Wildlife & Nature

Top Birdwatching Sites in Haiti

March 31, 2021 by Anton Lau

two black birds on grass splashing water — Mèl Dyab / Greater Antillean Grackle at Pic la Selle (Quiscalus niger)
Photo: René Durocher

Top Birdwatching Sites in Haiti

Four spots to see Haitian birdlife at its best

The Hispaniola (Haiti & Dominican Republic) territory is home to over 300 kinds of birds of which 28 are endemic. The Haitian territory on its own is home to over 245 non-migratory birds of which 36 are only found in Haiti. Added to that are the sub-species specific to Haiti’s islands such as La Gonâve, La Tortue, Les Cayemittes and Île-à-Vache. A variety of migratory birds coming from North America to winter in Haïti, which makes the winter months a great escape from the cold for birds and birdwatchers alike.

Birdlife International recognizes ten different Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas in Haiti, plus one Endemic Bird Area, making Haiti a top spot for birdwatching.

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of where, when and how to enjoy a diverse selection of beautiful birds on your next trip to Haiti.

smaller yellow bird on a tree branch — Ti Tchit Dèyè Jon / Yellow-rumped Warbler at Wynne Farm
Photo: René Durocher

1. Wynne Farm

Wynne Farm is a gorgeous ecological reserve located in the mountain town of Kenscoff. Wynne Farm is dedicated to environmental protection through education. It was founded in 1956 by civil engineer Victor Ainsley Wynne with the goal of conserving Haiti’s rich biodiversity and building a more sustainable Haiti. Bird-watching is one of the farm’s experiences on offer, alongside an extensive list of activities such as yoga, camping or bee keeping. At an altitude of 6000 ft, Wynne Farm Ecological Reserve extends over 30 acres of land and is perfect for birdwatching, specifically for Haitian birds that prefer dense forests.

grey and yellow bird on a tree branch — Zwazo palmis / Palmchat
Photo: René Durocher

2. Parc National la Visite

Further out of Kenscoff you’ll find Parc National La Visite, a perfect place to experience Haiti’s green life while hiking and trailing near some of Haiti’s most protected species. Starting from Furcy you can hike through the park and up to Seguin through a steep but rewarding path. Once there, you have the option to go back to Furcy or walk down to Jacmel which makes for a beautiful day of hiking ending in one of Haiti’s most beautiful cities. This park has been described as a refuge, often the ultimate refuge for the country’s mountain birds. Species such as the La Selle Thrush or the Red-legged Thrush can be seen on this hike. There are over 74 species of birds living in the park, making it a top destination for bird watching.

foggy forest with ferns and oldgrowth trees — Macaya National Park
Photo: Claudio Contreras / Haiti National Trust

3. Macaya National Park

Established in 1983 The Macaya National Park is one of Haiti’s protected natural spaces. Described as a global biodiversity hotspot, Macaya is home to many endangered and endemic species of plants, birds and other Haitian wildlife. It is in the Massif de la Hotte in the South Department, bordering the department of Grand’Anse. This national reserve is home to 220 species of birds including the Antillean Mango and the Hispaniolan Trogon. The Macaya National Park is also home to some of the most beautiful scenery in Haiti and to some breathtaking waterfalls (and not far from Haiti’s largest waterfall, Saut-Mathurine).

black crow on a large stone — Ti kaw / Palm crow at Pic la Selle
Photo: René Durocher

4. Forêt des Pins

This top hiking spot is in the South-East department of Haiti and stretches between the border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It offers access to a wide range of birds that live in forests and prefer pine trees. Hiking through this forest offers a view of both countries and a characteristically Hispaniolan landscape. Check out our guide to safely hiking in the protected Forêt des Pins.

Haiti’s efforts to extend and reinforce protection of its green spaces is an ongoing movement. The activity of birdwatching continues to send the message that these species are valued and their habitat must be protected.

For an extensive resource on birding in the Caribbean, including an up-to-date list of professional birding tour guides based in Hispaniola, see The Caribbean Birding Trail’s website.

Written by Kira Paulemon.

Published March 2021

Top things to see in Haiti

Check out These 10 Amazing Haitian Birds

February 4, 2021 by Anton Lau

black and yeallow bird sitting on a branch among bright pink flowers — Bannann Mi Fran / Hispaniolan Oriole
Photo: René Durocher

Check out These 10 Amazing Haitian Birds

Did you know that you’ll see more Caribbean birds in Haiti than (almost) anywhere else? Which of these ten amazing Haitian birds have you seen?

Haiti is one of the Caribbean’s prime birdlife hotspots. Of the Caribbean’s 175 endemic species, 49 can be found in Haiti – the second-largest concentration of any nation in the Caribbean. Only Cuba, with 50, has more Caribbean birds on show. Haiti is also home to 28 species endemic to Hispaniola – more than any other island in the Caribbean. Birdlife International recognises ten ‘Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas’ in Haiti, and one Endemic Bird Area. Want to know more about Haiti’s wildlife? Read our list of Haiti’s most interesting animals here.

Here are ten Haitian birds to look out for on your birding adventure

hummingbird in air drinking nectar from pick flowers — Wanga Negès / Antillean Mango (Anthracothorax Dominicensis)
Photo: René Durocher

01. Wanga Negès

A relatively common hummingbird, Wanga Negès (or the Antillean Mango) is one of the most popular birds on the island, and is culturally important. Often found around beaches and in mountains of up to 2,500 m of altitude, this bird functions like other hummingbirds with a very large bill compared to its body, which is the reason behind it’s characteristic extremely fast flapping. The Wanga Negès is found throughout Hispaniola (both Haiti and the Dominican Republic).

bright yellow bird with black head in green vegetation — Ti Seren / Antillean Siskin (Carduelis Dominicensis)
Photo: René Durocher

02. Ti Seren

Also known as the Antillean Siskin, the Ti Seren is a small finch. Males are recognizable by their distinctive yellow body, black hood, yellow bill and yellow-green back. Females are less striking, with striped or spotted yellow-green head, back and wings, and pale yellow belly. They are most commonly found in and near forest-like environments, especially pine forest at altitudes between 1600 and 9800 feet. The Ti Seren is endemic to Hispaniola.

black bird with red spots eating fruit — Ti Kòk / Greater Antillean Bullfinch (Melopyrrha Violacea)
Photo: René Durocher

03. Ti Kòk

This bird is known in Haiti as Ti Kòk (which translates to small rooster). Also known as the Greater Antillean Bullfinch, it is mostly found in Caribbean islands such as Hispaniola, Jamaica, Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Island. The Ti Kòk is recognizable by the vivid orange-red eyebrows, throat and vent which stand out against a stark black body. It eats grains, fruits, flower petals and even molluscs.

04. Bannann Mi Fran

Another endemic, the Bannann Mi Fran or Hispaniolan Oriole is a species of icterid or “New World Blackbird”, a little smaller than the (unrelated) North American common blackbird at 20 to 22 centimeters. Like the Greater Antillean Bullfinch, this slender bird is black overall, with distinctive yellow patches on its shoulders, rump, and under-tail coverts. It has been reported that while they are endemic to Hispaniola, they also live on nearby islands like La Gonâve, La Tortue and Île-à-Vache. They can be found in dry forests; however, they seem to prefer palm trees alongside banana trees (hence its Kreyòl name).

05. Mèl Dyab

The Greater Antillean Grackle – or Mèl Dyab in Kreyòl – is a very social bird, endemic to the Greater Antilles meaning Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico and occasionally the Caymans. It is often found near human habitation and is therefore a great, accessible bird if you’re looking for an easy species to tick off your checklist. This black bird with a long tail and beak is described as gregarious and noisy.

yellow bird on branch with green leaves — Ti Tchit Kou Jòn / Cape May Warbler (Setophaga Tigrina)
Photo: René Durocher

06. Ti Tchit Kou Jòn

The Cape May Warbler or Titchit Kou Jòn is a migrating bird common to the Antilles. Common throughout Haiti, you’ll find it in forest-like habitats, where it winters. It hunts insects, sips nectar and eats fruits. The Kreyòl name “Ti Tchit Kou Jòn” is indicative of its most interesting feature – its yellow-colored neck (Kou Jòn). Adult males usually have a richer yellow color while females of this kind lack the vivid yellow and are more often found with a yellowish-green rump.

yellow and grey bird with black head on tree branch — Kat-je Tét Nwa / Black-crowned Palm Tanager
Photo: René Durocher

07. Kat-je Tét Nwa

The Black-crowned palm tanager is a common endemic bird spread throughout the Haitian territory. You’ll find it in all sorts of places such as desert-like arid areas, pine forests and even beaches. A beautiful tricolor, the Black-crowned palm tanager has a black face and crown, contrasting white spots on the face and a completely white throat, and yellow-green wings. The Kat-je Tèt Nwa primarily eats fruits but also grains and insects.

yellow and grey bird sitting on bamboo — Ti Kit Fal Jòn / Yellow Throated Warbler (Setophaga Dominica)
Photo: René Durocher

08. Ti Kit Fal Jòn

Similar to the Black-crowned Palm Tanager, the Yellow Throated Warbler is a colorful bird, with, as the Kreyòl name suggests, a yellow throat, a black face and white eyebrows. They are small birds, usually found hunting insects in pine forests. The Yellow Throated Warbler hops along tree branches and can even cling to Spanish moss while it hunts for food.

tiny bird with green head and red feathers on wings — Kolibri Mòn / Narrow-billed Tody (Todus Angustirostris)
Photo: René Durocher

09. Kolibri Mòn, Chikorèt

The endemic Narrow-billed Tody is a very popular bird in Haitian culture, yet potentially faces extinction because of habitat loss. Its narrow beak, red throat and sides, and vivid green upperparts make it a remarkable bird to observe. This species likes higher, wetter woodlands, and so can be found in forested mountains and coffee plantations.

two emrald green birds together on tree branch — Kanson Wouj / Hispaniolan Trogon (Priotelus Roseigaster)
Photo: René Durocher

10. Kanson Wouj

The endemic Kanson Wouj or the Hispaniolan Trogon one of only two Trogon found in the Caribbean. Its red belly, emerald back and black head, with contrasting orange eyes and yellow bill, makes it one of Haiti’s most colorful birds. The Kanson Wouj is named after the bird’s red belly. Usually found in mountains, but occasionally in mangrove swamps.

Written by Kira Paulemon.

Published February 2021.

Explore more of Haiti’s Wildlife & Nature

Parc de Martissant

December 10, 2020 by Editor

lush green garden area with path — Parc de Martissant
Photo: FOKAL

Parc de Martissant

This park houses gorgeous flowers, medicinal plants and the Haitian home of the ‘matriarch of black dance’.

Created in 2007 by joining together four huge estates, the Parc de Martissant provides public oasis where people can relax, share skills and culture. Students and tutors from nearby schools are often found wandering in the park, reading or chatting together. The second central aim of the park is to preserve Haiti’s beautiful native flora.

Year round, the garden is bursting with tropical sights and smells: pink and yellow frangipani, hibiscus, red ginger (or ginger lily), spider lily, the exotic ‘lobster-claws’ flower and dozens of others we didn’t know the name of.

Stroll through lush rolling lawns, roped paths, feature trees, flower guilds and wooded groves circumscribed by stone walls, natural amphitheatres and outdoor galleries as well as three separate groups of buildings, most notably the Katherine Dunham Center.

building with futuristic designed roof in public park — Katherine Dunham Cultural Center, Port-au-Prince
Photo: FOKAL

The Katherine Dunham Center

The Center was once the residence of African-American dancer and choreographer Katherine Dunham, the ‘matriarch of black dance.’ In 1935, Dunham obtained travel fellowships to the Caribbean to further her studies on dance and vodun – or vodou – leading her straight to Haiti.

Here, she spent an extensive amount of time researching, learning, and developing her own dance method. After Dunham passed away in 2006, her property was transformed into a cultural center, and now features an iconic library, whose five buildings – built to emulate movements of dance – were designed by Mexican architects Raúl Galvan Yañez and Winifred Jean Galvan. This library is a hive of activity for students and fans with cultural activities, public readings and more each week.

garden area with rosemary and other herbs — The Medicinal Garden, Parc de Martissant
Photo: Ray Ginald / FOKAL

The medicine garden

The Centre is also where you’ll find guides willing to show you around Parc de Martissant’s extensive garden of medicinal plants. The tour is very detailed, and guides are always more than happy to answer questions, but visitors are free to walk around and observe by themselves if they prefer.

Depending on the time of year, some of the plants are blossoming or yielding fruit. The medicinal plant garden sits adjacent to a community produce garden, whose bounty is gathered whenever it is ripe and made available to the local community.

old concrete swimming pool without water in a tropical garden — Habitation Leclerc, Parc de Martissant
Photo: FOKAL

Habitation Leclerc

Elsewhere in the park’s 17 acres, you’ll find a former luxury hotel called Habitation Leclerc. In the sixties and seventies, the villas with private pools of Habitation Leclerc was a point of reference for the jet-setting elite of the world.

artwork sculpture haning from tree with pink flowers — Art installation by Pascale Monnin at Parc de Martissant
Photo: Valérie Baeriswyl

The earthquake memorial

The third major installation of Parc de Martissant is the January 12 2010 Memorial. It was built on the former residence of Haitian architect Albert Mangonès – the sculptor behind the Marron inconnu or Nèg mawon statue at Champ-de-Mars.

Erected in 2012, the memorial is a symbolic resting place for the souls of those who passed away during the 2010 earthquake. Residents of Martissant planted ylang ylang trees on the perimeter of the memorial and every afternoon the trees’ scent is released throughout the area at a similar time to that of the deadly earthquake in 2010.

The memorial also features a permanent art installation by Haitian artist Pascale Monnin. Skulls made from iron and cement covered in mirror shards hang from a giant tree, twisting and swinging in the wind. Monnin shaped and crafted these skulls based on the faces of residents of Martissant. From the early hours of morning into the late afternoon, they catch and reflect the Caribbean sunlight.

How to visit

The best time to visit the park is in the morning. The ravaging heat of Martissant will not yet be in full effect, and the park is still waking up.

The park is designed with an organic flow in mind – while there isn’t always designated seating, there are low walls or stairs where visitors often sit and hang out.

Guided tours at Parc de Martissant are paid. Children under 6 years of age enter free of change; those between 7 and 18 years old pay 25 gourdes, and people over 18 years of age pay 50 gourdes. The spaces that are currently open for touring are the January 12 2010 Memorial, the Katherine Dunham Cultural Center, and the medicinal plant garden.

If you are planning to visit the center, it is worth noting that the guided tours are in Haitian Creole – therefore, having a bilingual friend or guide to tag along is a good idea! If you visit during the summer, you will greatly benefit from making a reservation in advance, as the tour guides tend to be quite busy during that time of the year with group excursions.

Written by Kelly Paulemon.

Published December 2020

Top things to see in Haiti

Wildlife in Haiti

June 12, 2020 by admin

dolphin jumping off coast with palm trees — Dolphin jumping of the coast of Hispaniola
Photo: Shutterstock

Wildlife in Haiti

Here’s our guide to the animals that call this enchanting island home

Haiti’s position in the Caribbean favors a rich diversity in plant and animal life, despite decades of intensive deforestation during the twentieth century that have dramatically changed the landscape.

The effects of this exploitation can be seen from space, but down on ground level degradation has been halted, conservation is on the upswing and every year, the ecosystems that have remained intact attract nature and wildlife lovers to this side of the island.

While you’re in Haiti, you’ll have the chance to see some unique wildlife, including many birds, mammals and reptiles endemic to Hispaniola. Here’s our guide to the fauna and flora of this enchanting island.

butterfly perched on flower — White Peacock Butterfly
Photo: Shutterstock

Butterflies

There are over one thousand species of butterflies and moths on the island of Hispaniola, so ditch the glasshouse at the zoo and get out there to see some of these beauties for yourself. If you are in Haiti during the first half of the year through to the middle of the summer, you will spot the bright yellow butterflies which Haitians call Papillons de la Saint-Jean (St. John’s Butterflies, in English). Monarch butterflies make an appearance during the last third of the year.

Birdlife

Keen birders will get a lot out of a stay in Haiti. There are two species endemic to Haiti, and a further twenty-six endemic to Hispaniola – the island Haiti shares with Dominican Republic.

Hummingbirds, Todies, Orioles and Flamingoes are just a few of the magnificent birds you’ll have a chance to spot when you visit. To learn more, check out these 10 amazing birds of Haiti and read our guide about bird watching in Haiti.

group of stingrays swimming in shallow caribbean sea — Stingrays swimming in the Caribbean ocean
Photo: Shutterstock

Marine Life

From the beach or the bow of a water taxi or privately chartered boat, you can see porcupine fish, stingrays and the quizzically-named warteye stargazers and bridled burrfish! The central and south coasts of Haiti are famously shallow and gradual, and many species have evolved to hang out close to the shore where they’re easy to spot. This means that if you are staying at a beachside resort or visiting a public beach, there’s an excellent chance you’ll run into them.

Out in the waters of Petit-Goâve, as well as La Gonâve (specifically in the area of Anse-à-Galets), dolphins are known to make a special guest appearance!

hispaniolan solendon next to a large rock — The Hispaniolan Solenodon
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Snakes and strange creatures

Snakes are fairly common, but you’ll be glad to hear that Haiti is one of the few places in the world with no snakes that are dangerously venomous to humans (although some do have venom for subduing small prey). Snakes have a long human-entwined history in Haiti, where they wow audiences at tourist destinations and patron saint festivals around the country, and at carnival, where they are often the stars of the show.

Speaking of venom, Hispaniola happens to be home to the world’s only known venomous mammal, the utterly bizarre solenodon, which has evolved snake-like venom-injecting teeth. Don’t worry though, like the snakes in Haiti, they aren’t dangerous to humans. These enigmatic creatures are critically endangered, but with pockets of them recently confirmed in Haiti as well as the Dominican Republic, internationally-supported conservation efforts are underway to keep these little monsters safe.

Want to discover Haiti’s wildlife?

This list of critters is far from exhaustive. To learn more, talk to your local friends, host, guide, or specialty birdwatching and wildlife tour operators.

Written by Kelly Paulemon.

Published June 2020.

Explore Haiti’s wildlife and nature

Lake Azuéi

May 13, 2020 by admin

palm tree trunks in lake with surrounded by mountains — Palm tree trunks in Lake Azuei
Photo: Franck Fontain

Lake Azuéi

Lake Azuéi lies 18 miles east of Port-au-Prince and borders Haiti’s next-door neighbor, the Dominican Republic. Spanning 65 blue square miles, Lake Azuéi is a remarkable ecosystem, and a great starting point for wilderness excursions.

Already Haiti’s largest lake, Lake Azuéi has been baffling scientists by rising for two decades – and no one knows why. Today, visitors to the site can see rows of pastel-colored facades that appear to be floating on the surface – the tops of houses, all that’s visible of now-flooded villages along what used to be the shores of the lake. Nearby, you can see trees growing through the glass-like surface as if defying the laws of nature. It’s a haunting picture.

Another quirk of this remarkable Caribbean lake is its salinity – also known as Étang Saumâtre, meaning “brackish lake”, Lake Azuéi is one-fifth the saltiness of the sea. In prehistoric times, the lake site was a marine strait, and its unique ecology is home to over 100 exotic species of water-loving birds and reptiles, including flamingoes and crocodiles.

haitian boys swimming in lake surrounded by mountains — People swimming in Lake Azuei
Photo: Franck Fontain

The riches of Lake Azuéi

Along one edge of Lake Azuéi, the Quisqueya Park nature reserve offers visitors the chance to wander through an impressive cacti forest. Inside the lake itself, commercial tilapia farms share space with wild flocks of waterfowl, once hunted, but now under official protection. One of the best ways to appreciate the vistas around Lake Azuéi is to plan your trip there to coincide with the birds that migrate to feed or breed here during certain times of the year.

Small villages dot the perimeter, and during the day, year-round, fishermen take their boats out, hoping to catch enough to support themselves and provide for their families. If you cross paths with one of these fishermen, you might be offered a tour of the lake. Tour fees start at 500 gourdes (roughly US $5.25) and sometimes cost more – haggling is a great skill to have, here, as it is at landmarks and markets across Haiti.

haitian boy with a small fish next to lake — Boy with a fish, Lake Azuei
Photo: Franck Fontain

What if I don’t like flamingos or crocodiles?

If you are a fan of rara music, you’ll be happy to learn that during the Easter period, Lake Azuéi comes alive. Many open spaces and clubs fill up with a crowd of people looking to dance and enjoy the gorgeous landscape around the annual lake celebration, held toward the end of August each year, usually at Quisqueya Park where it overlooks the lake. The lake is also a popular place to stage rara Easter festivities, making it a brilliant place to experience a real Haitian rara Easter.

To access Quisqueya Park, you’ll need to be accompanied by a guide unless you arrive during the August celebrations. Throughout the official celebration period, visitors can browse art and craft exhibitions with local and foreign artists, and guided visits are much more organized and frequent, but the main attraction is the same as it is at any other time of year – swimming! Zabeth Springs, in the town of Ganthier, not far from Lake Azuéi, attracts small crowds of curious visitors on most weekends. International adventurers join residents of Port-au-Prince in diving into the springs, and finish their day with a swim down at Lake Azuéi.

Sunshi Beach and Estofa Beach are established spots for relaxation by the lake, and the Cabane Hotel Resto is a great place to wake up facing Lake Azuéi.

restaurant dining area with thatched roof — Cabane Hotel Resto, Lake Azuei
Photo: Franck Fontain

Getting there

Lake Azuei is easy to access, located just 18 miles east of Port-au-Prince. If you have a guide, they will be able to take you privately – take the road that leads to the Plain of the Cul-de-Sac (French: Plaine du Cul-de-Sac), and keep going east – you won’t miss it.

For travelers coming from the Dominican Republic, public transportation will drive you right up to the lake. Buses wind alongside the lake shore, offering gorgeous views. Some adventurers hit the road on a motorcycle or moto, the most common mode of transportation in Haiti. While very exciting, we can’t really recommend it to first-time visitors to the lake because the lake is huge and being on the back of a bike that long just isn’t comfortable.

group of haitian kids swimming swimming in natural pool — Kids Swimming at Zabeth Springs, Lake Azuei
Photo: Franck Fontain

Written by Jean Fils and translated by Kelly Paulemon.

Published May 2020

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Kaskad Pichon

January 25, 2020 by admin

large haitian waterfall splashing into natural pool with people swimming — Kaskad Pichon waterfalls, Belle-Anse
Photo: Franck Fontain

Kaskad Pichon

Kaskad Pichon is a stunning waterfall located in the commune of Belle-Anse, in the South-East Department of Haiti. The waterfall is notoriously hard to get to, but worth the adventure.

Belle-Anse commune is home to soft, sandy beaches, and Kaskad Pichon (French: Cascade Pichon) is the crowning jewel of its inland treasures. A cluster of three separate basins, each crowned by glorious waterfalls, Kaskad Pichon is sustained not by rainfall, but an underground lake.

The waterfall runs through three separate basins: Bassin Chouket, where wild mint grows and perfumes the banks of the pool, Bassin Dieula and Bassin Marassa.

The Haitian Kreyol proverb “dèyè mòn gen mòn” reflects the Haitian landscape – “behind mountains, there are more mountains”. Once in a while, though, in between these mountains, you’ll stumble upon a hidden gem (and travellers who’ve been here before know that Haiti is full of them). One such hidden gem is Kaskad Pichon, a waterfall that is as stunningly beautiful as it is notoriously hard to get to.

Visiting Kaskad Pichon might have you snapping pictures the entire time, or putting your phone down in awe — up to you, really! However you decided to take it in, a visit to Kaskad Pichon is an intimate wilderness experience that you’ll remember for years to come.

Three travellers wading in the Kaskad Pichon waterfalls, Haiti — Travellers exploring the Kaskad Pichon waterfalls, Haiti
Photo: Franck Fontain

Getting to Kaskad Pichon

Kaskad Pichon is remote, and to get there, adventurers need to be prepared to drive (or hire a chauffeur), ride a motorcycle, and hike.

The drive to Belle-Anse, the main town of the area, is quite a trip in and of itself, on a gravel road that passes through floodplains, riverbeds, and up steep hillsides. If you drive from Marigot the trip to Belle-Anse should take about two or three hours. The town of Belle-Anse is interesting enough to spend a morning exploring, or at least stopping for lunch to re-energize before the most rugged part of the adventure.

From Belle-Anse, you’ll need to drive to Pichon, and from there it’s another hour’s drive to Kaskad Pichon. A motorcycle ride from Pichon to the waterfall should cost you about 1,000 HTG per person (roughly US $11).

The ride up to the waterfall is part of the experience – clinging for dear life on the back of a bike, you’ll be driving through some of the most pristine wilderness Haiti has to offer, with mile upon mile of sandy white beach unwinding below the path up the mountainside. If you can plan for it with your motorcycle drivers, we highly recommend you make a quick swim stop en route to take in the beauty offered by Haiti’s south. It’s also a great opportunity to uncover some extremely instagrammable spots – you might want to plan in a little extra time for that.

After an hour-long motorcycle ride, you’ll have to hike, following a guide, for roughly 40 minutes, before reaching the waterfalls.

Written by Kira Paulemon.

Published January 2020

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Wildlife & Nature

Top Birdwatching Sites in Haiti

Four spots to see Haitian birdlife at its best

The Birds of Haiti on Your Wall

1. Wynne Farm

2. Parc National la Visite

The Birds of Haiti on Your Wall

3. Macaya National Park

4. Forêt des Pins

The Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Haiti

Top things to see in Haiti

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Check out These 10 Amazing Haitian Birds

Did you know that you’ll see more Caribbean birds in Haiti than (almost) anywhere else? Which of these ten amazing Haitian birds have you seen?

The Birds of Haiti on Your Wall

Here are ten Haitian birds to look out for on your birding adventure

01. Wanga Negès

02. Ti Seren

03. Ti Kòk

04. Bannann Mi Fran

05. Mèl Dyab

The Birds of Haiti on Your Wall

06. Ti Tchit Kou Jòn

07. Kat-je Tét Nwa

08. Ti Kit Fal Jòn

09. Kolibri Mòn, Chikorèt

10. Kanson Wouj

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Parc de Martissant

This park houses gorgeous flowers, medicinal plants and the Haitian home of the ‘matriarch of black dance’.

Discover Sacred Vodou Symbols!

The Katherine Dunham Center

The medicine garden

Habitation Leclerc

The earthquake memorial

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Wildlife in Haiti

Here’s our guide to the animals that call this enchanting island home

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Lake Azuéi

The Birds of Haiti on Your Wall

The riches of Lake Azuéi

What if I don’t like flamingos or crocodiles?

The Birds of Haiti on Your Wall

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Kaskad Pichon

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