Health Tips for Traveling to Haiti

✅ The ABCD Prevention Method

• A — Awareness: Risk exists everywhere in Haiti, including urban areas. No region is malaria-free.
• B — Bite Prevention: Use 50% DEET repellent. Wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks after dark. Sleep under insecticide-treated nets or in air-conditioned rooms with sealed windows.
• C — Chemoprophylaxis: Take antimalarial medication before, during, and after your trip. Options include Atovaquone/Proguanil (daily), Chloroquine (weekly), Doxycycline (daily), or Mefloquine (weekly). Start 1-2 days before arrival.
• D — Diagnosis: If you develop fever within a year of returning from Haiti, seek immediate medical care and mention your travel history.

🍽️ The Golden Rule

“If you can’t peel it, cook it, or boil it — leave it!”

• DO: Eat thoroughly cooked, steaming hot food
• DO: Drink only bottled, boiled, or disinfected water
• DO: Eat fruits you peel yourself (bananas, oranges, mangoes)
• DO: Wash hands frequently with soap or sanitizer
• DON’T: Eat raw vegetables or salads
• DON’T: Eat unpeeled fruits
• DON’T: Eat street food or food from unknown vendors
• DON’T: Drink beverages with ice of unknown origin

🏨 Why Hotel Choice Matters for Food Safety

Not all accommodation in Haiti maintains proper food handling standards. Hidden Palace’s gourmet kitchen follows strict protocols:

• Purified water used for all cooking and ice
• Fresh ingredients stored at proper temperatures
• Thoroughly cooked meals prepared by trained staff
• Clean, sanitized preparation surfaces
• Sealed food storage preventing contamination

See our kitchen and dining facilities →

🦟 Diseases to Know

• Dengue Fever: “Breakbone fever” causes severe joint and muscle pain, fever, and headache. No vaccine available. Prevention = mosquito bite avoidance.
• Zika Virus: Spread by mosquitoes and sexual contact. Infection during pregnancy can cause severe birth defects. Pregnant women should reconsider travel to Haiti.
• Chikungunya: Flu-like illness with severe joint pain that can persist for months. Vaccination may be considered for travelers aged 12+.
• West Nile Virus: Present in the Caribbean. Most cases are mild, but severe neurological complications can occur.

🛡️ Your Mosquito Defense Kit

• Repellent: 50% DEET or 20% Picaridin. Apply to exposed skin and clothing.
• Clothing: Long sleeves, long pants, light colors (dark colors attract mosquitoes).
• Bed Nets: Insecticide-treated nets or air-conditioned rooms with sealed windows.
• Timing: Mosquitoes bite dawn to dusk for malaria; daytime for dengue/Zika/chikungunya. Protection needed 24/7.
• Room Choice: Air-conditioned rooms with intact window screens significantly reduce risk.

✅ What You Must Do

• Buy comprehensive travel insurance covering medical evacuation, hospitalization, and trip cancellation
• Ensure medical evacuation coverage — evacuation from Haiti is very expensive and the U.S. government may not assist
• Bring enough prescription medication for your entire stay plus several extra weeks
• Carry medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription
• Keep cash reserves for emergency medical payments
• Enroll in STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) for emergency alerts

🏥 Medical Facilities in Cap Haitien

Cap Haitien has better medical access than rural areas:

• Justinien University Hospital — Largest public hospital in the north
• Hôpital Sacré-Cœur — Private hospital with emergency services
• Multiple clinics with 24-hour emergency response

Hidden Palace support: Our staff can arrange immediate transportation to medical facilities and assist with communication. We maintain relationships with local healthcare providers for guest emergencies.