Boutique hotels in Haiti

Haiti is a country of extraordinary heritage and beauty and of serious, ongoing difficulties. It has the largest fortress in the Americas, the Citadelle Laferrière, a tradition of painting and metalwork that is among the most inventive in the Caribbean, and a coast with coves and beaches that remain almost undiscovered. It is also a country where armed gangs control large areas, and many governments advise against all travel.

Good to know

Check your government's official travel advice before considering any trip, and read it again shortly before departure. Conditions, airport services and road access can change quickly, and some regions are currently unsafe. Hotel information in this guide comes from guides and listings of varying age; confirm that a property is open and how to reach it safely before planning anything.

Places

Jacmel, on the south coast, is the country's arts town, with gingerbread mansions, carnival workshops and a cluster of small hotels. Cap-Haïtien in the north is the gateway to the Citadelle and the ruins of Sans-Souci, and the Côte des Arcadins north of the capital has beach hotels on a calm coast. Île-à-Vache, an island off the southwest, has a handful of quiet beach hotels, while Port-au-Prince, the capital, is currently the most difficult place to visit.

When to go

The cooler, drier months from November to March are the most pleasant. Hurricane season runs June to November, and the south is at risk of heavy rain in autumn. Plan only with a local host you trust.