Explore: Haiti
Facts
- COVID-19 coronavirus: New procedures are in place for arriving yachts – see Biosecurity for details.
- Haiti, which makes up the western third of the island of Hispaniola, is a passage through the “old Caribbean”. Its innocence is still present, but – like Cuba – is losing some of this old charm as it catches up to the modern world.
- Poverty exists in Haiti. The 2010 earthquake exacerbated it. In the larger cities, there are still areas of slums similar to the favelas in Rio de Janeiro. This country has the lowest per capita income in the Western Hemisphere: $400 in the cities, $100 in the rural areas. Unfortunately, the presence of poverty puts some cruisers off to visiting this amazing country.
- The rate of violence to cruisers is some of the lowest and infrequent in the Caribbean. It has been more than three years since the last reported event. See the latest from the Caribbean Safety and Security Net.
- Haiti has a UNESCO World Heritage site near Cap Haitian. The Citadelle Laferriere and the surrounding historical area is one of the highlights of the Caribbean for many cruisers.
- Haiti now has two SSCA hosts, one on Ile a Vache and one on Ile a Gonave, an island about 30 miles west of Port-au-Prince.
- Haiti offers easy entry into the Caribbean for North American sailors through the Windward Passage and parts of Haiti are very accessible. Clearance procedures are usually fast and feel informal compared to elsewhere.
- Those that use the Windward Passage can safely stop at Cap Mole St. Nicolas on the west side of the north peninsula or Bombardopolis on the southwest corner of the north peninsula.
- Going south through the Windward Passage at the west end of the south peninsula is Anse d’Hainault and then just around the corner Ile a Vache.
- Self-sufficiency is the key to visiting Haiti as there are no marinas or repair centres. It is good to have the ability to make drinking water as the potable water in Haiti is hard to come by and of poor quality.
- The language of Haiti is Kreyol, however many speak French and some even speak English.
- The capital, Port-au-Prince lies on the inside of the bay and is a bit of a long passage to reach it. Visit by land, not by sea: the primary wharf for the city is surrounded by one of the most densely populated slums in the West (Cite Soleil). However, just 35 miles to the west of the capital is the Bay of Bandareres, which is beautiful and not a dangerous area.
- The Island of Ile-a-Vache is safe and charming. They are well acquainted with cruising boats and it is as good a cruising destination as any in the Caribbean. Today Ile-a-Vache is somewhat prosperous and the government is planning a major tourist centre on the island with an airport and hotels. (As of late-2017 this development may have stalled, but the island is still a great destination.)
- Cruising is best done from east to west as particularly during winter the strong trade winds make eastbound passages difficult. If going eastbound, cruisers normally do this along with the south coast as the north coast has more persistent swell from the Atlantic.
- If visiting Haiti from Colombia, it is recommended to clear first at Jamaica at Port Antonio before proceeding east to Haiti. For further details read the comment below dated 13 Feb. 2015.
An interesting article by Lonely Planet in January 2015 is worth a read if you are planning to visit Haiti: Is it safe to travel to Haiti?
Dan and Kika on the Sailing Uma YouTube Channel spent an entire season in Haiti and cruised a few of the major locations.
A map of recommended anchorages in Haiti (yellow spot) by Frank Virgintino, author of the free Haiti Cruising Guide.

Security
If you receive alerts from the US State Department or UK FCO, it would seem as though Haiti is a dangerous place to cruise; however, nearly all warnings issued about Haiti refer to violence and crime in certain neighbourhoods of Port-au-Prince and other large towns. It is best to avoid certain areas such as Port-au-Prince.
The ports for Haiti listed on noonsite have been actually visited by cruising sailors and are reported to be safe. The locals in these ports are very serious about keeping them safe and charming for visitors: their livelihood depends on it.
Violence Against Cruisers
In 2015, two attacks on cruising boats, both violent in nature, occurred in Haiti. While these were quite serious, there have been no reports since then against any cruisers. This is a highly-positive sign and may mean that Haiti is one of the safer places to cruise in the entire Caribbean.
Free Cruising Guides (http://freecruisingguides.com/) publish a Caribbean Security Index (CSI) with country ratings and useful information that may be important to you to “route around crime.”
Based on reports to Noonsite from cruisers, petty theft from yachts is on the rise in the Caribbean in general. Cruisers should take basic safety precautions and use common sense when leaving the boat or going ashore at night. Dinghy thieves operate throughout the Caribbean and the best advice is to place your dinghy on deck and chain it overnight.
The Caribbean Safety and Security Net ([email protected]) provides information by anchorage or by island, so sailors can plan their cruising in the Caribbean with an eye to appropriate behavior and precautions wherever they decide to go. Should you have suffered a boarding, robbery or attack on your yacht or have information about a yachting-related security incident, go to the CSSN homepage and click on the “Report an Incident” icon. The associated form is quick and simple to complete and ensures that all the necessary details are reported. The CSSN is the most comprehensive source of Caribbean security incidents against sailors. Remember, it is every cruiser’s responsibility to ensure that incidents are reported. Also, cruisers can subscribe to e-mail alerts, follow on facebook and twitter and listen to the SSB Voice Service.
Be sure to check related security reports for Haiti.
Last updated: January 2017
Weather
The climate is tropical. It is cooler and drier from December to March, and on the coast, which is cooled by sea breezes. The hurricane season lasts from June to November.
Many cruisers and guides recommend the southern coast if going eastbound due to the persistent swell from the Atlantic.
Haiti Centre national de météorologie (CNM)
See the Caribbean National, Regional and Island Weather Websites report for more.
For links to free global weather information, forecast services and extreme weather information see the Noonsite Weather Page
Courtesy Flag

YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.comMain Ports
- Ports of Entry: Cap Haitien / Labadie, Cap Mole St. Nicolas, Port Morgan (Ile-a-Vache), Port-au-Prince
- Other Ports: