14 Days in Haiti
Trip Overview
This two-week circuit loops you from the capital's street murals and gingerbread houses south to the coffee-scented hills of Kenscoff, east to the waterfall silence of Bassin Bleu, then along the southern peninsula to Jacmel's carnival masks and Port-Salut's palm-sheltered Haiti beaches. Days blend market aromas, drum and rara rhythms, and roadside griot sizzles with hikes through cloud forests and lazy afternoons under almond trees. The pace is moderate, three to four key stops daily, leaving evenings free for kleren rum and starlit walks.
Pace
Moderate
Daily Budget
$90, 140 per day
Best Seasons
November through April, when Haiti weather is driest and coolest
Ideal For
First-time visitors, Culture seekers, Food lovers, Moderate hikers, Photographers
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A complete plan for every day of your trip
1
Port-au-Prince Palette
Touch down, taste pikliz heat on fried plantain, and wander the iron market's maze of handmade drums.
Morning
Land at Toussaint Louverture Airport, private transfer to hotel
The 20-minute ride gives you a first glimpse of pastel storefronts and murals of revolutionary heroes against the green backdrop of Morne l'Hôpital.
Pre-book airport pickup to avoid taxi haggling
Lunch
La Souvenance restaurant for soup joumou and fried red snapper
Afternoon
Musée du Panthéon National and Marché de Fer
Cool marble corridors echo with recorded vodou drums as you study Emperor Christophe's crown, then dive into the iron market's scent of vetiver soap and smoked herring.
Evening
Dinner and live twoubadou at Hotel Oloffson
Order goat with djon-djon rice while the band's wooden guitars shimmer under tamarind trees
Where to Stay Tonight
Pétion-Ville (Hotel Kabic)
Cooler evening air, art galleries within walking distance, and easy hop to tomorrow's mountain road
See all Haiti accommodation options →Carry small bills for market tipping. Vendors appreciate exact change in gourdes.
Day 1 Budget: $110
2
Murals & Mountaintop Coffee
Pétion-Ville, Kenscoff
Gaze at towering street art, then ascend to cloud-forest farms for fresh-roasted arabica.
Morning
Guided street-art walk through Vivy Mitchell neighborhood
Towering portraits of Danticat and Louverture shimmer on cinderblock walls, their acrylic blues and mango oranges glowing against morning mist.
Book via Hotel Kabic concierge
Lunch
Presse Café for avocado toast dusted with piment bouc
Afternoon
Drive to Kenscoff, tour coffee cooperative
The road corkscrews up through pine scent and drifting cloud. At 1,500 m you sip espresso while beans crackle in a hand-cranked roaster.
Reserve one day ahead, max 6 people
Evening
Farm-to-table dinner at Rustik restaurant
Try watercress soup and guinea fowl with local leeks while crickets chirp outside stone walls
Where to Stay Tonight
Kenscoff (Le Perchoir eco-lodge)
Fire-warmed cabins, mountain silence, and sunrise views over Port-au-Prince bay
See all Haiti accommodation options →Bring a light fleece. Night temps dip to 14 °C even in December.
Day 2 Budget: $105
Descend through banana terraces to the south coast, arrive in time for sunset over azure surf.
Morning
Private transfer via Route Nationale 2
The three-hour descent zigzags through mango orchards. Roadside stalls sell chilled coconut water that tastes of mineral springs.
Arrange via Le Perchoir front desk
Lunch
Auberge du Parc for grilled conch in coconut milk
Afternoon
Historic Jacmel walking tour
Narrow gingerbread balconies cast cool shadows over cobblestones. Artisans chip seashell mosaics beside the 1914 wrought-iron market hall.
Meet guide at Maison Cadet entrance
Evening
Sunset drinks at Hotel Florita's veranda
Order a rum sour while waves hiss against black-sand shore
Where to Stay Tonight
Jacmel town center (Hotel Florita)
Century-old coffee-mansion charm, hammocks facing the bay, and 5-minute walk to carnival workshops
See all Haiti accommodation options →Stroll the promenade after 9 p.m. for spontaneous Rara drum circles.
Day 3 Budget: $125
Rope-swing into sapphire pools hidden behind limestone cliffs, then taste citrus-marinated lobster.
Morning
Jeep to Bassin Bleu trailhead, guided hike
A 30-minute ride past coffee plots brings you to a trail scented by wild guava. Descend slippery stones to water so clear you count pebbles at 4 m depth.
Guides gather at 8 a.m. by Jacmel bus station
Lunch
Lobster salad at Cyvadier Plage restaurant
Afternoon
Jacmel beach downtime at Raymond les Bains
Palm-leaf shade, gentle surf good for bodyboarding, and vendors selling icy Prestige beer.
Evening
Papier-mâché workshop and dinner
Create carnival masks with local artist Didier, then feast on akra fritters and spicy slaw
Where to Stay Tonight
Jacmel (Hotel Florita)
Stay a second night to avoid packing between waterfall hike and beach time
See all Haiti accommodation options →Wear water shoes. The final descent to Bassin Bleu is slick limestone.
Day 4 Budget: $120
5
Port-Salut Palms
Jacmel, Port-Salut
Coastal cruise west to white-sand stretches where sea grape shadows meet turquoise shallows.
Morning
Shared minibus to Port-Salut
Three hours along the south-coast road, passing roadside stalls roasting cashews that smell like caramel.
Catch the 7:30 a.m. minibus at Jacmel's main depot
Lunch
Kay Kok beach bar for grilled snapper and plantain chips
Afternoon
Relax on Port-Salut beach
Powder-soft sand squeaks underfoot. Turquoise water barely ripples, good for floating with ears half-submerged to the muffled thud of distant drums.
Evening
Sunset rum tasting at Auberge du Rayon Vert
Sample clairin aged in oak while fireflies blink along the river mouth
Where to Stay Tonight
Port-Salut (Residence Royale)
Beachfront rooms, hammocks facing the bay, and owners who arrange fishing boats at dawn
See all Haiti accommodation options →Ask fishermen for a dawn outing; they'll grill your catch right on the sand.
Day 5 Budget: $95
6
Les Cayes Market & Sea-to-Table
Port-Salut, Les Cayes, Port-Salut
Hunt for star anise and vanilla pods at a buzzing southern market, then learn to cook conch in coconut milk.
Morning
Taxi to Les Cayes market
Stalls overflow with star fruit, tamarind balls rolled in sugar, and the sweet licorice scent of dried anise stars.
Agree price before leaving Port-Salut
Lunch
Lakay restaurant for conch stew with breadfruit
Afternoon
Cooking class with local chef
Grate fresh coconut, pound garlic and scotch bonnets, and simmer your market conch while sea breeze carries charcoal smoke through an open kitchen.
Arrange via Residence Royale
Evening
Beach bonfire with drum circle
Local musicians gather. Bring a Prestige to share
Where to Stay Tonight
Port-Salut (Residence Royale)
Second night allows a relaxed cooking day without luggage shuffle
See all Haiti accommodation options →Market is busiest 7, 9 a.m.; arrive early for the freshest spices.
Day 6 Budget: $105
7
Return North via Aquin
Port-Salut, Aquin, Port-au-Prince
Stop at roadside distilleries for fiery clairin shots, then overnight in the capital before mountains.
Morning
Visit clairin distillery in Aquin
Copper stills gleam in the sun. Cane stalks crunch underfoot while molasses aroma hangs thick as treacle.
Distillery open 9 a.m., noon daily, no reservation
Lunch
Aquin roadside grill for pork griot and pikliz
Afternoon
Drive to Port-au-Prince, check into hillside guesthouse
Rolling hills switch to city sprawl. Exhaust and charcoal smoke mingle in warm afternoon air as you crest Pétion-Ville ridge.
Pre-book to guarantee AC
Evening
Craft cocktails at Bar Caveau inside Hotel Montana
Sip passion-fruit mojito watching city lights shimmer below
Where to Stay Tonight
Pétion-Ville (L'Amateur Guesthouse)
Quiet garden, 10-minute walk to tomorrow's tap-tap station
See all Haiti accommodation options →Pack a scarf. Mountain evening breezes drop below 20 °C.
Day 7 Budget: $115
8
Croix-des-Bouquets Iron Symphony
Port-au-Prince, Croix-des-Bouquets, Cap-Haïtien
Forge day: watch blacksmiths turn oil drums into angel wings, then fly north to the walled city.
Morning
Tap-tap to Croix-des-Bouquets metal workshops
Clang of hammers rings against corrugated roofs. Sparks arc as artisans cut recycled drums into filigree crosses.
Guides wait near Saint Rose de Lima church
Lunch
Chez L'Artiste for fried goat and plantain
Afternoon
Domestic flight to Cap-Haïtien
30-minute hop over turquoise shallows and terraced hills. From the plane window, Citadelle Laferrière looms like a stone battleship on the ridge.
Book Sunrise Airways online two days ahead
Evening
Sunset stroll along Cap-Haïtien boulevard
Grab shaved ice flavored with local soursop
Where to Stay Tonight
Cap-Haïtien (Rival Hotel)
Sea-view balconies, walking distance to ferry pier for tomorrow's beaches
See all Haiti accommodation options →Metal workshops close 1 p.m.; arrive by 10 a.m. to see full forging process.
Day 8 Budget: $155
9
Citadel Heights & Rum Cellars
Cap-Haïtien, Milot, Cap-Haïtien
Hike the stone ramparts where cannons once guarded the Atlantic, then taste 15-year Barbancourt.
Morning
4x4 to Sans-Souci Palace, hike to Citadelle Laferrière
Mule hooves clop on cobblestones. Stone corridors echo with your breath as cool mountain air meets the distant glint of royal-blue Caribbean swells below.
Guides assemble at 7:30 a.m. by Rival lobby
Lunch
Lakay Citadelle for pumpkin soup and grilled chicken
Afternoon
Barbancourt rum distillery tour
Oak barrels exhale vanilla and burnt sugar. You swirl amber 15-year reserve while tropical birds chirp in nearby mango trees.
Tours at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., reserve at gate
Evening
Dinner at Boukanye overlooking Cap bay
Enjoy conch in creole sauce with lantern-lit waves below
Where to Stay Tonight
Cap-Haïtien (Rival Hotel)
Central, with reliable Wi-Fi to upload fortress photos
See all Haiti accommodation options →Bring a headlamp. The Citadelle's interior staircases are unlit.
Day 9 Budget: $125
10
Labadee Lagoon Escape
Cap-Haïtien, Labadee, Cap-Haïtien
Kayak over glass-clear reefs, then dance to kompa drums on a crescent of white sand.
Morning
Water taxi to Labadee beaches
Turquoise water flashes silver when flying fish leap. The boat drops you at coves unreachable by road.
Negotiate at Cap-Haïtien pier by 9 a.m.
Lunch
Beach shack grilled lobster with lime butter
Afternoon
Snorkeling and hammock time
Parrotfish nibble coral beneath your raft; sea-grape leaves rustle overhead while you sway in a rope hammock strung between palms.
Evening
Sunset kompa dance session at Cormier Plage
Live band starts at 6 p.m.; sip coconut rum punch barefoot in the sand
Where to Stay Tonight
Cap-Haïtien (Rival Hotel)
Return same night to keep luggage simple
See all Haiti accommodation options →Bring reef-safe sunscreen. Local vendors sell limited SPF options.
Day 10 Budget: $100
11
Island of Amiga
Cap-Haïtien, Île de la Tortue, Cap-Haïtien
Sail to pirate lore and driftwood bars on Tortuga's wind-sculpted coast.
Morning
Speedboat to Île de la Tortue (Tortuga)
Salt spray mists your face as dolphins arc beside the bow. Limestone cliffs rise like fortress walls smothered in sea lavender.
Book at Cap marina the evening prior
Lunch
Grilled wahoo and plantain at Baie des Pirates shack
Afternoon
Snorkel and explore pirate caves
Inside limestone caverns, bats squeak overhead while tide pools mirror sapphire light on ancient cannonballs.
Evening
Return to Cap-Haïtien, dinner at Lakay
Try the spicy conch stew and sweet potato fries
Where to Stay Tonight
Cap-Haïtien (Rival Hotel)
Third night allows flexible weather window for boat trip
See all Haiti accommodation options →Bring a dry bag. Waves can splash during the crossing.
Day 11 Budget: $120
12
Art & Anise in Limonade
Cap-Haïtien, Limonade, Cap-Haïtien
Tour Haiti's oldest university town, sip star-anise tea, and browse indigo-dyed fabrics.
Morning
Collective taxi to Limonade
Roadside stands sell peanut brittle and star-anise syrup. The town's colonial façades bear faded French shutters in mint and coral hues.
Taxis leave when full from Cap-Haïtien station
Lunch
Family-run café for rice with lima beans and pickled cabbage
Afternoon
Indigo workshop and university tour
Dip cotton into fermented indigo vats. The scent of wet earth and anise fills the courtyard while you stamp traditional fleur-de-lis patterns.
Workshop starts 1 p.m.; pre-book via Roots Community Arts
Evening
Return to Cap-Haïtien for tapas and jazz at Bar 1691
Order goat-cheese croquettes and listen to saxophone drift over the bay
Where to Stay Tonight
Cap-Haïtien (Rival Hotel)
Keeps base for early flight tomorrow
See all Haiti accommodation options →Bring an old T-shirt; indigo stains are stubborn.
Day 12 Budget: $100
13
Flight to the West & Sunset Rum
Cap-Haïtien, Port-au-Prince, Boutilliers
Morning flight south, then a hillside bar with panoramic views over the capital's terracotta roofs.
Morning
Fly to Port-au-Prince, taxi to Boutilliers
The 30-minute flight skims over emerald peaks. From Boutilliers terrace, the city's tin roofs glint like fish scales under noon sun.
Book 48 h ahead during peak season
Lunch
Boutilliers restaurant for fried red snapper and lime sauce
Afternoon
Relax at Observatoire bar
Hibiscus rum punches sweat condensation onto wooden tables while cool breeze carries bougainvillea scent up the mountainside.
Evening
Farewell dinner at Magdoos
Savor lamb tartare with chayote slaw and a final Prestige
Where to Stay Tonight
Pétion-Ville (L'Amateur Guesthouse)
Close to airport for tomorrow's departure
See all Haiti accommodation options →Bring a sweater; Boutilliers elevation means cool evenings even in April.
Day 13 Budget: $150
14
Market Mornings & Departure
Pick up last-minute vetiver soap and vanilla beans before your flight home.
Morning
Last-minute souvenir hunt at Marché de Fer
Threads of vetiver scent mingle with roasted peanut smoke. Vendors unfurl indigo scarves as early light filters through tin roofs.
Lunch
Airport café for final griot sandwich
Afternoon
Transfer to airport for departure
The 20-minute ride gives a last glance at murals of revolutionary heroes and schoolchildren waving goodbye.
Pre-book night before
Evening
Fly home carrying the echo of sapphire water, the pulse of drum beats, and the perfume of coffee drifting down from the mountains.
Tuck 500 gourdes into your pocket for the airport departure tax. Machines sometimes fail and cash keeps you moving.
Day 14 Budget: $60
Practical Information
Everything you need to know before you go
Getting Around
Jump on domestic flights between Cap-Haïtien and Port-au-Prince, flag down tap-taps for short hops, and hire a private 4x4 when the road tilts uphill. Split road transfers run $40, 80 per person. Pad the schedule for surprise roadblocks or village festivals.
Book Ahead
Book domestic flights, a guided hike to Citadelle, a Bassin Bleu guide, the Kenscoff coffee tour, and airport pickups.
Packing Essentials
Pack a light rain jacket, reef-safe sunscreen, quick-dry towel, headlamp, water shoes, small USD and gourde bills, and travel insurance for Haiti.
Total Budget
$1,550, 2,200 excluding airfare
Customize Your Trip
Adapt this itinerary to your travel style
Budget Version
Ride tap-taps and shared minibuses, sleep in guesthouses under $40, grab street griot lunches under $5, and set out on self-guided hikes. The total slips to roughly $1,100.
Luxury Upgrade
Trade up to charter flights, check into boutique lodges like Habitation Jérémie, book a private Citadelle mule ride, and rent beachfront villas in Jacmel. The budget rises to $3,500.
Family-Friendly
Swap the Citadelle hike for a mule ride, pick hotels with pools such as Hotel Satama, trim travel days, and add lazy hours on Labadee's sand. Family room rates keep the budget level.
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