Haiti is a country in the Caribbean, a former French colony with a population of over 10 million people who are majorly Christians. The official language is French and Haitian Creole.
The capital and commercial centre, Port-au-Prince, has The Musée du Panthéon National Haïtien, a museum which honours the nation’s history and its heroes and a famous Iron Market (Marche en Fer), a major landmark in the city.
Haitian culture has African and European influences with music at the centre. The Krik? Krak! and Rara music festival are important cultural events. Other festivities that reflect Haitian history and heritage are:
- New year/Independence day
- Ancestry day
- Carnival
- Dessalines day, in honour of Jean Jacques Dessalines
Haiti has a warm weather all year round, with two seasons; wet (April – October) and dry (November to March). The hurricane season in the Caribbean is generally June – September, so there’s a risk of natural disasters in Haiti. There have also been cases of civil unrest in Haiti, so it’s best to take precautions and stay in resorts and hotels with security.
You can get around with the Tap Tap, a type of bus used for transportation. Minibuses are more convenient and suitable for long distances. Alternatively, you could hire a chauffeur, although more expensive, it’s a more convenient option.
The Jacmel Film festival and the Haiti Rum Festival (Festival Du Rhum) are interesting events you could attend. You could also hike the trail to the highest point in Haiti, the Pic la Selle or, jump off a cliff at the Bassin Bleu, a series of three waterfalls that are considered a must see in Haiti. Some other fascinating places are:
- Pic Macaya National Park: an over 8,000 hectare park featuring cloud forest
- Foret des Pins: a pine forest which is also home to the highest mountain, Pic la Selle
- Citadelle Laferriere: a mountain top fortress built by King Henri I, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Sans-Souci Palace: formerly the royal palace of King Henri of Haiti, the ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Saut D’eau: a beautiful waterfall which is also a religious site for voodoo believers
