Things to Do in Haiti in January

January's low rainfall means Bassin Bleu's three pools are that impossible cobalt blue you see on Instagram, not the muddy brown they turn after March rains. The water temperature sits at a manageable 22°C (72°F), cold enough to shock you awake after the 1 km (0.6 mile) hike down, but not the bone-numbing 18°C (64°F) of February. Morning tours starting at 8 AM catch the light filtering through the jungle canopy at the perfect angle for photos, and you'll be back in Jacmel by lunch before the afternoon clouds build.

January's cool mornings make wandering the Marché en Fer pleasant, you're not dripping sweat while navigating the spice aisles where vendors sell habanero peppers that could strip paint. This is when locals stock up for post-holiday cooking, so the griot (twice-fried pork) vendors are firing up fresh batches around 10 AM, and the pikliz (spicy pickled vegetables) tastes bright from December's fresh harvests. The market's second floor, where few tourists venture, has women selling dous makòs (Haitian fudge) that's still warm from morning production.

At 900 m (2,953 ft) elevation, January's 19°C (66°F) nights create the temperature swing that Haitian coffee needs to develop its chocolate notes. The harvest runs December through March, so you'll see workers spreading beans on raised beds that smell like fermentation and honey. Morning tours include cupping sessions where the coffee tastes nothing like the burnt stuff you get at hotels, more like someone melted a dark chocolate bar into your cup. Afternoon clouds roll in around 2 PM, so morning visits mean clearer views down to the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac.

January's trade winds keep the water visibility at 20 m (65 ft) along the Côte des Arcadins, you can see the coral formations from the boat before you jump in. The water temperature hovers at 26°C (79°F), warm enough to stay in for an hour without a wetsuit, and the Harmattan winds mean fewer jellyfish than March. Morning trips catch the reef when it's still active, parrotfish feeding, and if you're lucky, the spotted eagle rays that cruise through around 9 AM before retreating to deeper water.

January is when Jacmel's papier-mâché workshops shift into overdrive, you can watch artists transform wire frames into the dragons and masks that'll parade in February. The workshops smell of wheat paste and tempera paint, and you'll see techniques passed down since 1947 when the carnival tradition started here. Visitors in January get to handle the half-finished pieces, something that's impossible during carnival week when everything's locked down for the parade.

South of Les Cayes, January's reduced rainfall means Saut-Mathurine flows at that perfect volume, enough water for the 27 m (89 ft) drop to create a swimming hole deep enough to dive into. But not so much that the current becomes dangerous. The water here is spring-fed, staying at 24°C (75°F) year-round, and January's lower humidity means the surrounding bamboo forest doesn't feel like a steam bath. Local kids jump from the rocks on weekends. But weekday mornings you might have the place to yourself.