Weekend in Haiti
Trip Overview
Two fast days will still give you Haiti's pulse: dawn mosaics of Iron Market bedlam, noon plates of griot crackling in citrus-garlic marinade, dusk drums rolling down from hillside perches, midnight breezes laced with vetiver and salt. You'll whip up switchbacks through pine-clad peaks, glide past turquoise coves, and knock back rum under lantern-lit gingerbread balconies. The tempo is brisk yet leaves space for sidewalk domino showdowns and sudden detours after fresh street art.
Pace
Active
Daily Budget
$200-250 per day
Best Seasons
November through April
Ideal For
First-time visitors, Weekend escapers from Miami, Culture seekers, Photographers
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A complete plan for every day of your trip
1
Port-au-Prince Colors & Flavors
Begin among welded-iron sculptures and smoky market lanes, then close the night with twilight panoramas over the bay from Pétion-Ville.
Morning
Marché en Fer & Musée du Panthéon National
Step under the red-and-green lattice of the Iron Market while charcoal smoke snakes around pyramids of starfruit and vendors rattle prices in singsong Creole. Ten minutes on, the white-marble Musée du Panthéon keeps the gilded anchor of Columbus's Santa Marían and murals heavy with indigo pigment.
Buy museum tickets on arrival. No advance needed
Lunch
Lakay Restaurant
Afternoon
Gingerbread architecture walk in Pacot
Wander tight lanes edged by Victorian houses painted lavender, butter-yellow, and sea-foam. Wood balustrades groan softly. Hibiscus petals settle on cobblestones. Drop into Galerie Monnin for bold contemporary canvases drenched in cobalt and coral.
Evening
Sunset drinks & dinner in Pétion-Ville
Sip terrace cocktails at Hotel Montana, then dine at La Table de Curnonsky on creole-spiked lobster.
Where to Stay Tonight
Pétion-Ville (Hotel Montana or Le Plaza)
Cooler mountain air, secure area, 15-minute ride from downtown
See all Haiti accommodation options →Hail a moto-taxi for short hops. Agree fare before hopping on, expect $2-3.
Day 1 Budget: $220
2
Jacmel Coast & Bassin Bleu
Exit the city at dawn, chase waterfalls by noon, and plant your feet on Jacmel's black-sand beaches by sunset.
Morning
Drop 2,000 feet of mountain road through pine forests slick with morning mist. Pause in Kenscoff for steaming cups of arabica, the scent mixing with wood smoke drifting from roadside bakeries.
Book driver through your hotel the night before
Lunch
La Coquille in Jacmel town
Afternoon
Bassin Bleu waterfalls
A 20-minute pickup ride plus a short forest trail lands you at cobalt pools fed by three falls. Leap from smooth boulders into water so clear you can count every ripple on the sandy floor. Cicadas and your own splash echo through the air.
Guides wait at the trailhead. Tip an extra $5 for photos
Evening
Beach stroll and rum at Hotel Florita
Watch fishermen drag pirogues onto black sand while you nurse clairin laced with cinnamon bark.
Where to Stay Tonight
Jacmel seafront (Hotel Florita or Casa Koze)
Steps from the beach and the carnival papier-mâché workshops
See all Haiti accommodation options →Pack water shoes for Bassin Bleu. The rocks are slick with moss.
Day 2 Budget: $230
Practical Information
Everything you need to know before you go
Getting Around
A private driver ($35 per leg) outruns tap-taps for speed and air-con; bargain for a round-trip from Port-au-Prince to Jacmel. Moto-taxis handle short urban hops. Roads are paved but twisty, pack ginger chews.
Book Ahead
Book your Saturday driver by Friday evening. Beachfront rooms in Jacmel sell out fast in high season.
Packing Essentials
Pack light quick-dry clothes, reef-safe sunscreen, insect repellent, water shoes, small denominations of Haitian gourdes, travel insurance documentation.
Total Budget
$450-500 for the weekend excluding flights
Customize Your Trip
Adapt this itinerary to your travel style
Budget Version
Trade the private driver for shared tap-taps ($5 each way) and crash in Jacmel guesthouses ($40). Eat street griot and fried plantain from roadside stalls.
Luxury Upgrade
Level up to a helicopter hop Port-au-Prince, Jacmel ($350 pp) and reserve an ocean-view suite at Hotel Florita with its own plunge pool.
Family-Friendly
Swap Bassin Bleu for Jacmel's calm Raymond-des-Bains beach and tack on an hour at the papier-mâché workshop where kids splash carnival masks with paint.
Book Activities for Your Trip
Tours, tickets, and experiences in Haiti
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Haiti.
See All Haiti Tours on Viator