When Paul Clammer first visited Haiti in 2007 he carried with him plenty of the unfortunate media clichés about the country, from mysterious 'Vodou' to endless instability. The Haiti that revealed itself was far more interesting and exciting, and he's been travelling regularly ever since. To write the first edition of the Bradt guide - the first dedicated English guidebook to the country since the early 1980s - he based himself in Haiti for nine months, renting an apartment in Port-au-Prince. He is a big advocate for the role that socially-conscious tourism can play in the development of this emerging Caribbean destination. Follow him at facebook.com/HaitiTravelGuide for regular news and updates on Haitian travel.

ContentsIntroductionPART ONE GENERAL INFORMATIONChapter 1 Background Information Geography, Climate, Natural history and conservation, History, Government and politics, Economy, People, Language, Religion, Education, CultureChapter 2 Practical InformationWhen to visit, Highlights, Suggested itineraries, Tour operators, Tourist information, Red tape, Embassies and consulates, Getting there and away, Health, Safety, Women travellers, Gay/lesbian travellers, Travellers with disabilities, What to take,Money and budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Publicholidays and festivals, Shopping, Entertainment, Photography, Media and communications, Business, Living in Haiti, Cultural etiquette, Travelling positivelyPART TWO THE GUIDEChapter 3 Port-au-PrinceHistory, Getting there and away, Orientation, Getting around, Tour operators, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment and activities, Shopping , Other practicalities, What to see and doChapter 4 Around Port-au-PrinceSouth of Port-au-Prince, East of Port-au-Prince, North of Port-au-Prince, West of Port-au-PrinceChapter 5 Southern HaitiJacmel, Towards the Dominican Republic border, Heading west from Jacmel, Aquin and Saint Louis du Sud, Les Cayes, Île-à-Vache, Port Salut, Port-à-Piment, Camp Perrin, Macaya National Park, Jérémie, Abricots, Dame Marie and Anse d'Hainault, PestelChapter 6 Northern Haiti Cap-Haïtien, Milot and the Citadelle Henry, Labadie, Limonade, Dondon, Limbé, Fort Liberté, Ouanaminthe, Port-de-Paix, Île de la Tortue, Môle Saint-Nicholas Chapter 7 The Artibonite Valley and Central Plateau 209Gonaïves, Saint-Marc, Marchand Dessalines, Petite Rivière de l'Artibonite and Deschapelles, Mirebalais, HincheAppendix 1 LanguageAppendix 2 Further InformationIndex

A new edition of the only stand-alone guidebook on Haiti available, fully updated and with expanded content reflecting Haiti's recent tourism expansion, and packed with practical information covering everything from accommodation, eateries and travel routes to wildlife and 'Vodou'. A comprehensive section on birdwatching and insightful information on Haiti's rich artistic and musical heritage ensure birdwatchers and cultural enthusiasts are well catered for. Paul Clammer discusses the medicinal merits of Haitian rum, how to catch a Port-au-Prince taptap (bus) and how to check into the Graham Greene suite of the Hotel Oloffson. This new edition includes even more information on living in Haiti, more festivals - from local fetes to big celebrations - and coverage of new tourism developments at the Citadelle, Haiti's only UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also covered are details of other new museums either under refurbishment or soon to open. Sharing the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, Haiti is culturally the most African of Caribbean countries, and one that is largely unknown to visitors, except through popular cliches of aid dependency and Vodou culture. An early pioneer of Caribbean tourism, since the earthquake of 2010 it has been slowly repositioning itself as an exciting new travel destination. Visitors will find historical sites to explore, such as the World Heritage-listed Citadelle (the largest fortress in the Americas), hidden beaches, and a proud people rebuilding their country and ready to welcome visitors once more.