It was on January 1, 1804 when Jean-Jacques Dessalines declared Saint Dominigue– a French colony on the Hispaniola Island- an independent country and renamed it Haiti. The independence came after the Haitian Revolution that is now considered the largest and most successful slave rebellion in the Western Hemisphere.
It is against such events and many others that have made Haiti a country full of cultural and historical wealth and coupled with its natural resources, one of the top destinations for 2019.
Citadelle Laferrière
Haiti is known for its successful slave uprising, which was made timeless by the Citadelle Laferrière built by Henri Christophe, a key leader during the Haitian slave rebellion. It took 20,000 workers to build it between 1805 and 1820 as a system of fortifications to keep the new Haiti safe from French incursions.
It comes with a number of storehouses and large cisterns to store enough food and water for at least 5,000 soldiers for a year. It also featured palace quarters, dungeons and bakery.
It is classified as a UNESCO site as “universal symbols of liberty, being the first monuments to be constructed by black slaves who had gained their freedom.”
Other historical sites include:
San Sousi Palace, one of Henri Christophe’s elaborate homes
The Neg Mawon Statue in Downtown Haiti
Bassin Bleu
Located in Jacmel, Bassin Bleu is a series of three pools- Bassin Clair, Bassin Bleu and Bassin Palmiste- linked by waterfalls that make up one of the prettiest swimming holes in the country.
Visitors can swim, dive and play in the pools and take a hike up the mountains to appreciate the diverse nature and enjoy a thrilling view of the Jacmel bay.
Other water bodies to visit include:
Saut-Mathurine, Haiti’s largest waterfall
Chardonnière & Tuyac Waterfall
Saut D’Eau
Labadee Port
For those who are looking to enjoy the sea and the beaches, Labadee port is a perfect destination. It is a privately-owned paradise offering sun, sand and sea perfect for cruisers and water sports lovers.
