Fabulous Paradise Island Haiti is associated, first of all, with a comfortable holiday in a tropical paradise, surrounded by palm trees, exotic flowers and colorful representatives of the local fauna. To be fair, it should be noted that Haiti is geographically divided into two parts - the Republic of Haiti itself and the Dominican Republic, and tourists are mainly attracted by the Dominican Republic.
Holidays in Haiti
A holiday in Haiti can be an interesting adventure for those who want to see with their own eyes and without embellishment the life of real Haitians. It should be noted that, despite the developed tourism sector, the Republic of Haiti is quite poor country, so many vacationers note the unusual contrast between luxury hotels and their rather modest surroundings. After the devastating earthquake that recently rocked the republic, the country's authorities have still not fully recovered, and currently many regions of the country are trying to rebuild practically from scratch. How successful it is - every guest of the country can see for himself.
However, hospitable beaches and modern resorts have not gone away, so you can relax in style in Haiti, especially if you choose the right place. For example, a place called Pétionville will delight vacationers with numerous shops, bars and restaurants, where you can safely eat well-prepared dishes without fear for your health. Ancient port Jacmel rich in architectural delights, ancient religious buildings, as well as the famous Blue Pool, a unique natural attraction located nearby.
One of the most attractive resorts for fans of active recreation is Cap-Haitien, located in the northern part of the island. There is a wide range of different kinds sports, from diving and snorkeling to sea hunting and water skiing. There are also many comfortable hotels where you can relax after a busy day.
Haitian culture and traditions
Haitian culture is very unusual, especially in the eyes of a European. Representing an amazing cocktail of customs and traditions of many nations, it looks mysterious and attractive to foreign guests. The equal influence of European and African cultures made the life of the Haitians very unique - European ideas about the institution of marriage and African male dominance, the celebration of Catholic holidays and elements of the voodoo cult were intertwined in the most incredible way. The latter often plunges the ignorant into a state of confusion, but the Haitians themselves do not see any serious contradictions between Catholicism and the mysterious religion of their ancestors.
Almost all important events in the life of a native Haitian are accompanied by unusual rituals, be it finishing your education, entering a certain age phase, getting engaged or any new endeavor. Ritual animal sacrifice is also common, and this ceremony can often be observed by tourists. At the same time, the local population is very hospitable and friendly towards foreigners, and foreigners, in turn, try to take into account the peculiarities of the local national color.
At the same time, Haitians observe the dress code quite strictly and demand the same from their guests. Casual clothing is completely unacceptable at official events and celebrations, and beach suits are acceptable only within the beaches themselves; going out into the city in shorts or a swimsuit is considered the height of bad taste. However, what Haitians call casual or formal clothing is so colorful and diverse that foreign travelers can get confused - locals love variety, from simple cropped trousers and T-shirts to fancy outfits made from flowers and plant leaves.
For our man, frankly spoiled eastern resorts with a rich program and an abundance of services, tourism Haiti will seem something primitive and even unadapted. Despite all the efforts of government authorities Haiti To attract more tourists to the country, the unstable political situation or natural disasters do not allow this area of the economy to develop.
If you are not inspired by the sight of Haitian slums and miserable existence local population, then it’s best to focus on such resorts of Haiti, like the town of Pétionville. It is located southeast of the state's capital, Port-au-Prince. Also for foreign tourists Resorts such as Les Cayes, Gonaives and Cap-Haïtien will be of interest. Sights of Haiti there are both in the capital itself and in close proximity to the resorts.
The main territory of the state lies in mountainous areas, here it would be possible to deploy ski resorts Haiti, but this requires significant investment, which does not pay off soon.
In the country, as such, specialized health resorts Haiti missing, as well as good medicine. Therefore, it is better to plan tourism in Haiti with the condition of acquiring full health insurance so that in an unexpected situation, the traveler is immediately transported to a clinic with decent conditions and proper service.
For those world travelers who prefer beach holiday and unobtrusive excursion program all will do tours Haiti. Modern cultural life does not particularly affect this country, so all that remains for tourists is to enjoy the beauty of nature, engage active recreation and visit parks and museums founded by the colonialists or their descendants.
For the modern business person holiday in Haiti, very exotic country, this is peace, comfort and safety. Tourism traveling here involves an expensive flight and accommodation in a luxury hotel, only in this case the traveler will be satisfied with his vacation.
Almost all hotels resort area have their own beach area. Experienced tourists recommend visiting beaches of Haiti, which are located slightly north of the capital, and also in a northwest direction relative to Cape Haitien. A distinctive feature of these beaches is black sand. The shores are surrounded by coral reefs, which will be of interest to diving enthusiasts. Windsurfers and yachtsmen will also be interested in conquering the challenging waters of the Haitian coast.
Hotels resort areas They offer the services familiar to Europeans, namely swimming pools, playgrounds, golf courses and other amenities of civilization. Similar Haiti hotels mainly concentrated on the coast. Hotels are one, two-story villas that vacationers rent in whole or in part. Only a few resort complexes operate on an all-inclusive system, and in hotels the level of service does not always correspond to the stated stars.
Transport Haiti
A network runs across the country highways with a total length of 4,000 kilometers. These are mainly cars and buses. When renting a car to move around the country, keep in mind that during the rainy season many roads become impassable for passenger transport.
Haiti is a small country in the Caribbean region, in which amazingly intertwined unique nature, poverty, tyranny, hurricanes, earthquakes and outbreaks of epidemics. The state is not at all similar to the neighboring Dominican Republic, so a vacation in Haiti awaits you downright exotic. However, this Island state worth visiting at least once.
Getting to Haiti is not an easy task. Tours there are rarely organized due to lack of demand. In an island country include as an addition to y or sea cruises By . Therefore, you can’t count on last-minute offers.
There are no direct or connecting flights from Russia. One of the easiest ways to get to Haiti from Moscow is a flight to Dominican Republic, and from there it’s a six-hour bus to Port-au-Prince. For an air ticket you will have to pay from 35,000 rubles, a bus will cost another 1,500. Thus, holiday in Haiti will start with significant prices tickets, which eat up a considerable part of the travel budget. But there is good news: Russians do not need a visa to Haiti if their stay does not exceed three months.
Now a little more about what prices await you during your holiday in Haiti:
The average cost of living in no-frills hotels starts from $40: for this amount they will offer a room in the capital with uninterrupted electricity, hot water and a TV. There are cheaper options, but they are more suitable for “seasoned” tourists and do not inspire confidence. In more comfortable hotels Haiti vacation will cost from 80 dollars per day.
Haiti - no tourist country, so prices there are generally higher than at neighboring resorts. Paradoxically, it is lower, although the level of this very relaxation is much higher. So, renting a car in Haiti will cost about 150-200 dollars per day. Lunch in a restaurant starts from 40-50 dollars, but in ordinary cafes the price for the same portion is reduced several times.
The national currency of Haiti is the Haitian gourde, which is divided into 100 centimes. You can find many banks in the capital, but you should immediately prepare for the fact that there is no stable exchange rate and currency exchange conditions often change. In unofficial circulation there is also the “Haitian dollar” - a kind of conventional unit equal to 5 gourdes. US dollars are also in free circulation and are often used to pay in private establishments and markets. Here you can bargain and significantly reduce the price.
In most high-class hotels and restaurants, the cost of the service is already included in the bill in the amount of 5-10% of the amount. In bars and street cafes it is customary to leave a tip - the same 5-10 percent. Service personnel expect a remuneration of 1-5 gourdes.
If we talk about holidays in the Caribbean, then it is certainly worth mentioning Haiti. This republic borders the Dominican Republic. And accordingly, it has the same undeniable advantages for tourists as its neighbors.
Holidays in Haiti in 2020 are no less interesting and in demand. Who hasn't dreamed of visiting heaven? Lounge on a sandy beach, swim in the azure waters of the ocean, and finally climb a palm tree. The optimal time for relaxation is considered to be from December to March. Then comes the season of rains and hurricanes. Like any resort, there are plenty of attractions and interesting places, beaches and other entertainment.
Citadel La Ferrière
An unimaginably huge fortress, a real medieval fortification structure. Legend has it that this powerful shelter was built because of the paranoia of Henri Christophe. Who was so afraid of the appearance of invaders that more than 400 hundred guns were allocated to defend the fortress. True, he never waited for those who wanted to seize his possessions, since he committed suicide. They say from the walls of La Ferriere in good weather with ideal visibility you can see the shores of Cuba.
Stadiums in Haiti
No matter how strange it may sound, there are two stadiums in Haiti that can undoubtedly be considered local attractions. One of them is named after the winner Olympic Games. Silvio Catora won the long jump competition in 1928. Haitians have a lot to be proud of.
Port-au-Prince Cathedral
A magnificent building in classic Gothic style. Majestic and beautiful. Construction began in 1884 and lasted almost 30 years. Severely damaged during a large-scale earthquake that occurred in 2010. Fortunately, the walls of the cathedral survived and it was possible to restore it. And now it again delights parishioners and tourists with its beauty.
Largest lakes
In addition to architectural buildings and ancient monuments, the list of tourist programs also necessarily includes corners of wild nature. So there are many lakes in Haiti. Among which the two largest ones stand out: Enriquillo and Somatre.
These lakes are said to increase in size every year. And scientists have not yet figured out the reasons why water is added to them.
Architectural monuments
Others are definitely worth a visit architectural structures of the past. For example, the dilapidated Sans Souci Palace, which once belonged to the Haitian king. Although the fate of its owners was sad, and the palace was damaged by an earthquake, the interest of tourists does not dry up. The path to the residence lies past sugar plantations. Sometimes you come across small factories that brew very tasty rum.
