TRAVEL UPDATE: Visit Haiti from Home

Les-Cayes

Discover Eight of the Best Beaches in Haiti

Ile A Rat (Amiga Island) near Cap Haïtien
Photo: Jean Oscar Augustin

Discover Eight of the Best Beaches in Haiti

Copy LinkEmailFacebookShare

Escape to the beaches of Haiti and soak in the sun, sand, and sea. Haiti is the ideal destination for a rejuvenating and unforgettable vacation with its warm waters and long coastlines. Whether you’re a diving enthusiast, a family searching for paradise, or just looking to break away from the daily routine, Haiti offers the perfect combination of relaxation and exciting activities.

We’ve rounded up eight of Haiti’s best and most popular beaches. So, pack your bags and start planning your ultimate beach escape.

Abaka Bay beach on Ile A Vache
Photo: Verdy Verna

1. Start with the finest, Abaka Bay

Begin your Haitian beach adventure with a visit to Abaka Bay, recently named one of the world’s most beautiful beaches by CNN. Located on the enchanting island of Île à Vache, this bay features a pristine white sand beach and calm Caribbean waters framed by rolling hills and verdant foliage.

Abaka Bay Resort offers guests a truly exclusive and secluded experience. Bungalows situated directly on the beach provide panoramic views and direct access to the sugar-fine sand and crystal-clear sea. Dining options are equally impressive, with a restaurant offering breathtaking views of the ocean and epic sunsets.

Getting there
To reach Île à Vache, simply take a 15-20 minute boat ride from Les Cayes. The island is located in the Bay of Les Cayes off the southern coast of Haiti.

Ile A Rat (Amiga Island)
Photo: Jean Oscar Augustin

2. Tiny, yet Stunning Île a Rat (Amiga Island)

From the moment you set foot on Ile a Rat (also known as Amiga Island), this tiny slice of paradise will steal your heart. Its sleek, white sand beach immediately catches the eye, while the gentle waves create a dreamy oasis against the pearlescent shoreline.

Located in the turquoise waters off the coast of Plaine du Nord in northern Haiti, Ile a Rat is a 1.8-hectare piece of white coral covered in a small, wild forest. The island is a peaceful retreat, making it a particularly romantic setting for couples looking for a serene getaway.

Getting there
To get to Ile a Rat, you can take one of the many boat taxis waiting in Labadee, which is a 30-minute drive from Cap-Haïtien. Keep in mind that the island is uninhabited, so it’s important to bring everything you need for a comfortable stay, including drinking water.

Beach Cote Des Arcadins
Photo: Jean Oscar Augustin

3. Côtes des Arcadins: The Ideal Dive Destination

Nestled on the north edge of Port-au-Prince Bay, Côtes des Arcadins spans 19 kilometers of white sand beaches lined with palm trees, making it one of Haiti’s most popular beach destinations. The combination of the deep blue sea, mountains, mangrove forests, and the coral reef formed by the Arcadins islets creates a breathtaking sight. With so much to explore beneath the surface, scuba diving and jet-skiing are popular activities here.

Côtes des Arcadins has something for everyone, with well-known hotels and resorts such as the ever-popular Decameron (previously known as Club Indigo), as well as other favorites like Wahoo Bay and the newly opened Moulin Sur Mer. However, if you’re seeking a more beach experience away from the crowds, venture off to one of the lesser-known beaches in the area.

Getting there
The Arcadins Coast borders the town of Montrouis, near Saint-Marc, and is located just a few hours north of Port-au-Prince. To fully enjoy your stay, consider staying at one of the lodges or hotels along the coast.

Pointe Sable beach in Port-Salut
Photo: Dyerlin Delva

4. The Pearl of the South: Pointe Sable

Port-Salut is home to the famous southern beach of Pointe Sable, a true picture perfect destination that is bound to leave you in awe. This two-kilometer stretch of golden sand is surrounded by palm trees and small thatched roof bars, creating a rural charm that attracts thousands of visitors each year. Port-Salut is also home to several popular festivals and beach parties.

In recent years, Pointe Sable has become a popular weekend getaway from Port-au-Prince, with a growing number of hotels popping up along the coast. Despite this, the area has yet to reach the level of overcrowding seen in other Caribbean destinations. For those looking for adventure, Port-Salut offers several options. You can visit the pretty Cascade Touyac waterfall, which is about a half-hour walk inland, or head up into the hills for a visit to the Grotte Marie Jeanne in Port-à-Piment.

Getting there
To reach Port-Salut, take National Road 2 from Port-au-Prince towards Les Cayes, and continue to Port-Salut, located 30 kilometers west of Les Cayes. The drive from Port-au-Prince takes approximately three hours.

Labadee Beach
Photo: Shutterstock

5. Endless Thrills and Relaxation at Labadee Beach

Labadee is a popular beach destination on the northern coast of Haiti, famous for its beauty and activities. The area boasts four white sand beaches, cafés, and the country’s only port serving as a cruise ship stop. Labadee offers a wide range of activities, from cruising and shopping at souvenir shops to dining at restaurants and enjoying the thrill of a 450-foot-high zipline. You’ll also find plenty of opportunities to relax and unwind, with long stretches of beach and plenty of spots to sit, lay down, and soak up the sun.

There are several options for food and drinks, including Dragon’s Cafe, Labadee Cafe, and Columbus Cove Cafe, all serving a delicious lunch buffet. And don’t forget to stop by the Floating Bar at Adrenaline Beach for a signature Labadoozie frozen cocktail. The Artisan’s Village is also a must-visit, where you can find handmade crafts and souvenirs made by local artists.

For those seeking thrills, there’s no shortage of excitement to be found at Labadee. The possibilities for adventure are endless, from zip-lining across the ocean to jumping on floating trampolines. And for a unique view of the island, you can parasail or speed around the shoreline on a speedboat.

Getting there
Labadee beach is operated by Royal Caribbean Cruises. The best (and only) way to get there is by joining a cruise that stops at Labadee. Please note that, unfortunately, it is not possible for cruise guests to leave the area and visit other attractions in the region.

Book a cruise now and make Labadee the next stop on your Caribbean voyage here!

Cormier Plage beach near Cap Haïtien
Photo: Jean Oscar Augustin

6. Cormier Beach, Where Mountains Meet the Sea

If you travel further down Haiti’s northern coast, you’ll have the chance to witness the rolling green mountains that flawlessly blend into the sea, welcoming you to Cormier Plage Resort. This 5-hectare hotel complex offers a peaceful escape with breathtaking views of the north coast, making it the ideal destination for a family vacation.

The resort provides an array of activities for its guests, including tennis lessons, boat trips to nearby secluded beaches surrounding Cap-Haïtien, and an opportunity to relish Haitian fusion cuisine at the restaurant and bar. The long sandy beach is dotted with lounge chairs, and guests can stay connected with free Wi-Fi available throughout the property.

The hotel also offers excursions to the famous Citadelle Henri and Palace Sans Souci. So whether you’re staying at Cormier Beach Resort or just visiting for the day, you can soak up the beauty and tranquility of this stunning beach.

Getting there 
Cormier Beach, is a short 20-minute drive from the center of Cap-Haïtien or a 40-minute drive from the Cap-Haïtien International airport.

Gelée beach near Les Cayes
Photo: Mikkel Ulriksen

7. Swim like the Locals at Gelée Beach

For an authentic local beach experience, head to Gelée Beach located near Les Cayes in Southern Haiti. This 900-meter stretch of pristine sand is lined with seafood restaurants, offering a picturesque backdrop to the rural scenery of Les Cayes city.

You’ll be able to indulge in flavourful Haitian cuisine such as griyo (fried pork), bannann peze (fried plantain chips), or the famous lambi (conch) while sipping on a refreshing rum sour and taking in the calming sounds of the waves.

Looking to explore Haiti’s unique gastronomy? Here’s a list of the Haitian Street Food you Have to Try. 

Getting there
Gelée Beach is a 20-minute drive from the center of Les Cayes. For the ultimate experience, plan your visit during the annual Gelée Festival, which takes place during the town’s patron saint celebration on August 15th.

Raymond Les Bains beach near Cayes-Jacmel
Photo: Jean Oscar Augustin

8. Experience the Magic of Raymond les Bains

Raymond les Bains is a sought-after destination located between the cities of Jacmel and Cayes-Jacmel, known for its picturesque beach and especially it’s delectable seafood. With a shallow coastal shelf, it’s an excellent spot for swimming, and visitors can spend a day absorbing the warm Caribbean sun rays on the sandy shores.

Along the coast, small restaurants with parasols and street vendors offering a range of souvenirs, snacks, and coconuts can be found. Fafane, the owner of one of the restaurants, is a local legend and serves up the freshest and tastiest grilled fish in town.

As the sun sets, Raymond les Bains transforms into a live party spot, especially on weekends. The atmosphere is energetic, making it the perfect setting for a night out with friends, enjoying some cold Prestige beers while enjoying the beauty of the moonlit beach.

Getting there
Raymond les Bains is easily accessible by public transportation such as taptap or moto. The beach is located about fifteen kilometers east of Jacmel on the road toward Marigot.


Written by Costaguinov Baptiste.

Published March 2023.


Read story

15 Creole Feasts That Will Make You Want to Visit Haiti

a plate of haitian food
Fritay at 5 Coins, Petion-Ville
Photo: Anton Lau

15 Creole Feasts That Will Make You Want to Visit Haiti

Copy LinkEmailFacebookShare

Haiti is a land of bold flavours, bright colours, intoxicating music, mischievous spirits and a heady mix of cultures. Haitian creole cuisine is built on fresh seafood, island-grown greens and exotic fruits, all full of West Indies spices and an often surprising mix of elements both familiar and strange.

The fast-service restaurant concept hasn’t yet washed ashore in Haiti, so be ready to lean into the luxury that is island time: even in the capital city, everything has an unhurried, unpretentious atmosphere. Sipping rum sours in a palm-fringed patio or lounging around in an airy, high-ceilinged colonial dining room while you wait is a great way to sink into the Caribbean vibes.

Here is our ultimate guide on where to find the best Haitian eats for every taste:

a plate of haitian food
Fritay at 5 Coins, Petion-Ville
Photo: Anton Lau

1. Fritay at 5 Coins

The cornerstone of Haitian cuisine, fritay is the best place to start your Haitian food journey. 5 Coins is one of the most well-known names in the business, with five kitchens throughout metropolitan Port-au-Prince. They offer all the classic fritay dishes: bannann peze (fried plantains), griyo (fried pork), akra (malanga fritters), lam fri (fried breadfruit) and fried chicken – all supplemented with Caribbean staples – rice and peas – or specialty sides.

plate with grilled fish, fried plantains, fries and salat
Grilled Fish at Le Coin des Artiste – Vivano, Petion-Ville
Photo: Alain David Lescouflair

2. Fish at Le Coin des Artistes – Vivano

Seafood straight from the surf is unbeatable. For the best fresh fish in Port-au-Prince, drop into Le Coin des Artistes — Vivano. Because their fish is always sustainably caught on their own restaurant-owned properties, your meal is supporting best-practice fishing in Haiti. You can ask for your fish to be either pwason griye (grilled) or an sòs (stewed).

plate with conch gratine and slices of bread
Gratine lanbi at Gingerbread Restaurant
Photo: Alain David Lescouflair

3. Gratine lanbi at Gingerbread Restaurant

Head downtown to the Pacot district for the treasure that is Gingerbread Restaurant. Their gratine lanbi (conch gratinée) alone is worth the trip. Locally known as lambi, conch is a mollusc native to the waters of the Bahamas but popular throughout the Caribbean islands. A step above the standard lanbi an sòs (stewed conch), this is a Haitian foodie experience to savour. The rich sauce of the gratinée envelops tender bits of conch, rendering them even more flavorful than they are naturally. A real culinary delight!

plate with pizza topped with shrimp, onions and cheese
Shrimp pizza at Yanvalou
Photo: Alain David Lescouflair

4. Shrimp pizza at Yanvalou

Interested in what Haitian cuisine can do when it fuzes with food from other countries? Look no further than Yanvalou’s shrimp pizza! A specialty of the house, it’s the perfect cross between the mellow, indulgent feeling you get from enjoying pizza, heightened by the fresh taste of tender bits of shrimp scattered on top. Down a slice along with a rum sour in the leafy patio.

colofull restaurant area with tables and chairs
La Coquille restaurant in Pétion-Ville
Photo: La Coquille

5. Buffet at La Coquille

Come hungry to La Coquille! This popular Pétion-Ville restaurant houses one of the most well-known Haitian cuisine buffets in the capital. Work your way through fried pork, fried chicken, stewed conch, and goat — alongside a selection of rice-centric sides, depending on what is available that day. White rice and black bean sauce, rice and peas, djondjon rice…dessert is included as well!

6. Griyo (fried pork) at Au Bon Griot

A quick drive outside of Pétion-Ville you’ll find Au Bon Griot, one of the best places in the area of Boutilier for griyo (fried pork). While it’s one of those hole-in-the-wall places, it definitely is somewhere worth stopping. Made fresh to order, the griyo comes with a generous helping of fried plantains and pikliz. What better way to enjoy griyo than overlooking the city of Port-au-Prince?

7. Fettucine Djondjon at Karibe Hotel

If you’ve tried djondjon rice, you know this tiny mushroom packs a punch. Native to Haiti, djondjon mushrooms are known for their “exquisite color, taste and aroma.” For a dish that makes the most of this unique ingredient, stop by the restaurant at Karibe Hotel in Juvénat for their specialty – djondjon fettucine! The rich, velvety pasta sauce is made inky black by the exotic djondjon.

8. Soup joumou (pumpkin soup) at Kinam Hotel

You’ve read all about it – now treat yourself to a warm and comforting bowl of soup joumou (pumpkin soup) at Pétion-Ville’s Kinam Hotel. Filled with pasta and rustic chunks of carrots, potatoes, and meat, this soup is an already hearty meal, but some people enjoy it with freshly toasted bread, which you can request. Soup Joumou on Sundays is a cultural institution in Haiti, and there’s no better way to kick off your week!

Outside Port-au-Prince?

That’s Port-au-Prince covered, but what about the rest of the country?

hands holding a sandwich with meat
Bib (fried pork sandwich) in Kenscoff
Photo: Franck Fontain

9. Bib (fried pork sandwich) in Kenscoff

Out touring the hills of Thomassin or Fermathe? You’re not far away from the area of Kenscoff, where the specialty of bib is extremely popular. What is a bib? Simply put, it’s a sandwich that features fried pork meat and pikliz (a spicy relish and a crucial in Haitian creole cuisine) in soft, pillowy bread. No formal restaurant here, just a hole-in-the-wall place just past the police department of Kenscoff, but a must-try foodie experience nonetheless!

waiter holder a plate of grilled goat meat with carrots and potatoes
Kabrit griye at Ranch Le Montcel, Kenscoff
Photo: Ranch Le Montcel

10. Kabrit griye (grilled goat) at Le Montcel, Kenscoff

Sustainably-raised meat is more common than you might expect in this island nation. One of the best places to taste the creole dish kabrit griye (grilled goat) is Le Montcel. A sprawling property set into the hills of Kenscoff, Le Montcel is able to grow a lot of its own produce and raise its own animals. This makes for one of the most succulent griyo, which pulls apart wonderfully!

11. Mayi moulen ak fèy (cornmeal and spinach) at Boukanye, Cap-Haïtien

One of the pleasures of waking up in Cap-Haïtien is getting breakfast on the boulevard. We recommend stopping by Boukanye, where you can enjoy a hearty, flavorful breakfast of mayi moulen ak fèy!

While mayi moulen (polenta) is usually eaten as the major part of a midday or evening meal, it is prepared here for breakfast as mayi moulen ak fèy, served with spinach and kipper. Even better with freshly sliced avocado! In season (roughly august-november) avocados are so abundant on Haiti that you can afford to eat them for breakfast every day – and pay off your mortgage too.

12. Poul ak nwa (stewed chicken and cashews) at Boukanye, Cap-Haïtien

Visit pirate-themed bar and grill Boukanye in Cap-Haïtien to try the North Haitian specialty of poul ak nwa (stewed chicken and cashews). Cashews grow around Cap-Haïtien and are used liberally in local cuisine. In this signature northern dish, succulent strips of chicken stirred through a flavorful, savory sauce, and topped with halved cashews. Usually enjoyed with a generous side of white rice, or rice and peas.

13. Lanbi an sòs (stewed conch) at Lakay, Cap-Haïtien

Lakay in Cap-Haïtien is one of the best places to get lunch. If you happen to be in the area, we recommend getting the lanbi an sòs (stewed conch)! The stewed-to-perfection conch melts in your mouth. The house standard is served with rice but you can request fried plantains or fried potatoes to make for an even more robust meal – great if you’ve been out hiking or swimming all morning.

vendor cutting pieces of gingerbread
Bonbon siwo (Haitian gingerbread) in Les Cayes
Photo: Franck Fontain

14. Bonbon siwo (Haitian gingerbread) from Les Cayes

Wander up to the crossroads of Quatre-Chemins in Les Cayes to find the delicacy that is bonbon siwo (Haitian gingerbread). Thick, sweet, and filling, it is the kind of dessert you enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea. It’s like giving your tastebuds a big warm hug.

milk fudge wrapped in plastic
Dous makòs (milk fudge) in Petit-Goâve
Photo: Franck Fontain

15. Dous makòs (milk fudge) from Petit-Goâve

For those who have a curious sweet tooth, the town of Petit-Goâve is the place to go. Here you’ll find dous makòs (milk fudge); a wonderfully decadent tri-color sweet treat. Sugar, milk, condensed milk, and a slew of warming spices like vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon come together over high heat, are poured into molds to cool, then sliced into the delicious, rich slabs of dous makòs fudge.


Written by Kelly Paulemon.

Published May 2021


Read story