How to Get Around Haiti

Getting in. Toussaint Louverture International in Port-au-Prince is the main airport, with flights from Miami, New York, Fort Lauderdale, Panama City and the Dominican Republic. Hugo Chávez International at Cap-Haïtien handles some international traffic and is the better entry point for the north. Services have been suspended at times; confirm before booking anything else.

Between cities. Internal flights between Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haïtien, Jacmel and Les Cayes are the safest option and have at times been the only one, as road movement between departments has repeatedly been blocked. The overland route to the Dominican Republic runs through crossings at Malpasse and Dajabón.

Local transport. The tap-tap — a pick-up or small bus painted in dense, bright imagery and religious slogans, one of the most recognisable things in the country — is the ordinary way people move short distances, along with shared taxis and motorcycle taxis. None is advisable for visitors without a local companion.

Driving. Roads outside the main corridors are rough, unlit and frequently washed out, and a four-wheel-drive with a local driver is the standard arrangement. Self-driving is not recommended.