Cap-Haïtien
Haiti · Nord · 10 m
Description
Cap-Haïtien was the richest city in the Caribbean when it was called Cap-Français, the capital of a colony that produced more sugar and coffee than anywhere on earth, and the wealth was built on the largest slave population in the Americas. The revolution began in the plains behind it. What survived the fires and the earthquakes is a grid of French colonial streets with arcaded shopfronts and shuttered upper floors running down to the harbour. It is the base for the Citadelle an hour south, and Cormier Plage lies along the coast west. The Santa María was wrecked on the reefs off this bay at Christmas 1492.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 2 to 4 days (optimal 3 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: December – April
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- French colonial streets of the old town
- Citadelle Laferrière south of the city(Day trip)
- Cormier Plage and the western beaches
- Boulevard de Mer waterfront
- Cathédrale Notre-Dame
- Marché Cluny
- Bois Caïman, where the revolution was sworn
- Fort Picolet on the headland
- Grilled fish and Prestige beer on the front
- Plage Labadie by boat(Day trip)
Getting there
- Airports:
- CAP
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry