Haiti

Once the New World's richest tourist destinations in the Caribbean and the 'crown jewel' of the French overseas empire, Haiti is now home to apparent poverty because of its political instability and a lack of tourism infrastructure. Haiti is blessed with spectacular scenic mountains and a beautiful, untouched coastline, perfect haven for sun-worshippers and adventure lovers. The beaches in Haiti are things of beauty featuring an experience of a different kind, at least bringing you close to the nature. Haiti boasts beaches ranging from lovely palm-fringed beaches near the capital to black sand beaches near Jacmel, one of the important cities in Haiti. The unspoiled pristine reefs and caves are ideal for scuba diving, offering a dazzling selection of underwater world.

The geography of Haiti is quite interesting and makes a good read. Located between the North Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea on Hispaniola Island, the mountainous Haiti is the third largest Caribbean island, covering an overall area of 27,750 sq km and sharing the island with another nation, the Dominican Republic. The terrain is mountainous featuring small plains and river valleys.

It was on December 6, 1492 when Christopher Columbus first stepped on the pristine shores of Hispanola. With fruits and towering mahogany trees Haiti became the 'Pearl of the Caribbean.' Haiti is composed of several islands, one of the famous ones being Tortuga, located off northern Haiti. Other well-known islands are ile a Vache, also called Island of the Cow, Gonave Island housing rural people, Ile de Anacaona and Cayemites.

Port au Prince, the capital city of Haiti, dazzles tourists from all over the world with its picturesque gulf of Gonave, enticing beaches, vibrant nightlife, shopping, cruising and a plethora of sightseeing options. Near the beaches you will find a wide selection of water sports and adventure activities, such as swimming, snorkeling, boating, surfing and sailing. Here you will find numerous places highlighting the glory and the culture of Haiti, including Museum of Haitian Arts, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Santa Maria Ship and much more.

Petionville is one of Haiti's most prosperous areas, nestled on a serene hillside, overlooking the capital. It is home to many restaurants, art galleries, hotels and some of the finest Haiti attractions due to which Haitian tourism still thrives. It is the best place to enjoy an exciting nightlife.

Haiti cuisine is mainly based on Creole and French cooking styles and is like the cuisine of other Caribbean nations. In general cuisine in Haiti is largely based on rice and beans, corn, millet, mushrooms and yams. It's interesting to know that the stems of mushrooms are used to color the rice black.The national specialties that dominate the cuisine in Haiti are fried island pork, sauce of onions and herbs, dried turkey, fresh coconut ice-cream, Guinea hen with sour orange sauce, mango pie and much more.

Accommodations in Haiti are categorized into five-star, four-star and three-star resorts, villas and hotels, most of which are located either in the heart of its cities, or close to the beach or mountains. Nearly all hotels feature world-class amenities and services, as well as all sorts of facilities designed to suit the needs of the most demanding travelers. The most outstanding hotels are Hotel Montana, Wahoo Bay Beach Hotel, Coconut villa, El Rancho Hotel and others.

With all that Haiti features, we still hope that one day Haiti, one of Caribbean's best-kept secrets, will gain its previous fame and become one of the most popular destinations for tourists across the world.