Citadel in Haiti from Dominican Republic

Boston
1 post
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
Citadel in Haiti from Dominican Republic
Save

We are planning to go to Dominican Republic in January and are trying to find out how we can make a side excursion to see the Citadel in Haiti. We would prefer to go from the north coast of DR, such as Puerto Plata or Santiago, but if Santo Domingo is the only way, we can do that. Does anyone have any experience with doing this?

Punta Cana...
Level Contributor
538 posts
1. Re: Citadel in Haiti from Dominican Republic
Save

The north would be closer for you,I have been there when i was little boy with my classmate.

they used to offer excursion from Dom Rep to Cap-Haitien but i have no idea about this after the politics problem there.

Claudel

AL
2 posts
2. Re: Citadel in Haiti from Dominican Republic
Save

I went to the Citadel in 2006 around Thanksgiving. It is somewhat complicated and dangerous, but it's possible to get there without flying. You can stay at Juan Calvo hotel in Dajabon, DR - it is on the same street as the border. Find a kid at the border to drive you on a motoconcho to take a tap-tap to Cap-Haitien. When I went, the kid whisked me past Haitian customs and at a police stop down the road, it almost became a problem, but then they just let me go through, so you might want to make sure they stamp your passport in Haiti. Take a cab from the end of the tap tap line in Cap-Haitien to a hotel like Les Jardins de l'Ocean. Hostellerie du Roi Christophe or Mont Joli. Mont Joli organizes tours to the Citadel, so if you stay there, the hotel will take care of everything for you, which I recomend. Otherwise, you can take a tap-tap from downtown CH, near the Texaco station to Milot, Haiti, where the Citadel is and find it yourself.

Have fun! You're in for an adventure!

Cap-Haïtien
1 post
3. Re: Citadel in Haiti from Dominican Republic
Save

There is several ways you can go to Cap-Haitien and visit the Citadelle. The best is to used Bus from DR to Cap-Haitien the road is good and the sceneri beautiful it is a 5 hours trip.

When you arrived in Santiago your have to look for bus with air conditionning and for tourist, the regular traffic stop all the time, but is less expensive.

Good luck

Jean-Bernard

Cap-Haitien

theshockwhitegirl
1 post
4. Re: Citadel in Haiti from Dominican Republic
Save

why the hell are you guys talking about going throught dominican republic to see the citadel .when you can just stay in haiti. It's beautiful! I just came from there. I think the haitian are trying to keep people out, it was very beautiful .I was shock how beautiful it was by far the most beautiful Island I've seem in the caribbean.Believe me it was beautiful ,the mountains wow!!!! The people were nice ,very nice. I like very much ,I think I'm hook.Dam the haitian for try their best to keep the world out . I was shock to see how many whites call haiti home.I said you don't like this proverty places, they laught and laught at me until they where blue in the face.Mark, he was handsome. Gave me a tutor of haiti unlike any thing I've ever seem. He was like my friend haiti is beautiful with ugly spot, section like any other country. I can't wait to spend christmas there. I found my favorite caribbean country after 35 years of looking.How funny it's Haiti. who would ever guess Haiti.

North Dakota
Level Contributor
4 posts
19 reviews
29 helpful votes
5. Re: Citadel in Haiti from Dominican Republic
Save

This is an updated response to the question posted here 8/07. We just did what the poster was asking about, 03/05/09. We boarded a Caribe Tours bus in Santiago, DR and traveled to Cape Haitian via the north coast route. We crossed into Haiti at Dajabon, DR. The road from the border to Cape Haitian is new asphalt and makes the trip go much faster than when it was all ruts and pot holes. The only thing that slows down progress is the numerous speed bumps. The bus has AC, 26 very large comfortable seats...and food and beverage service. The cost for a round trip ticket was $65.00 USD. A $20.00 USD per person fee was charged on the return leg back to the DR. The border crossings were time consuming. Averaging 1-2 hours each way. We stayed at the Hotel Mont Joli and they arranged a driver with a large Land Cruiser to take us to the Citadel. This was my second visit to the Citadel. I hope to go again. This is an incredible structure! I hope this info helps.

Minnesota
Level Contributor
818 posts
6. Re: Citadel in Haiti from Dominican Republic
Save

Great info! Can you fill out some details - where to catch the bus, and what departure times? This is a frequently requested bit of info on other forums.

Thanks!

North Dakota
Level Contributor
4 posts
19 reviews
29 helpful votes
7. Re: Citadel in Haiti from Dominican Republic
Save

Hi - The bus service to Haiti originates in Santo Domingo and stops at the main Caribe Tours terminal in Santiago to pick up more passengers. As mentioned in my previous post the buses are very nice...almost like first class airline seats. The buses have a restroom which is needed because the bus will not stop until it gets to the border. This will be about 2 1/2 - 3 hours when it stops at Dajabon. If there are more than 26 passengers another bus will be added. The departure time from Santiago is 12 noon. It is advisable to be there 1-2 hours early as some time is necessary to fill out the tickets. You must have your passports with you as they are necessary for filling out the tickets. You do not buy the tickets at the ticket window. Staff will direct you to the administration office around the corner from the ticket window. Yoy can pay in either pesos or USD. When you get to Haiti it is advisable to convert funds to Haitian gourde or US dollars. I had a lot of Dominican pesos with me but nobody seemed to want to take them. The bus travels through most of Cape Haitian. The route is very close to the bay. The Caribe Tours bus terminal is on what seems, to me, to be the far west edge of Cape Haitian. If you plan to stay at the Hotel Mont Joli it is only about a quarter mile up the hill from the bus station. Steep, but walkable. The bus is locked up in the bus station lot and sits there overnight. You can see the bus below from the terrace at the Hotel Mont Joli while sipping your favorite beverage. Tony at the bar will serve you a bottle of Prestige Haitian beer, for a very modest price of $2.00 USD. This beer rates high in my book! Tony, a resident of Cape Haitian, has spent many years working on cruise ships. He speaks fluent English and can answer any questions you might have about the city or the points of interest. The bus leaves for the DR at 8am in the morning. Once again it's best to be there about a hour early to allow for any problems that may have to be dealt with. When we crossed the border at Dajabon the Dominican customs people searched all the luggage. This took about 1.5 hours. Hope I have answered most questions. If not please let me know.

Minnesota
Level Contributor
818 posts
8. Re: Citadel in Haiti from Dominican Republic
Save

Excellent info - thanks so much, and I'm glad you had a good time with the trip. I have yet to get up to that part of Haiti, but I am looking forward!

Thanks!

Florida
Level Contributor
33 posts
5 reviews
50 helpful votes
9. Re: Citadel in Haiti from Dominican Republic
Save

To the shockwhitegirl:

You are so right, haiti is beautiful with some dirty spot places like any other countries. Most people think of Haiti as being in Port-au-Prince, they are all wrong. Haiti has so many beautiful mountains and beaches that one cannot resist not to return when experiencing them. If one really wants to see paradise in Haiti, go to Port-Salut, Camp Perrin, Jacmel, Ile a vache etc... these are places with exuberant mountain and ocean views that I guarantee you will never see anywhere else in the world.

If you want to visit Haiti, stay away from Port-au-Prince.

Madgy

Wellington, New...
3 posts
10. Re: Citadel in Haiti from Dominican Republic
Save

Thanks ghanson55 for your report. It is much appreciated. Do you, or anybody know the latest email address for the Mont Joli? I have tried several posted on the net, so far to no avail. I prefer to email rather than phone because i am in a different time zone. Also, does anybody know if this bus travels anywhere near Puerto Plata?

thanks once again for your kindness,

Get answers to your questions about Cap-Haitien
CA$CAD
United States
© 2021 TripAdvisor LLC All rights reserved.

This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu.