When talking about Haiti, some people think almost immediately of poverty, scarcity, of people who have suffered the unjust domination of the imperialists who enslaved many countries, but Haiti is much more than that, it is a Caribbean country with a fascinating nature and with very interesting manners and traditions, which make it possess a wonderful charm that attracts many tourists from all over the world.
However, that poverty and the traces of natural catastrophes such as the earthquake of January 12, 2010 that caused more than 300,000 deaths, a similar number of injured, about 1.5 million victims and the almost total destruction of their capital, Port-au-Prince, hide a spectacular historical, cultural and natural charm.
That natural charm that can be found in Haiti through hundreds of kilometres of paradisiacal beaches, places it as the third largest country in the Antilles with 27,750 km², and that has been considered as an Afro-Caribbean country, because it does not have a language Iberian as the Spanish and the Portuguese and for having a population that in its majority is descendant of the slaves of Western Africa.
On the other hand, the official languages of this country located in the central zone of the Antilles, whose capital is Port-au-Prince, are two Romance languages such as Creole and French, which give a special touch that sets it apart from most countries of America, however, has some similar customs and traditions that make it identify with some countries that make up the American continent.
Haiti is surrounded by spectacular beaches, due to its geographical location that limit it to the north with the Atlantic Ocean and to the south with the Caribbean Sea, while to the east it borders the Dominican Republic and to the west with the passage of the Winds, which separates this country from Cuba.
By the year 2018 Haiti had a population of 10,981,229 with a population density of 396.7 inhabitants / km², which is divided into a territory that has a group of beautiful islands such as Tortuga, Vaches, Gonâve and the archipelago of the Cayemites Islands, as well as other islets in their territorial waters.
This beautiful country filled with history and magical natural settings has had sad and complicated episodes, which have led its population to live strong periods that merited the intervention of the UN through the detachment of the United Nations Stabilization Mission (MINUSTAH) in 2004, as well as humanitarian aid in the catastrophe caused by the 2010 earthquake.
In spite of all this, Haiti has been considered as a favourable place to develop tourism, where diverse peoples and races converge, because its inhabitants come largely from a group of Mayas-Quichés settled there during the emigration to Yucatan, and that later they were mixed due to the French colonization at the beginning of the XVIII century, through the black slave trade of multiple origins, that originated different phenomena of racial mixtures and exchanges that have deeply marked the Haitian traditions and customs.
On the other hand, tourism in Haiti apparently started with a series of popular travel books, mainly in the period from 1915-1934 when the occupation of the United States was carried out and there was a Western capitalist expansion through the Caribbean, which allowed Later, in the 40s and 50s, tourists visited the coastal area of Port-au-Prince on cruises, to walk from the docks to the famous cultural attractions.
These cultural attractions attracted famous people of the time such as Truman Capote and Noël Coward, who attracted by the stories of the travel books, arrived in Haiti to stay at the Hotel Oloffson, which was a 19th century mansion located in a lush garden Tropical, which offered the opportunity to visit the Arab-style Iron Market, and enjoy the infectious dances and cheerful music, casino games or Voodoo shows.
After years of delay, in the seventies Haiti became a fashionable tourist destination, managing to attract an average of 150,000 visitors a year, among which were Hillary and Bill Clinton who spent the honeymoon there in 1975.
Therefore, Haiti represents a tourist alternative within the context of the Caribbean paradise, with a spectacular, magical and sunny scenario, like those shown in the movies, full of golden beaches and crystal clear waters, with stretches of sand that are magically divided by kilometres on the horizon, which are adorned with dreamed sunrises and sunsets.
So, for anyone who likes adventure, paradisiacal landscapes and culture, this country will surely call attention to this country with a magical touch that comes basically from the historically known “voodoo”, the predominant religion in Haiti, to which they resorted the slaves when brutally mistreated during the invasion of the French, who considered themselves masters of the slaves, and distorted their meaning and rites, as they considered it a threat to their colonization objectives.
Hence, voodoo represents for Haitians that opportunity to be free, that emancipatory element that freed them from oppression and slavery, considering the spirits of voodoo as the entities that inspired the revolution against the French colonizers in Haiti more than 200 years ago, becoming the second independent nation of America after the United States and the first to abolish slavery.
But, leaving the negative aside, we can say that Haiti offers wonderful things to every tourist who visits it, its music, its magical culture, an interesting gastronomy, the sunsets in wonderful shades, turquoise waters, crystalline and warm, typical of the Caribbean Sea, its paradisiacal beaches, landscapes and unique natural settings, as well as amazing caves and a great historical heritage, which make it an interesting and different option for all lovers of adventure, culture and especially of landscapes full of vegetation, radiant sun, sand and warm waters.
This series of advantages and positive aspects is taken very much into account by Bruno Jacquet (2015), a specialist from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), who affirms that “Haiti is a country that has a special attraction for investment, as it has creativity, dynamism, capacity in the languages and an enormous cultural and historical richness, with one of the greatest patrimonies in the Caribbean “.
All the special attraction of this Caribbean tourist alternative, make it an ideal place to spend the holidays and enjoy incredible beaches where you can rest, observe splendid landscapes, dance to the music of the Caribbean and know culture rich in traditions and customs.
For all the above, below we recommend some of the most beautiful and recognized beaches not only of Haiti but of the Caribbean Sea and the American continent:
Labadie Beach: one of the best beaches in Haiti, located near Cap Haitien in the secluded Pointe Honore, is an ideal place for nature walks, diving and swimming.
Kyona Beach: known for its crystal clear waters, filled with warm, bright blue-green waters, has become one of the main tourist attractions of Haiti.
La Tortue: this marvellous beach stands out for its crystal clear waters and its creamy sands are recognized as one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire Caribbean paradise.
Cormier Plage: this beach is a hidden paradise, where tourists staying at the hotel have exclusive access to the beach, with a stretch with a privileged location to visit many tourist attractions in Haiti, such as the Laferrière Citadel, rich in culture. There, guests can practically not leave the beach here, opting to stay in rooms facing the beach.
Wahoo Bay Beach: part of a complex located north of the city of Port-au-Prince and has become a romantic destination that offers the opportunity for adventures such as kayaking, snorkeling and climbing, while enjoying green and lush mountains in the vicinity.
Port-Salut: it is a relaxing beach destination, with sunsets in glorious pink and orange over the crystalline blue ocean, where there are restaurants that offer the best of local cuisine, to elegant boutiques and luxury hotels on the coast.
Jacmel Beach: this coastal city in the south of Haiti, with hotel complexes, shops and restaurants, was the home of art and film festivals before the tragic earthquake that shook the French colonial city in 2010, which has been tried to rescue in the last years.
Ils-a-Rat Beach: this small beach, is full of rich vegetation and colourful coral reefs that are visible from the coast, which make it an excellent place to dive and snorkel.
Chouchou Bay Beach: This beach, located in the north of Haiti, is surrounded by green mountains that beautifully adorn the landscape that surrounds the ocean. With coral formations at the western end of the beach, it is another impressive Haitian destination for snorkelling.
Grann Do Beach: It represents one of the best tropical environments of the southeast of Haiti, full of palm trees that populate its coast with charm, where tourists can take the opportunity to take boat trips to contemplate a truly exuberant and paradisiacal scenario.
Kokoye Beach: Calm and crystalline waters surround Kokoye Beach, a solitary and sandy treasure. A little away from everything, the trip to get here, through unpaved roads and dense vegetation, representing a perfect destination for lovers of adventure and the remoteness of civilization.
Gelee Beach: On the beach of Gelee, in the south of Haiti, you have the opportunity to see cows in the pasture that overlooks the beach. Unlike many Haitian beach destinations that are surrounded by mountains, this place breathes a sense of openness and is surrounded by spacious and clear spaces.
ALFA