| Starts | Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
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| Ends | Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
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| Region | Central America |
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| Duration | 10 days |
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| Tour Operator | Gadventures |
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| Tour Code | CAHH 22574 |
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| Overview PDF | Download PDF |
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Itinerary
Day 1 - Starting: Port-au-Prince & Finishing: Port-au-Prince
Today is arrival day, so there are no planned activities until the evening welcome meeting. You are free to arrive at the Port-au-Prince airport at any time where you will be met and transferred to our hotel in the city, which is approx. 30 minutes from the airport.
Day 2 - Starting: Port-au-Prince & Finishing: Cap-Haïtien
Fly to Cap-Haïtien, on the northern coast. Visit the famous Citadelle Laferrière and the sugar cane fields. Learn to make famous Haitian rum with a "guildive". This traditional rum distillery (utilizing sugar cane juice) comes from an old French word derived from mispronouncing "kill devil", a welcomed side effect of drinking the rum.
Day 3 - Starting: Cap-Haïtien & Finishing: Cap-Haïtien
Explore the city on foot to learn more about the area. With free time in the afternoon, opt to visit the beach on this northern shore.
Enjoy learning how to make traditional kasav (a flat bread), a food of the native Taino people. The experience includes visiting a traditional facility where manyok (yucca) is transformed into kasav, which is eaten with meals as a flatbread. This dish and its preparation comes directly from the native Taino people who first inhabited the islands before Columbus' arrival.
Day 4 - Starting: Cap-Haïtien & Finishing: Jacmel
Fly back to Port-au-Prince and continue to Jacmel. This town is known for its vibrant art scene, carnival celebrations, and sandy beaches. Take a city tour focused on the art community here. Pop into artists' studios to view the local papier mâché creations and wander past colourful mosaics on every wall.
Day 5 - Starting: Jacmel & Finishing: Jacmel
Visit the most famous attraction in the area, Bassin-Bleu. This is a series of waterfalls and pools in the hills above Jacmel. The water is turquoise blue due to the minerals in the rocks. After a fun ride and a hike down hill, arrive at the pools and dive in! Jump off the rocks and cool off in the fresh pools.
Day 6 - Starting: Jacmel & Finishing: Port-Salut
Visit a local grassroots project, the G Adventures-supported Art Creation Foundation for Children. The program teaches at-risk children different types of traditional art while providing meals and a "second home". Enjoy a homemade meal here and learn about the great work this organization is doing. Continue on to Port-Salut.
Day 7 - Starting: Port-Salut & Finishing: Port-Salut
Visit Grotte Marie-Jeanne caves in nearby Port-a-Piment. Explore the cave with a guide and discover unique underground landscapes and massive caverns. In the afternoon, return to Port-Salut for sunset.
Day 8 - Starting: Port-Salut & Finishing: Port-au-Prince
Enjoy a lazy morning in Port-Salut before travelling back to Port-au-Prince, stopping in Aquin en route.
Day 9 - Starting: Port-au-Prince & Finishing: Port-au-Prince
Enjoy an included city tour focusing on the history, unique culture and vibrant local arts scene. See the devastating effects of the 2010 earthquake alongside colourful arts, crafts and traditional goods at the artist community of Atis Rezistans, where, out of the rubble, artists began to create new life, spawning an entire community. Visit the Iron Market (Marché en Fer) for artifacts related to the traditional Vodou (Voodoo) culture in Haiti.
Meet a Vodou priest and find beautiful metal art treasures in the fascinating iron-working community of Noailles at Croix-des-Bouquets. Fill up on delicious Creole cuisine and unique cultural experiences along the way.
With time, opt to get a bird's eye view at the Belvedere on Boutilliers Hills, scanning the Bay of Port-au-Prince and city below.
Day 10 - Starting: Port-au-Prince & Finishing: Port-au-Prince
Depart at any time.
View Dates
More Information
What’s Included
Arrival transfer. Citadelle Laferrière visit (Cap-Haïtien). Rum distillery visit. Cap-Haïtien city tour. Kasav making demonstration. G Adventures-supported Art Creation Foundation for Children visit with lunch. Bassin-Bleu visit (Jacmel). Grotte Marie-Jeanne visit (Port-a-Piment). Beach time in Port-Salut. Port-au-Prince city tour including Noailles at Croix-de-Bouquets artist communities, Iron Market and Rezistans artists. Internal flights. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
Highlights
Get familiar with the art culture of Haiti, cool off in the turquoise pools of Bassin-Bleu, explore massive cave systems, visit a foundation teaching arts to at-risk youth, learn about Vodou culture and savour creole cuisine.
Itinerary Disclaimer
Group Leader Description
All G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders, a CEO. The aim of the CEO is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it’s the best of both worlds.
Group Size Notes
Max 16, avg 10
Meals
Most of the meals are buffet style, but everything is local gastronomy, this is done in order to have a better use of the time. The buffet is made specially for the tour with fresh ingredients that can include pork, fish and vegetarian options if needed.
Eating is a big part of travelling. Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Many meals in Haiti are included in the trip price as restaurants in the country are accustomed to groups of people ordering many different things at the same time. When there is a choice of eating options, we have given you the opportunity to decide where, what and with whom to eat. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants when possible. Please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.
Transport
Plane, private van, walking
About our Transportation
You will be travelling from town to town by private vehicle with your group.
Local Flights
Local flights are included in the cost of your tour. It is important that we have your passport information at the time of booking in order to process these tickets. Internal flight tickets are issued locally and will be given to you prior to the flight departure.
Solo Travellers
Accommodation
Standard hotels (9 nts)
Joining Hotel
Le Plaza Hotel
10 rue Capois
Port-au-Prince
Haiti
28146000
Joining Instructions
Upon arrival at the airport, please note that you will be charged an entrance fee of 10USD or 10EUR. This can only be paid in cash and in these currencies, so please be prepared.
Please note that day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned on this day. Upon arrival to the city on day 1 (or earlier if you have booked pre-accommodation with us), please make your way to the joining hotel (note that check-in time will be in the afternoon). Once you arrive at the hotel, look for a note or bulletin board in the reception with a note from your CEO. This note will give the details of your Welcome Meeting on day 1 (usually between 5pm and 7pm), where you will get a chance to meet your CEO and other travellers, as well as learn more about how the tour will run. If you don’t see a note, please ask reception for details!
If you are arriving later and will miss the Welcome Meeting, your CEO will leave a note at reception for you with any information you may need, and with morning instructions for the next day.
If you have pre-arranged an arrival transfer, look for the driver holding a G Adventures sign in the arrivals hall. Please approach them, and ask them who they are supposed to be picking up (do not tell them your name, they should have this information already). Once they give you the correct name, have your passport ready to show them and you will be on your way!
Arrival Complications
Emergency Contact
Should you need to contact G Adventures during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call our local office in San José, Costa Rica. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so that we may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.
EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS
G Adventures San José, Costa Rica,
Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm local time (GMT –6).
Tel: Int. Dialing Code +506 2224-5560.
Costa Rica Emergency Cell Phone: +506 8322 9140 (after office hours).
If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office in Costa Rica, we have a toll-free line within North America (or our regular direct line), which will connect you directly with our Toronto office.
Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from UK: 0844 272 0000
Calls from Australia: 1 300 796 618
Outside North America, Australia and the UK: +1 416 260 0999
What to Take
We recommend the use of a duffel bag or backpack (whichever you find easiest to carry). A good size daypack is also essential.
Checklist
– USD cash
– Credit and/or debit card (see spending money)
– G Adventures vouchers, pre-departure information and trip details
– Passport (with photocopies)
– Travel insurance
– Airline tickets or etickets (with photocopies)
– Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
– Camera with memory cards and charger
– Reading/writing material
– Cover for backpacks
– Concealable money belt
– hand sanitizers/ antibacterial wipes
– Windproof/waterproof jacket
– Fleece top
– Small towel and swim wear
– 4 shirts/t-shirts
– Sun hat
– 2 pairs of shorts
– 1 pair of long trousers
– 1 pair hiking pants/track pants
– Sturdy walking shoes
– Sport sandals
– Sunblock
– Sunglasses
– Toiletries (biodegradable)
– Watch or alarm clock
– Water bottle
– Flashlight
– First-aid kit (should contain lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-hydration powder, DEET bug repellant, extra prescription drugs you may be taking).
Laundry
Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.
Visas
All countries require a valid passport (with a minimum 6 months validity). Contact your local embassy, or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent. IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE CORRECT TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION.
Spending Money
Emergency Fund
Tipping
It is customary in the Caribbean to tip service providers such as waiters, at approximately 10%, depending on the service. Tipping is an expected – though not compulsory – component of your tour program and an expression of satisfaction with the persons who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. There are several times during the trip where there is opportunity to tip the local guides or drivers we use. Recommendations for tipping drivers and local guides would range from $5-10 USD per day depending on the quality and length of the service; ask your CEO for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and culture.
Also at the end of each trip if you felt your G Adventures Chief Experience Office (CEO) did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline $20-25 USD per person, per week can be used.
Health
Please note inoculations may be required for the country visited. It is your responsibility to consult with your travel doctor for up to date medical travel information well before departure.
You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit and hand sanitizers/antibacterial wipes as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that quite often we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache pills, antibiotics, etc. When selecting your trip please carefully read the brochure and itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. G Adventures reserves the right to exclude any traveller from all or part of a trip without refund if in the reasonable opinion of our CEO they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group.
Safety and Security
Medical Form
A Couple of Rules
Travel Insurance
Planeterra-The G Adventures Foundation
Feedback
Newsletter
Travel Forum – The Watering Hole
Max Pax
16
Group Leader
Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local guides.
