I just returned from Cap Haitian, Haiti.
Getting there:
There are basically two ways in: plane and bus. Hugo Chavez International Airport is a few minutes from downtown.
I took the Caribe tours bus from Santiago, DR. Caribe tours handles all of the boarder entry fees which is 25 dollars going into Haiti and 20 dollars on the return to DR. You have to pay in US dollars....cash no credit card accepted. In total it was about 95 dollars for the roundtrip which included all the fees.
Buses depart 11:30 am from Santiago and return at 8 am. There is one hour time zone difference between Haiti and DR. Caribe tours will take your passport at the boarder. This is the process so be prepared for it.
The buses are air-conditioned and clean. The ride to and from Santiago was about 6 hours. However, the travel time will depend on how busy the boarder crossing is. Upon my return the boarder was absolute chaos. Apparently there is a huge market and UN drop off at the boarder on Tuesdays and Fridays. You will see hoards of people carrying anything they could get their hands on from dead chickens to plastic chairs to basic supplies.
Unless you have been to sub-Sahara Africa, nothing will prepare you for the level poverty. The poverty and sheer garbage in the streets and water is mind blowing. Despite the poverty and my friend and I being the only white people, the Haitians seem to be utterly indifferent to us. I never felt threatened or in danger at any point.
We only stayed one night in Cap Haitien. We split a room at the Hostellerie du Roi Christophe,which is a converted colonial mansion. It is within walking distance of the Caribe Tour bus station. The hotel was empty except for a small wedding. Breakfast is included in the price. No taxi is needed to get there. This is one of the best hotels with rates at about 140 per night.
We walked around a bit at night looking for places to eat and drink. Again, we never felt unsafe at any point and the Haitians seemed to largely ignore us.
We ate at Lakay one of the best restaurants with a mix of Haitian and American food. We befriended a local Haitian player who was hanging out at our hotel. He was great guide and cool guy who offered to introduce us to girls. Apparently, Lakay turns into a nightclub after dinner hours, but we were exhausted from our travels and turned in without a real taste of the nightlife (though I suspect there isn't much of any).
Repped members feel free to message me for my Haitian friend's contact information as he was a great guide. We paid about 25 dollars for the three of us at dinner, treating our new friend to a meal.
I was all too happy to return back to Haiti in the morning. It was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never do again. DR felt like Nirvana upon our return. No reading or pictures online will prepare you for how desperate and hopeless Haiti is. The level of poverty, lack of infrastructure and uncleanliness is off the charts. Despite our comfortable travel accommodations and transportation, this is not a trip for the novice traveler. The surroundings and poverty will take a toll on you emotionally.
Getting there:
There are basically two ways in: plane and bus. Hugo Chavez International Airport is a few minutes from downtown.
I took the Caribe tours bus from Santiago, DR. Caribe tours handles all of the boarder entry fees which is 25 dollars going into Haiti and 20 dollars on the return to DR. You have to pay in US dollars....cash no credit card accepted. In total it was about 95 dollars for the roundtrip which included all the fees.
Buses depart 11:30 am from Santiago and return at 8 am. There is one hour time zone difference between Haiti and DR. Caribe tours will take your passport at the boarder. This is the process so be prepared for it.
The buses are air-conditioned and clean. The ride to and from Santiago was about 6 hours. However, the travel time will depend on how busy the boarder crossing is. Upon my return the boarder was absolute chaos. Apparently there is a huge market and UN drop off at the boarder on Tuesdays and Fridays. You will see hoards of people carrying anything they could get their hands on from dead chickens to plastic chairs to basic supplies.
Unless you have been to sub-Sahara Africa, nothing will prepare you for the level poverty. The poverty and sheer garbage in the streets and water is mind blowing. Despite the poverty and my friend and I being the only white people, the Haitians seem to be utterly indifferent to us. I never felt threatened or in danger at any point.
We only stayed one night in Cap Haitien. We split a room at the Hostellerie du Roi Christophe,which is a converted colonial mansion. It is within walking distance of the Caribe Tour bus station. The hotel was empty except for a small wedding. Breakfast is included in the price. No taxi is needed to get there. This is one of the best hotels with rates at about 140 per night.
We walked around a bit at night looking for places to eat and drink. Again, we never felt unsafe at any point and the Haitians seemed to largely ignore us.
We ate at Lakay one of the best restaurants with a mix of Haitian and American food. We befriended a local Haitian player who was hanging out at our hotel. He was great guide and cool guy who offered to introduce us to girls. Apparently, Lakay turns into a nightclub after dinner hours, but we were exhausted from our travels and turned in without a real taste of the nightlife (though I suspect there isn't much of any).
Repped members feel free to message me for my Haitian friend's contact information as he was a great guide. We paid about 25 dollars for the three of us at dinner, treating our new friend to a meal.
I was all too happy to return back to Haiti in the morning. It was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never do again. DR felt like Nirvana upon our return. No reading or pictures online will prepare you for how desperate and hopeless Haiti is. The level of poverty, lack of infrastructure and uncleanliness is off the charts. Despite our comfortable travel accommodations and transportation, this is not a trip for the novice traveler. The surroundings and poverty will take a toll on you emotionally.