Haiti has extremely seasonal weather. It’s hot from April to November with a dangerous hurricane season lasting from August through September. The rains can cause big mudslides that halt traffic. February, when Carnival is on, is the best time to visit Haiti, but hotels can fill up fast.
If you’re looking to make the most out of your travel to Haiti by hoping around from Port-au-Prince to Jeremie, to Cote des Arcadins, then you’ll need to catch the ferry. Sometimes uncomfortable, and always crowded, these boats don’t leave on a timetable. When everyone’s on, and the captain wants to leave, the boat moves, so don’t bother clockwatching if you’re running late. Sometimes, these vessels tend to act like water taxis, so be sure to establish a fee as soon as you get on, or you may be stuck paying a lot more than you need to.
On land, buses are big and cheap but also unreliable. No schedules means that they run the same way boats do – when they’re filled and the driver feels like going. Tap-taps are minibuses or pickup trucks that cruise within city limits.
You’ll notice taxis because of the red ribbons in the window. At any given moment though, the driver of your taxi may remove the ribbon, meaning that he has decided to turn the meter off and charge you whatever he or she wants to charge. You’ll need to negotiate the fee. It’s all quite the adventure, especially when roads are poorly kept and traffic laws are rarely considered.