Haiti is located on the western part of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (the rest is occupied by the Dominican Republic) and includes several small outlying islands as well. It is the poorest and least stable country in the region.

Many natural disasters have ravaged Haiti this century and contribute to the poverty of the country. In 2008, one tropical storm and three hurricanes hit Haiti within a four-week period, which resulted in over 300 deaths. In 2010, Haiti suffered the most severe earthquake to hit Hispaniola in 200 years. People are still recovering from the devastating impact of the quake and tent cities are prominent. In early August 2011, another tropical storm passed over Haiti causing high winds, torrential rain, and floods and doing further damage to the living conditions of Haitians in and out of tent cities.

Because of the high number of natural disasters, many desire to travel to Haiti to volunteer and provide humanitarian aid. If this is your motive, it is best to go through a reputable company, as they know what the needs of the people are and will provide you what you need so that you don’t put unnecessary demands on the already struggling population.

Haiti’s capital city, Port-au-Prince, is a repository of history and culture in the country and is a good place to get a sense of how Haiti came to be where it is today. The Musee du Pantheon National tells the story of Haiti in an exotic garden setting. Much of the museum is subterranean, but you can enjoy a sunny day in the gardens. The building was designed to reflect the culture of the Taino people, the original inhabitants of Haiti.

The Musee d’Art Haitien is home to the largest collection of Haitian art in the country. You can learn about the premier artists of Haiti and view some of their most famous works as you walk the halls of the museum.

The Republic of Haiti is considered a critical threat for crime by U.S. State Department and advises Americans not to travel to Haiti. Some criminals target people arriving at the airport in Port-au-Prince, follow them from the airport and later rob, kidnap, sexually assault and/or kill them. Haitian police are often unavailable to help travelers in need. Much of security in Haiti is overseen by the United Nations.

All areas of Haiti see high levels of criminal activity. This is in part due to drug trafficking, which is a major illegal industry. Haiti is a transit hub for drugs heading to the United States from elsewhere. Extreme caution is advised at all times in Haiti.

All images are used via Creative Commons Attribution rights. View the original images on Flickr at: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4