Transportation infrastructure in Haiti remains limited and severely damaged from the 2010 earthquake, which destroyed major portions of the road network. The country has no functioning passenger rail service. Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince serves as the primary entry point, with Cap-Haïtien International Airport offering the only other significant commercial service. Domestic flights operate irregularly due to fuel availability and aircraft maintenance constraints.
The road network comprises approximately 4,266 kilometers total, with only 768 kilometers paved. Route Nationale 1 connects Port-au-Prince to Cap-Haïtien via Saint-Marc and Gonaïves, covering roughly 235 kilometers in what typically requires six to eight hours under normal conditions. Route Nationale 2 extends from the capital through Léogâne to Les Cayes on the southern coast. Paved sections exist primarily near major cities, deteriorating to gravel or dirt in rural areas. The earthquake damaged approximately 60 percent of primary roads and 70 percent of bridges across the affected zones.
Tap-taps dominate public transportation, operating as shared pickup trucks with covered rear beds fitted with bench seating. These vehicles follow semi-fixed routes within cities and between towns, departing when full rather than on schedules. Fares range from 25 to 100 gourdes depending on distance within urban areas. Tap-taps display religious phrases, political statements, or cultural references painted on exterior panels. No formal route maps exist. Passengers indicate stops by knocking on the vehicle frame or calling to the driver.
Motorcycle taxis function in areas tap-taps cannot reach or for faster point-to-point service. Riders negotiate fares before departure, typically 50 to 200 gourdes for urban trips. Helmets are rarely provided or worn despite legal requirements dating to 2012. These motorcycles navigate narrow alleys and unpaved paths throughout Pétionville and hillside communities surrounding Port-au-Prince.
Private vehicle rental requires navigating limited availability and road conditions that destroy undercarriages and tires. International agencies operate at Toussaint Louverture International Airport, charging $70 to $150 per day for compact vehicles. Fuel costs approximately 300 gourdes per gallon as of late 2024. Armed gangs control sections of Route Nationale 1 and multiple urban neighborhoods, making independent driving inadvisable without current local information. The Pan American Development Foundation reported in 2023 that gangs controlled access to approximately 80 percent of Port-au-Prince.
Boat service connects Port-au-Prince to Gonâve Island, with departures from multiple informal docks depending on operator. The crossing takes two to four hours depending on vessel type and sea conditions. Schedules fluctuate based on cargo loads and weather. No formal ferry system operates. Smaller boats reach Tortuga Island from Port-de-Paix, though service frequency varies seasonally.
Travel between Port-au-Prince and Jacmel on Route Nationale 2 covers approximately 88 kilometers, requiring three to five hours. The road crosses mountains east of the capital with sections reduced to single-lane passage due to erosion and landslides. Alternative routes do not exist for most intercity connections. During rainy season from April through June and August through November, flooding closes sections for days or weeks.
Walking remains the primary transportation method for millions of Haitians, particularly in rural areas where vehicle access does not exist. Markets in Pétionville, Jacmel, and Cap-Haïtien concentrate within walkable districts. Sidewalks exist sporadically in urban centers, absent in most locations. Street lighting functions minimally even in Port-au-Prince.
Haiti experiences tropical climate with two rainy seasons. The heavier rains arrive from April through June, with secondary precipitation from August through November. Hurricane season officially runs June 1 through November 30, with peak activity in September and October. The 2010 earthquake occurred on January 12, and subsequent January 12 commemorations draw crowds to memorial sites including the former Presidential Palace grounds.
Temperatures in Port-au-Prince average 26 to 28 degrees Celsius year-round at sea level. Coastal cities including Cap-Haïtien and Jacmel maintain similar ranges. Mountainous areas near Pic la Selle experience cooler conditions, with temperatures dropping to 10 to 15 degrees Celsius at elevation during December through February. Rainfall in Port-au-Prince totals approximately 1,320 millimeters annually, concentrated during the wet seasons.
Carnival occurs in February or early March depending on the Easter calendar, falling on the three days before Ash Wednesday. Port-au-Prince hosts the largest celebrations, with parallel events in Jacmel known for papier-mâché masks and nighttime parades. Hotels in these cities fill weeks in advance. Cap-Haïtien celebrates separately with coastal processions. The 2020 and 2021 Carnivals were cancelled due to political instability and pandemic restrictions.