Caribbean

Haiti

A long, mountainous coast with reefs, mangroves and young marine parks, where the sea needs time to recover.

On pause, travel not recommended

On pause, travel not recommended. A government travel advisory says not to travel here, so we do not offer trips. Sources: Haiti travel advice, UK FCDO, updated 10 Dec 2025; Haiti travel advisory, Level 4 Do not travel, US State Department, 10 Jul 2026; Haiti's reefs most overfished in the world, Reef Check, 2011.

Why: The UK and the United States advise against all travel to Haiti because of the security situation, so our ethics check is paused. What we know: a 2011 survey found Haitian reefs among the most overfished in the world, with very few large fish left. For now we only share Haiti's ocean story, with no trips.

We share this country as a story and do not offer trips. This is not a judgement of the people or the ocean here. It only means that today we could not find a visit that meets our animal-welfare and safety standards. Places change, so we look again every year.

⚠️ Official travel advice is a separate question, and it differs by passport. EU citizens or US citizens may be advised against travelling there, so please check your own government’s website before you plan.

WhalesTurtlesCoral reefsWildlife watching

Why Haiti

Haiti has more than 1,500 km of coast, with the calm Arcadins coast north of the capital, the small island of Île-à-Vache in the south and the Three Bays Protected Area in the northeast, with the longest fringing reef in the country, mangroves and manatees. The first marine protected areas were created in 2013 and 2014. A 2011 survey found the reefs among the most overfished in the world, with very few large fish, so recovery will take many years. Green, hawksbill, loggerhead and leatherback turtles use these waters. EU, UK and US citizens may be advised against all travel to Haiti because of gang violence, so please check your own government's website. Ocean Calling has no trips here and shares only the ocean story.

Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.

When to go

Dec-Mar. Timing changes by place and by animal, so check each place below.

Official travel advice or our ethics check means we do not send guests here.

Our ethics check

Can we travel here ethically?

On pause, travel not recommended

We follow government travel advice. We will look again when it changes.

This is not a judgement of the people or the ocean here. It only means that today we could not find a visit that meets our animal-welfare and safety standards. Places change, so we look again every year. Checked 26 Sep 2026.

Sources for this check

The story

Where in Haiti

We share these places as stories and research notes. We do not offer or sell trips here.

Côte des Arcadins

On pause, travel not recommended

A calm coast north of the capital, facing the small Arcadins cays, with reefs that are heavily fished.

Also seen: Reef fish (few large fish, after long overfishing), Sea turtles (rare)

When: Dec-Mar. December to March is the drier, calmer season. Hurricane season runs from June to November. This coast is close to areas with serious gang violence, and governments advise against all travel.

Île-à-Vache

On pause, travel not recommended

A small, car-free island off the south coast, with mangroves, seagrass and old turtle nesting beaches.

Also seen: Sea turtles (they once nested here, now rare), Humpback whales (passing offshore in winter, rarely recorded)

When: Dec-Mar. December to March is the drier season. Hurricane season runs from June to November. The island is part of a marine protected area in the south created in 2013.

Three Bays Protected Area

On pause, travel not recommended

Three bays and a lagoon in the northeast, with the longest fringing reef in Haiti, mangroves and manatees.

Also seen: Antillean manatees (rare), Sea turtles, Water birds in the mangroves and lagoon

When: Dec-Mar. December to March is the drier season. Hurricane season runs from June to November. The park is co-managed by the national protected areas agency and a local marine NGO.

Animals

Animals recorded in Haiti

Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.

Land animals

Green turtle resting on the reef, shell and head pattern in sharp detail

Green turtleChelonia mydasSeen in 103 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Hawksbill turtleEretmochelys imbricataSeen in 88 countries in the AtlasCritically Endangered

Loggerhead turtle at the surface feeding on Portuguese man o' war

Loggerhead turtleCaretta carettaSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasVulnerable

Leatherback hatchling crossing the sand toward the sea

Leatherback turtleDermochelys coriaceaSeen in 76 countries in the AtlasVulnerable

Great barracuda cruising in open blue water, showing jagged teeth

Great barracudaSphyraena barracudaSeen in 84 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Red lionfish with spread fins over sand in Dauin, Philippines

Lionfish (red and common lionfish)Pterois volitans and Pterois milesSeen in 80 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Male magnificent frigatebird perched on a mangrove branch

Magnificent frigatebirdFregata magnificensSeen in 52 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Humpback whale swimming close with long pectoral fin

Humpback whaleMegaptera novaeangliaeSeen in 87 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Antillean manatee swimming in clear blue water, seen from below

Antillean manateeTrichechus manatus manatusSeen in 14 countries in the AtlasEndangered

Sperm whale mother raising her fluke beside her calf off Dominica

Sperm whalePhyseter macrocephalusSeen in 114 countries in the AtlasVulnerable

Longsnout seahorse holding a red sponge stalk with its tail against blue water

Longsnout seahorseHippocampus reidiSeen in 25 countries in the AtlasNear Threatened

Nassau grouperEpinephelus striatusSeen in 20 countries in the AtlasCritically Endangered

Masked boobySula dactylatraSeen in 80 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Queen conch with a reddish spiny shell resting on seagrass over sandy seabed

Queen conchAliger gigasSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasNear Threatened

Adult brown booby standing on a rock with its bill open against blue sky, Principe

Brown boobySula leucogasterSeen in 104 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Atlantic bluefin tuna leaping out of choppy water, recorded in Hovedstaden, Denmark

Atlantic bluefin tunaThunnus thynnusSeen in 39 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Close view of a red-footed booby head with blue, pink and red bill and throat skin among green leaves

Red-footed boobySula sulaSeen in 91 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

American crocodile resting on a sandy river bank at the water's edge in Costa Rica

American crocodileCrocodylus acutusSeen in 17 countries in the AtlasVulnerable

Crowd of brown pelicans packed together on a coastal roost, one adult with a pale head and coloured bill facing the camera

Brown pelicanPelecanus occidentalisSeen in 48 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

American flamingo wading in shallow water with its head lowered toward the surface, Yucatán, Mexico

American flamingoPhoenicopterus ruberSeen in 47 countries in the AtlasLives on landLeast Concern

Neotropic cormorant perched among willow branches beside the water

Neotropic cormorantNannopterum brasilianumSeen in 29 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Curious?

Why this is a story, not a trip

Read our ethics check above. If you would like to talk about it, Rocío is happy to explain.

Ask Rocío Back to the Ocean Atlas

For partners

Based in Haiti?

We are always happy to hear from exceptional local operators, accommodation, conservation organisations and destination experts in Haiti. If your work fits responsible, small-group ocean travel, we would love to learn more.

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