Haiti is full of cloud forests and denuded hillsides and is characterized by its music, dancing, drumming and voodoo practices. Located about 700 miles to the south of Florida in the Caribbean, Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. Its people are intensely spiritual and are known for their legendary passion and humor.

Tropical climate and mostly mountainous, Haiti’s culture and history are rich and diverse. Once a hot tourist spot, it lost its tourism industry for several years due to instability and violence in the state. Although poverty stricken, it is the most densely populated urban land in the Western Hemisphere, suffering oppression and civil strife.

Due to the constantly instable conditions Haiti is not exactly the first place that comes to mind when one thinks about a getaway out in the Caribbean. Haiti however has a lot of potential for tourism with its scenic landscapes, historical sites, tranquil beaches and a tropical backdrop.

It is mainly due to the presence of the UN that has given a long-standing stabilization and security to Haiti. However, the security situation in Haiti tends to become unsafe and instable many a times, making it a relatively unsafe place to visit as compared to the rest of the Caribbean islands. Many armed street gangs and kidnappers are known to be at large, especially in the capital Port-au-Prince, kidnapping foreigner aid workers and wealthy Haitians for ransom.

Haiti sees two rainy seasons through the year, with nearly most of the rain falling in the mountains. For those planning to go for trekking, hiking or for a drive through the country then, it will best be to avoid the months April, May, September and October due to the raining season. Also from June to September Haiti is prone to hurricanes and it will be wise not to plan a vacation in these months as your vacation can easily get wrecked by a hurricane.

There isn’t a known peak tourist season in Haiti, but it’s an ideal destination during the winters while most the Caribbean islands raise the costs for everything. The best time of the year to plan a vacation for Haiti is around the Carnival or the Rara season. The Carnival is a three day celebration leading up to Ash Wednesday while the Rara is celebrated in the week leading up to Easter. It is best to avoid going in the times of elections as well as the situation can be erupting with passion then.

Up to two-thirds of the island is coved with mountains and the rest of the country is marked by widespread plateaus, plains and great valleys making it a suitable place for an adventurous vacation