Getting around in Haiti

Tourists coming to Haiti generally fly to it and the airport provides various flights for traveling around to various other cities as well. In order to avoid a grueling eight hour drive between Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien many travelers prefer to catch two flights in a day on Caribintair. The airport in Haiti also offers flights from Port-au-Prince to Hinche, Pignon and Dame Marie regularly.

The cheapest way to get around Haiti is by a bus as they charge the lowest fare. The buses have specific departure points although there is no designated time table or specific schedules available and they usually leave only when they are full. The buses in Haiti are either old US school buses or decorated tap-taps that run in Port-au-Prince and can take you all around Haiti but travelers are sometimes advised against them. Occasionally the buses tend to go on a strike too, depending largely on the political situation of the island. Most commonly visitors to Haiti prefer using the buses to get around. Most bus terminals are located in Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien as well as in various other areas of Haiti. Traveling by a bus offers a great way to meet with the locals and explore new areas.

Driving around Haiti is no short of an adventure! The traffic drives to the right and the roads are potholed; especially the mountain roads have several speeding buses and many private cars in disrepair. You can either rise up to the challenge or rent a car from the various car rental agencies at the Port-au-Prince airport or hotels in the city. The rental car registration numbers tend to begin with ‘L’.

Port-au-Prince has an impressive system of taxi service. Called the publiques, the collective taxi system is another cheap form of travel in Haiti and although it can be almost any vehicle, however the best indication you have for a taxi in Haiti is a red ribbon that is usually hanging form the front mirror. These taxis are not metered and the fares can be negotiated on. The license plates begin with ‘P’. Also various station wagons called the camionettes run from Port-au-Prince to Pétionville and throughout some other towns as well.
But if you are looking for an adventure and prefer to mingle with the locals then the best way to explore Haiti is by touring it by a bus.