Best Time to Visit Port-au-Prince

Dry and easy: December to April

This is the best stretch. Days are warm but not heavy, around 31°C, and rain is light. January and February are the driest months, with only a few showers. December, January, February and March all rate Excellent. April slips to Good as it warms up and the showers return.

If you want to walk around Pétion-Ville, visit the Marché en Fer (the iron market downtown) or drive up toward Kenscoff for cooler air, these are the months. Evenings are pleasant enough for a plate of griot (fried pork) and fried plantains outside.

This is also the busiest time. Many Haitians living abroad come home around Christmas and New Year, so flights fill up. January 1 is Independence Day, and families traditionally eat soup joumou (pumpkin soup) that day.

Carnival season: February

Carnival is the big event of the year. It runs through the weeks before Lent, with music, costumes and rara-style bands (street groups with bamboo horns and drums). The weather is ideal for it, dry and sunny. Arrangements and locations can change from year to year, so check local news before you go.

Travelling with kids or hate crowds? Pick another month. Streets get packed and traffic slows.

Hot and showery: May to July

The rain picks up in May, with showers on about 11 days. They're often short bursts, and sunshine returns between them. Nights stay warm at 26–27°C, and by July the afternoons reach 33°C.

July is a useful middle ground. It has fewer rainy days than its neighbours and more sun. The rating stays Good. Expect sticky afternoons and plan indoor stops, like the Musée du Panthéon National Haïtien (MUPANAH), for the hottest hours.

Wet and stormy: August to November

August through October rate Fair. October is the wettest month by rain days, with 14, and it's humid. September and October are also the heart of the Atlantic hurricane season, so keep an eye on forecasts and keep your plans flexible.

November is the turning point. It's still wet, with about as much rain as October, but it rates Good, and the air starts to feel a little lighter. You'll find fewer visitors and easier travel, though road conditions and delays can be worse after heavy rain.

For the best mix of weather and things to do, aim for January to March. For a quieter trip, try early December or July.