HAITI
ISLAND FUN FACTS
Capital: Port-au-Prince City is the capital of Haiti
Population: 11.3 million people
Religion: It is a prevailing Christian country, primarily inhabited by Roman Catholics, Pentecostals, Adventists, and Protestants.
Side of Street Drive-On: As it is in most of the neighboring states, even here you drive on the left.
Currency: HTG (Haitian Gourde) and Haitian Dollar. Haitian dollar equates to 5 gourdes.
Language: French and Haitian Creole
History:
Haiti is a Taino term of Indian origin which means a ‘mountainous land’. rests on a third of the island of Hispaniola to its western side. The kingdom was reigned by Cacique/Taino Indian Chief when Columbus arrived. The arrival of the French subdued the indigenous inhabitants in the seventeenth Century.
African slaves from West Africa were imported to provide cheap labour in the production of raw materials. In a few years, Haiti became French’s richest colony and was recognized as the ‘Pearl of the Antilles’.
Haitians begun to resist the exploitation by the intruders and revolted against them around 1791-1804. In this spirit, Napoleon Bonaparte was ordered to sell Louisiana to the U.S in 1803, and as a result the United States territory experienced a great expansion.
Once they gained their independence in 1804, they renamed their habitat from Haiti to Saint Domingue.
THINGS TO DO
1. Ziplining
2. Haitian Village Tour
3. Jet Ski
4. Swimming
5. Yacht Sailing Experience
6. Scaling the La Citadelle la Ferriere
7. Vodoo pilgrimage to Saut-d’Eau
8. Tour the Sans-Souci Palace
9. Hiking the Furcy Forest
10. Get a taste of the Barbancourt Distillery
Haitians have several festive occasions that highlight their rich culture such as first communions, baptismal parties, marriages in which they enjoy their traditional drinks like ‘kleren’, which is a spiced concotion of domestic rum, they also have Haitian colas, and ‘kremass’ a thick spiked drink made with condensed milk.
1.Griot – Fried pork
2. Accra – Vegan Malanga Fritters
3.Labouyi Ble – Haitian Porridge
4. Lambi Guisado – Spicy stewed Conch
5.Joumou – Yelow pumpkin soup
6.Kibi – Spicy Appetizer with meat
7.Lalo Legume -Common Haitian food with Jute Leaves
8.Mayi Moulin- Cornmeal dish
9. TomTom ak kalalou – vegan dish with breadfruit and okra
1. The National Palace
2. Jacmel Beach
3. Cathedrale Notre Dame de Cap Haitien
4. San Souci Palace
5. Sauti Mathurine
6. Museum Ogier-Fombrun
7. National History Park
8. Heroes de Vertieres
1. Labadee Beach
2.Cormier Plage Beach
3. Wahoo Bay Bay
4. Port Salut Beach
5. Ils-a-Rat Beach
6. Chouchou Bay Beach
7. Jacmel Beach
8. Kokoye Beach
9. Gelee Beach
10. Grann Do Beach
Getting There
There are domestic flights jetting in and out of Haiti from different airlines like the Sunrise Airways and Mission Aviation Fellowship.
Buses are the cheapest way to tour Haiti but not a comfortable choice. You can also hire a chauffer in a taxi or private car for city rides.