Port-au-Prince is a vibrant city where the life never stops. During the day, it vibrates under the sun, at night it glitters under the glow of thousands lamps of street vendors.
Discover Port-au-Prince again with a friend. The city will captivate you with the intensity of its daily life and the warmth of its people.

The tap-taps, the famous colorful and artistic tour buses are all over the town. The tap-taps congregate in front of the Marche en fer (Iron Market) or Marche Vallières a most unusual building. Imagine a mosque built of steel, complete with minaret, painted in red and green in the midst of a Caribbean City. Today the Iron Market overflows with a busy and noisy population.
To enter the market you have to go through a crowd of street vendors that will try to sell you a wide variety of merchandise. The Iron Market offers a variety of treasures such as paintings, mahogany tableware, baskets, hats, wood sculptures, the famous steel crafts. It is the custom in Haiti to bargain with vendors on the price of their good and art. Generally you can get what you want at a low price.

Sightseeing Attractions
In Port-au-Prince the main attractions are: The Haitian National Palace, The Cathedral of Port-au-Prince, The Cathedral of St. Trinity, Musee du Pantheon, Place des Heros de Independence, In Boutilliers, the attraction is the Jane Barbancourt Distillery. In the Côte des Arcadins the attraction is the Moulin sur Mer.

Locally produced items such as paintings, crafts, mahogany, sisal and straw-work, weaving embroidery, wrought iron are available. Duty free items are available at approximately 20% off stateside prices.
You must have a valid and official certificate in your international Vaccination record when you visit Haiti. It is highly recommended that you get the following three shots: 1) Tetanus/Diphteria, 2)Typhoid and 3) Hepatitis A.

These are several diseases prevalent in Haiti that if proper measures are taken may be prevented.

Malaria medications - The medication you get is based on you medical and your itinerary Haiti. To avoid mosquito bites avoid being outdoors when the sun is setting, avoid being outdoors throughout the night and in the early morning hours when mosquitoes commonly bite, use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved clothing and long trousers and avoid wearing dark colors, they attract mosquitoes and use room insecticide sprays.

A trip to Cap-Haïtien, also known by the natives as "The Cap", is a must. "The Cap" is the center of historic Haiti. Believe it or not one of the most convenient ways to get to Cap-Haïtien is by plane, it is only a half hour from Port-au-Prince. There is also a direct flight from Miami to cap-Haitien. The trip by car is worth it because it is exciting and scenic. As you leave Port-au-Prince's northgate, you will pass some of the finest beach hotels on the island.
A few miles inland in Haiti's scenic and historic north coast town are two of Cap-Haitien's most magnificent contributions to architecture. They are Sans Souci and La Citadelle. Sans Souci is the Caribbean's answer's to France's Castle in Versailles. Rising above Sans Souci is the La Citadelle, which is known as the eight wonder of the world. La citadelle is a giant fort. It's 20 foot high walls are armed with 400 cannons. It took 20,000 men 13 years build this incredible fortress. Today it attracts visitors from around the world.

Art and the paintings of Haiti are a way of life. You wil find it everywhere, on the sidewalks, on the walls an in every building and house. Haiti handicrafts and native art are considered the best in the caribbean. Handicraft such as the woven straw shoulder bags and the tooled leather scabbards ot the peasant machete have great beauty.

The rada, a voodoo drum is a handicraft that has great appeal to art collectors. Haiti is widely known for its wood carvings. Unfortunately Haiti's poverty forced artists to produce art using cheaper materials such as paper mache and steel drums, which are flattened and turned into cut-out-wall hangings or sculpture. If you need assistance choosing paintings, you best bet it to go to a reputable art gallery. In Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitian, Jacmel you will find art merchants who have selected the best art for sale.

If you are an adventurous art collector, then you may want to go to the streets where many gifted amateur artists showcase their paintings. The best place to go to purchase paintings on the streets is the Centre d'Art. Negociating with street vendors and artists can be an animated experience, offering insights into the nation's personality.