Things to do in Haiti

25 things to do in Haiti

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Climb to the top of Citadelle Laferrière

  Trek or ride horseback to the massive mountaintop fortress, the largest in the Americas, built after independence. Panoramic views and colossal stone walls await.

  Milot (near Cap-Haïtien)

• Walk the ruins of Sans-Souci Palace

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

  Milot

• Swim in the turquoise pools of Bassin Bleu

  Hidden in the hills near Jacmel, a series of three cobalt-blue pools fed by a waterfall. Jump from the rocks into the cool, deep water.

  Jacmel

• Relax on Labadee's private beaches

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

  Labadee

• Hike to Saut-Mathurine waterfall

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

  Camp-Perrin

• Explore the Iron Market (Marché en Fer)

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

  Port-au-Prince

• Visit the Musée du Panthéon National Haïtien (MUPANAH)

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

  Port-au-Prince

• Admire the gingerbread houses of Port-au-Prince

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

  Port-au-Prince

• Tour the Rhum Barbancourt distillery

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

  Port-au-Prince (Damien)

• Join the Saut d'Eau pilgrimage and waterfall

  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.

  Saut-d'Eau

• Walk the art-filled streets of Jacmel

  The seaside town's colorful Creole architecture, paper-mâché mask workshops, and galleries reveal Haiti's creative soul. Don't miss the carnival mask museum.

  Jacmel

• Snorkel the coral reefs of Les Arcadins

  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.

  Côte des Arcadins

• Spend a day on Île-à-Vache

  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.

  Île-à-Vache

• Crawl through the Marie-Jeanne cave system

  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.

  Port-à-Piment

• Experience Jacmel Carnival

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

  Jacmel

• Hike in Parc National La Visite

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

  Kenscoff / La Visite

• Climb to Fort Jacques

  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.

  Kenscoff

• Taste griot and pikliz from a Pétion-Ville street stall

  Crunchy twice-fried pork chunks with spicy pickled slaw are Haiti's iconic comfort food. Find the best versions sizzling on roadside grills at dusk.

  Pétion-Ville

• Explore the Bassin Zim waterfall

  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.

  Hinche

• Dance to kompa at a local club

  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.

  Port-au-Prince

• Summit Pic la Selle

  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.

  Fond-Verrettes

• Stroll Cap-Haïtien's historic centre

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

  Cap-Haïtien

• See Haitian masterpieces at Musée d'Art Haïtien

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

  Port-au-Prince

• Birdwatch at Trou Caïman

  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.

  Plaine du Cul-de-Sac

• Taste rhum clairin at a local distillery

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

  Léogâne