Sosua

Charamicos

Cabarete

GOING TO HAITI FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

In March of 2009, I took an amazing trip from Sosua in the Dominican Republic to Cap Haitiano in Haiti.  From Sosua to the border, it takes about three and a half hours by car. I was with two Dominicans, one of whom drove a Jeep and left it at the border town of Dajabon. 

We were stopped at the frontera and the two Dominicans were asked for visas, which were impossible to obtain as the Dominican Consulate down the street was closed. With a small bribe of 2500 pesos for both Dominicans, we were able to cross over with a taxi driver from Haiti.  I did not pay any exit fee from the Dominican Republic nor an entry fee to go to the Haitian side. We drove past the Haitian Immigration station and the next thing we knew we were on a beautiful paved highway. We stopped for gasoline and the diver wanted $110 US for the complete trip but after some talk we agreed on $100 each way. After about two hours of passing many UN vehicles, we arrived in Cap Haitiano to be greeted everywhere by trucks, taxis, garbage and hordes of Haitians crowding the streets.

We stayed at the Hotel du Roi Christophe deep inside the old city. Don’t believe the price on the internet, as the lowest price for a room was about $114.00 plus 20 per cent taxes on everything. After a nice lunch with some local beers, we asked the driver to take us to La Citadelle la Ferriere, or the fortress on top of the mountain. The taxi driver had never been there so he must have lost a fair amount of money on the $20 each way. It was about an hour’s drive over the worst road imaginable.

Once there, we rented horses for 10 dollars each and were told that the entry fee was $5 US for each person.  It was two hours up and one hour down by horseback but what a fortress and what a view! It really is one of the great wonders of the world. Definitely worth a visit. The guides were tipped $20 for all of them so it was up to them to decide who got what amount.  It was completely dark all the way home as the whole area had no electricity. What a day!

Our driver arrived early at the hotel the next morning hoping to get some breakfast, We set off for the border again stopping on the way to see if the Voodoo priest was available. Sure he was for $200. When we arrived back at the border, there was utter mass confusion because it was market day. Every Thursday the border is open both ways so Haiti can sell its goods on the streets of Dajabon, and food of all kinds can be imported into Haiti. I have never in all my travels seen such bustling activity or chaos. Hopefully, some photos I have posted will give a glimpse of the way things are at the border.  When the new Immigration station is open, things will hopefully improve.  We simply walked across the border with two bottles of good Haitian cane rum, paying no attention to anyone, nor paying anyone any money.  Wow the Dominican Republic never looked so good.  J  Should you want more information on going there or if you would like to arrange a trip like this, please contact me at mcaldwell@odyssey.on.ca