Places to See in Haiti

From natural saltwater lakes to mountain ranges, plateaus, plains, beaches, national parks and history museums, Haiti has plenty to offer to all those touring it. Major attractions of the island are in its capital Port-au-Prince however all the cities of Haiti have their own lure that will want you to keep re-visiting them.

Interested in looking at some local flora and fauna? Then visit Étang Saumâtre, 20 kilometers to the east of Port-au-Prince. Surrounded by brush and cacti, it is the largest saltwater lake in Haiti and you can find over a 100 species of flamingos, waterfowls and American crocodiles.

The Parc National Historique La Citadelle is a huge mountaintop fortress, an astounding structure with a ship like appearance. Constructed to combat the French invasion, it balances a-top the 900m Pic la Ferrière, overlooking the northern plains of Cap Haïtien. This fortress is known to have been impenetrable with walls that are 13 ft thick and reach up to 131 ft in height; it held enough supplies for almost a year the entire royal family and a garrison.

The wreck of Santa Maria at Cap Haïtien is another place that you can visit. Cap Haïtien has some fine beaches and many Spanish style buildings to offer. The village of Milot is the gateway to Citadelle, a half an hour drive to the fascinating ruins of Sans Souci Palace.

Labadie is a town and a beach in Haiti on the north shore about 15 miles from Au Cap. Although this area is owned by a cruise company, however the items offered on the stands at the beach are originally from Haiti and are made and sold by the locals, helping them support their families. Moulin sur Mer is another resort you wouldn’t want to miss. It is created out of an old sugar plantation and the old buildings there have been turned into a museum of sorts. There is also a pond nearby with a gazebo and a restaurant right on the beach.

The elegant town of Jacmel has several beautiful palaces and is a known centre for voodoo offering various interesting temples for visit. Artists from all over the world come to visit, providing a lively art scene with parades and theater forming the back drop to it all. You can even buy a few Haitian paintings as they are world famous.

Some 12km North West of Jacmel in Haiti is Bassins Bleu, another place worth visiting while you vacation in Haiti. It is a stunning series of cascades or small waterfalls that join three cobalt-blue pools, colored so due to the dissolved minerals. Bassins Bleu has some very fascinating stories to tell. Legend has it that water nymphs live there and sun themselves on the rocks in Palm Lake. They are known to disappear when mortal footsteps approach. Although no one has seen the nymphs yet but the spectacular view of the place is good enough to lure thousands of tourist to Bassins Bleu each year.

Haiti has a rich history that is visible throughout the island. But those interested in knowing more regarding the history of Haiti a visit to the museums in Haiti is a must. Musee de Guahaba offers a lot of information regarding various groups and the people of Haiti and their influence over the area.

Another museum worth visiting is the Museum of Haitin Art. It offers a visual display of local art o Haiti along with old paintings. Located near St. Pierre College, this museum is worth exploring if you want to experience the culture of Haiti.

The Musee du Pantheon National is a beautiful historical museum, located in an old mansion atop a hill, it offers a glimpse of a truly fascinating history of Haiti. Dresses and art of the early people of this area are on display there and due to its location on top of a larger hill in Haiti it provides visitors a terrific view of the island.

Musee du Pantheon National is a historical museum located in a beautiful old mansion on top of one of Haiti’s larger hills. This museum includes the dress and art of the early people of the area and its location affords a terrific view of today’s Haiti.

The town of Kenscoff is a famous summer resort for the Haitians and Parc Macaya being the most famous national park of the island offers various trails through the lush rainforest and scenic mountains.