Things to do in Haiti

Trek or ride horseback to the massive mountaintop fortress, the largest in the Americas, built after independence.

Stroll through the remains of King Henri Christophe's once-magnificent royal residence, a UNESCO World Heritage site set against a lush mountain backdrop.

Hidden in the hills near Jacmel, a series of three cobalt-blue pools fed by a waterfall.

Lounge on secluded white-sand coves, snorkel in clear shallows, and zip-line over the bay from the Dragon’s Breath Flight Line.

Follow a jungle trail to Haiti's largest waterfall, where the Rivière de Cavaillon plunges over a wide rock face into a swimmable basin.

Wander through the vibrant red ironwork hall in downtown Port-au-Prince, packed with handicrafts, artwork, fruits, and Vodou artifacts.

Learn Haiti's revolutionary story through exhibits including the anchor of Columbus's Santa María and the silver pistol of Toussaint Louverture.

See the ornate, turn-of-the-century wooden mansions with fretwork balconies and turrets, survivors of the city's tumultuous history.

Taste Haiti's famous estate-bottled rum amid sugar cane fields, learning the double-distillation process handed down since the 19th century.

Each July believers gather to bathe in the sacred cascade during a Vodou-Catholic festival honoring Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the lwa Erzulie.

The seaside town's colorful Creole architecture, paper-mâché mask workshops, and galleries reveal Haiti's creative soul.

Strap on a mask at one of the beach resorts along this stretch of coast to see tropical fish, sea fans, and possibly sea turtles in calm, warm waters.

A boat ride from Les Cayes delivers you to this car-free island with coconut palms, fishing villages, and the white sands of Kokoye Beach.

At the longest cave network in the Caribbean, follow a guide through chambers adorned with stalactites and stalagmites deep under the Massif de la Hotte.

During pre-Lenten days, the town erupts with satirical papier-mâché masks, live konpa bands, and parades illuminated by thousands of handmade lanterns.

Traverse pine forests, fern-covered trails, and high-elevation meadows in this biodiversity hotspot, home to endemic birds and orchids.

A short drive from Pétion-Ville, this 19th-century fort offers a cool mountain escape and panoramas of the Cul-de-Sac plain and Port-au-Prince Bay.

Crunchy twice-fried pork chunks with spicy pickled slaw are Haiti's iconic comfort food.

In Haiti's Central Plateau, this hidden cascade drops into a natural pool surrounded by giant boulders and lush vegetation, great for a refreshing dip.

Live bands play the rhythmic, driving Haitian dance music in Port-au-Prince venues; follow the moves of locals and let the beat take over.

Trek to Haiti's highest peak (2,680 m) through cloud forest and pine savannas in the Massif de la Selle, a remote adventure rewarding with views to the sea.

Once the wealthy capital of Saint-Domingue, today's Okap retains cobblestone streets, a 19th-century cathedral, and a lively palm-lined waterfront.

Housed in a beautiful gingerbread building, the collection spans from early naïve masters to contemporary works, capturing Haiti's vivid artistic spirit.

An isolated saline lake ringed by thorn scrub in the Cul-de-Sac plain, where you can spot flamingos, roseate spoonbills, and the endemic Haitian lizard-cuckoo.

Visit a small-batch distillery such as Vieux Labbé in Léogâne to sample clairin, the raw sugarcane spirit that fuels rural celebrations.