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Thatched huts over turquoise water on rocky coast

Haiti travel guide

A rugged Caribbean nation for travellers who plan carefully and go in the dry, cooler months

Best: Jan, Feb

Photo: Holger Wulschlaeger / Pexels

Capital
Port-au-Prince
Languages
French, Haitian Creole
Currency
Haitian gourde
Time zone
UTC-05:00
Plugs
Type A, B · 110 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
114 / 115 / 116

Why visit Haiti

Haiti suits independent travellers drawn to history, mountains and a Caribbean coastline without the usual resort crowds. Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haïtien and Les Cayes all see their best weather from January to February, with drier, cooler air making travel easier. The honest limitation: infrastructure is thin and conditions can change fast, so this is a destination for those who research thoroughly and stay flexible rather than book a packaged getaway.

  • Cooler, drier months up north

    Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haïtien and Les Cayes all list January and February as their best months. These are the driest, most comfortable weeks for moving around Haiti's coastal cities and countryside.

  • Cap-Haïtien's longer good-weather window

    Cap-Haïtien has a population of 190,289 and keeps favorable conditions through March, one month longer than the other two cities. That gives visitors to the north coast a wider window to plan a trip.

  • A smaller, quieter southern coast

    Les Cayes has 151,696 people, making it the smallest of the three main coastal cities listed. Its best months run from December through February, matching the dry season pattern across the country.

  • The capital on the water

    Port-au-Prince is both the capital and a coastal city, with a population of 987,310. January and February bring its most favorable weather for exploring the city and its waterfront.

  • A compact country, easy to combine stops

    Haiti covers just 27,750 square kilometers, so Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haïtien and Les Cayes sit relatively close together. This size makes it realistic to plan a trip that touches more than one coastal city.

Is Haiti right for you?

Great for

  • Travellers wanting warm sea temperatures year-round, from 27.8°C to 31.3°C
  • Sun-seekers visiting January or February, with low rain (16-30mm) and 10.4-11.3 sun hours a day
  • Coastal trips, since all three main cities (Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haïtien, Les Cayes) sit on the coast
  • Visitors who like dry, cooler mornings, with lows around 22°C in January and December

Less ideal for

  • Trips in October, the wettest month with 87mm of rain over 12.1 rain days
  • Heat-sensitive travellers in July, when highs reach 35.5°C
  • Anyone avoiding humid, rainy stretches from April to October, each month over 30mm of rain

Haiti right now: October

4.7/10
Avg high
33°C
Avg low
25°C
Rain days
12
Sea
31°C

Averages for Port-au-Prince.

Weather by month

In Port-au-Prince, January and February are the best months, with highs near 31-32°C, lows around 22°C, and few rain days (4.3-4.4), making this the driest, most comfortable stretch. The toughest conditions run from August to October, when temperatures peak near 35°C and rain days climb to 9.7-12.1, with October alone bringing 87mm of rain.

Average highs and lows in Port-au-Prince by month January: high 31°C, low 22°C , 4 rain days . February: high 32°C, low 22°C , 4 rain days . March: high 32°C, low 23°C , 9 rain days . April: high 32°C, low 24°C , 11 rain days . May: high 33°C, low 25°C , 9 rain days . June: high 35°C, low 26°C , 7 rain days . July: high 36°C, low 26°C , 6 rain days . August: high 35°C, low 26°C , 10 rain days . September: high 35°C, low 26°C , 11 rain days . October: high 33°C, low 25°C , 12 rain days . November: high 32°C, low 24°C , 9 rain days . December: high 32°C, low 23°C , 4 rain days . 31°C 22°C JAN 4d 32°C 22°C FEB 4d 32°C 23°C MAR 9d 32°C 24°C APR 11d 33°C 25°C MAY 9d 35°C 26°C JUN 7d 36°C 26°C JUL 6d 35°C 26°C AUG 10d 35°C 26°C SEP 11d 33°C 25°C OCT 12d 32°C 24°C NOV 9d 32°C 23°C DEC 4d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Port-au-Prince · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Haiti: month-by-month weather →

Haiti's climate regions

The weather varies across the country; each region has its own best months.

  • Port-au-Prince Lowlands

    Port-au-Prince

    Hot year-round with highs around 31°C in January and 35.5°C in July. Rain falls on about 97 days a year, among the drier parts of Haiti, making January and February the most comfortable months.

    Best: Jan, Feb

  • Cap-Haïtien North Coast

    Cap-Haïtien

    Warm with highs of 27.7°C in January and 31.3°C in July. This coast sees rain on about 201 days a year, the wettest region in the country, so January to March offer the best chance of drier weather.

    Best: Jan, Feb, Mar

  • Les Cayes South Coast

    Les Cayes

    Highs run from 28.7°C in January to 31.3°C in July, with rain on about 166 days a year. December, January and February are the best months, bringing somewhat calmer, drier conditions than the rest of the year.

    Best: Jan, Feb, Dec

Where to go in Haiti

City guides with their own best months and weather.

Sample itineraries

7 days

Three Coastal Cities of Haiti

  1. Day 1–3

    Port-au-Prince

    Explore Haiti's capital, home to 987310 people. Visit local markets, historic sites, and the busy waterfront area of this coastal city.

  2. Day 4–5

    Les Cayes

    Head to this coastal city of 151696 people. Spend time on the beaches and enjoy the slower pace away from the capital.

  3. Day 6–7

    Cap-Haïtien

    Finish in Cap-Haïtien, population 190289, a coastal city known for its historic character and nearby citadel ruins.

10 days

Ten Days Across Haiti's Coast

  1. Day 1–4

    Port-au-Prince

    Start in the capital, home to 987310 people. Spend time exploring the city's markets, art galleries, and coastal views. January and February are the best months to visit.

  2. Day 5–7

    Les Cayes

    Travel south to Les Cayes, a coastal city of 151696 people. Relax on the beaches during December, January, or February, the best months here.

  3. Day 8–10

    Cap-Haïtien

    End in Cap-Haïtien, population 190289. Visit the historic sites nearby and enjoy the coast. January to March are the best months to be here.

Where to stay

One good base in each main city and who it suits.

Delmas

Port-au-Prince

Good for business travellers, NGO staff

Delmas is a long commercial corridor between the airport side of the city and Pétion-Ville, with offices, shops and some guesthouses. It is practical if your work or meetings are there. Traffic is heavy, the streets are noisy, and safety varies a lot from one numbered section to the next, so ask locally about each block.

Centre-Ville

Cap-Haïtien

Good for first-timers, history, walking

The old colonial grid of numbered and lettered streets, with the cathedral, the main square and many painted houses with balconies. You can walk to restaurants, markets and the waterfront, and it is the easiest base for arranging trips to the Citadelle. Streets can be noisy, crowded and hot by day, and power cuts and traffic are common.

Centre-Ville

Les Cayes

Good for first-timers, short stays, practical needs

The town centre has the main market, banks, shops and transport links, so it is the easiest base for getting things done. Streets are compact and walkable in daylight. Traffic, motorbike noise and crowds around the market start early and run late.

Food to try in Haiti

Soup joumou

A squash soup with beef, vegetables and pasta. Haitians eat it on New Year's Day, which is also Independence Day, to mark freedom from French rule. UNESCO lists it as intangible cultural heritage.

Griot

Pork marinated in citrus juice and spices, then boiled and fried until crisp. It is a favourite at parties and family meals, usually served with fried plantain and pikliz.

Diri ak djon djon

Rice cooked with dried black djon djon mushrooms, which turn it dark grey. It is a dish for Sundays and special occasions, and is closely linked to northern Haiti.

Pikliz

A sharp, spicy relish of shredded cabbage, carrots and hot Scotch bonnet peppers pickled in vinegar. It sits on almost every table and cuts through fried food like griot.

Akra

Crisp fritters made from grated malanga, a starchy root, mixed with herbs and chilli. You find them as street food and as a snack at gatherings, often eaten with pikliz.

Rum and clairin

Haitian rum is made from sugar cane juice. Barbancourt is the best-known brand. Clairin is a strong, unaged cane spirit made in small local distilleries and sold cheaply across the country.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Haiti uses plug types A and B, with flat pins as in North America. The supply is 110 V. Check that your chargers and devices accept 110 V, and bring an adapter if your plugs are a different shape.
  • Driving side: Traffic in Haiti drives on the right. If you come from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at junctions and when overtaking.
  • Emergency numbers: Haiti lists three emergency numbers: 114, 115 and 116. Save all three in your phone before you arrive, and ask your host which one to call for police, fire or medical help.
  • Currency: The local currency is the Haitian gourde. Plan how you will get local cash before you travel rather than relying on finding it after arrival.
  • Language: The official languages are French and Haitian Creole. A few basic phrases in either language will help with everyday contact, especially outside the capital, Port-au-Prince.
  • Phone calling code: The international calling code for Haiti is +509. Use it when you save local numbers, such as your accommodation, in your phone.
  • Time zone: Haiti is in the UTC-05:00 time zone. Check the time difference with home before booking calls or connecting flights.

Haiti: frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Haiti?

January and February are the best months, both scoring 7.3 and 7.1 out of 10. Temperatures in Port-au-Prince stay around 31°C in the day, rain is light at 16-30mm over about 4 days a month, and sea temperature sits near 28°C. December and November also score well, at 6.9 and 6.2.

Is Haiti good to visit in August?

August rates as only 'ok', with a score of 4.5. The daytime high reaches 35.1°C, one of the hottest months, and rain falls on 9.7 days totalling 79mm. Sea temperature is a warm 30.9°C, so swimming is pleasant, but the heat and rain make it less comfortable than the winter months.

What is the rainiest month in Haiti?

October has the most rain, with 87mm falling over 12.1 days in Port-au-Prince. September and April are also wet, with 11.4 rain days each. The driest months are January and December, with only 4.3 rain days and 16-18mm of rain.

What is the hottest month in Haiti?

July is the hottest month, with a daytime high of 35.5°C in Port-au-Prince. June and August follow closely, at 34.6°C and 35.1°C. By contrast, January and December stay cooler, with highs around 31.4-31.9°C, making the winter months more comfortable for walking around.

What is the best month for warm sea swimming in Haiti?

September has the warmest sea, at 31.3°C, with October close behind at 31.1°C. Sea temperature stays above 28°C all year, so swimming works in any month, but late summer and early autumn offer the warmest water, even though those months also bring more rain.

Similar destinations

Countries with a year of weather much like Haiti.