Haitian History and Service

Day 1

Your group will take a flight to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where you will meet your Joshua Expeditions tour director at the airport after passing through security. Following a transfer and check-in to your hotel, your group will meet together for dinner and an orientation session in the hotel restaurant. During the remainder of the evening you will have free time to swim in the hotel pool and prepare for the busy week ahead.

Day 2

This morning you will enjoy an early breakfast and then set out to tour the capital city of Port-au-Prince. You will see the incredible Neg Mawon statue facing the National Palace (still damaged from the 2010 earthquake), as well as visit the National Museum in the current tent city of Champs de Mars and take a tour of famous Gingerbread Houses in the area. The afternoon will be spent at the rebuilt Iron Market, a huge marketplace where you can shop for uniquely Haitian art pieces and souvenirs. You will also have a chance to enjoy dinner in the area before returning to your hotel for devotions at the close of the evening.

Day 3

Your group will head up through Pétion-Ville this morning to visit Fort Jacques, a 200-year-old fort surrounded by rural communities. Following your tour of the fort, you will stop at the Baptist Haiti Mission for lunch and a spectacular view of the mountains. Later, the group will visit Boutillier, a mountain overlook of the capital city, and then continue down the mountains on a drive past the Prime Minister’s home. Along the way you may be able to view some of the effects of the 2010 earthquake, including the tent city that exists on what was once a beautiful front lawn leading to the PM's home as well as the site of the Hotel Montana, a luxury hotel that collapsed in the quake. Once you return to Port-au-Prince, the group will gather for dinner and devotions at the hotel.

Day 4

Today your group will take a private charter to Gonaïves, the site of the signing of the Haitian constitution, and stop along the way in Titanyen to view two famous Haitian memorials. You will first visit the memorial to Haitians killed under the Cédras coup government, and then you will see the memorial established for the earthquake victims. These two sites are reminders of the threats that continue to face Haiti: political instability and environmental concerns. Once in Gonaïves, you will have a chance to see the effects of environmental devastation in Haiti and on the community, as well as learn about the painful process of democratization within the country. After taking some time for lunch in the city, your group will transfer back to Port-au-Prince by way of the Artibonite Valley, a lush farming area responsible for much of the domestic rice production in Haiti. You will also pass through Cabaret, home of Haiti’s best tablet candy! The day will conclude with dinner and devotions back at the hotel in Port-au-Prince.

Day 5

This morning your group will travel to Jacmel, a coastal city with a rich history and beautiful beaches. You will pass through Carrefour and Léogâne en route to the coast, giving you an intimate view of the areas most affected by the earthquake. In fact, it is Léogâne that is believed to have been the epicenter of the quake. This area also provides a great study of Haitian culture and history, including the elaborate rara celebrations that take place during kanaval season and involve hundreds of people gathering in the streets to celebrate. When your group finally crosses the mountain range to arrive in Jacmel, you will check into a hotel and have some time to explore the downtown area of this "cultural capital of Haiti." You just might be able to view the historic Jacmelienne Hotel and perhaps see some of the beautifully detailed papier mâché masks that are used in kanaval celebrations. Your group will gather for dinner at the hotel, and then you will have time in the evening to relax at the pool or take a walk along the beach before concluding the day with group devotions.

Day 6

Today you will hike to Bassin-Bleu, a beautiful grotto tucked into the tropical forest around Jacmel. Your group will learn the history behind its waterfall as well as a local love story relating to area ruins. Afterward, you will transfer to the beach for lunch and an afternoon of fun in the sun. You may even have the opportunity to try lambi¸ a Haitian seafood dish that is a favorite among tourists visiting the beaches! At the conclusion of the day your group will enjoy dinner together and then return to the hotel for evening devotions and preparation for the next day's departure.

Day 7

This morning your group will return to Port-au-Prince, taking the same beautiful drive through the mountains to make your way back to the capital city. After a quick hotel check-in, you will drive to Delmas in order to spend the afternoon serving with TeacHaiti, a non-profit organization that sponsors children to attend school. TeacHaiti started a school for children in Port-au-Prince after the city's schools were all destroyed during the earthquake, and it is there that you will join the children for a traditional Haitian meal and then present an interactive history program for the students. With the help of translators, your group will teach a lesson on Haitian history — you might want to present photos or video from the past days you have spent touring the country! — and then the rest of the afternoon will be set aside for one-on-one interaction with the children and perhaps some light construction projects at the school. At the end of the afternoon you will return to the hotel for dinner and a chance to share the week's events with your group.

Day 8

On this final day in Haiti your group will transfer to Croix-des-Bouquets, a rural village on the road that leads to the Dominican Republic border. The village is famous for beautiful metal art and sculpture that is an important aspect of Haitian craftsmanship, and you will have an opportunity to watch the metal workers craft their goods as well as shop for last-minute souvenirs among the artists and vendors. Later, you will travel to Tabarre and visit the historic Sugar Cane Museum, where you will learn the importance of sugar cane for the country of Haiti. Before departing the museum your group will take some time for lunch, and then you will be able to view the new U.S. Embassy that is located directly across from the museum. It might even be possible to meet with an embassy employee to learn about U.S. Foreign Policy in the country (depending on availability). Your time in Tabarre will conclude the week, and the impact of your time in Haiti will continue to resonate as you transfer to the airport for your flight home.
 
 
 

ESSENTIALS FOR TRAVEL TO HAITI

• Passport
   
• Travel Insurance that includes emergency medical treatment and emergency air evacuation from Haiti to the U.S.
   
• Up-to-date Tetanus shot (Hepatitis A & B immunization is also recommended)
   
• Malaria pills — It is also required that all travelers acquire 8 weeks worth of chloroquine or other anti-malaria medication prior to departure.