Embark on an adventure of a lifetime with an origin trip to Haiti’s coffee lands. Haiti was the world’s third largest coffee producer in 1949. After decades of dormancy, Singing Rooster, a social enterprise nonprofit, has been working directly with farmers since 2009. Together, we’re putting Haiti’s reputation back on the world’s coffee map. Join us on a tour of Haiti’s coffee mecca, Thiotte, where you’ll visit family farms, farmer-owned processing centers, and experience rural Haiti. This tour provides insight into something rare– where getting there is half the fun.
Trip Overview
- 7-days, 6-nights
- 2 nights in Port Au Prince (coming & going)
- 3 nights in Thiotte (Haiti’s coffee mecca)
- In-country transportation, 2 daily meals, lodging covered
- Cost – $980 per person (you cover flight to/from Port au Prince + $10 entrance fee)
- 8 people max per trip
- Age minimum = 18
- Physical requirements: traveling long hours over bumpy roads, hiking, & limited access to facilities
Trip Guide: Justin Dena is Singing Rooster’s Director of Business Development and is an experienced traveler in Haiti. He is certified as an EMT and is a Marine Corps Veteran. He’s a nice respectful guy — full of curiosity with insight and advocacy for Haitian farmers. He will make your trip worthwhile!
“Traveling with Justin is fun. He’s full of adventure and practicality — just what you want in a guide. When our truck broke down, he jumped on a 4-wheeler and took charge of getting us to where we needed to be.” Molly Nicaise (can’t stand roosters, but loves Haitian coffee)
Travel Dates: Like us on Facebook or follow Singing Rooster on instagram to learn about trip dates. Better yet email us – we’ll put you on the list & will inform you of upcoming trip dates: I want to know more about your next trip to the coffee lands – only 8 seats per trip
General Itinerary / Events You’ll Experience (subject to change):
Day 1: Friday arrival in Port au Prince. Shared evening meal at local hotel: introductions, trip details, overview of Haiti including learning creole phrases.
Day 2: Saturday begins with an early breakfast, then departure. Tour Singing Rooster’s coffee roastery and processing center on the way out of town. Embark on a 4 hour drive over 80 miles of rough terrain. Stop at the Pine Forest Saturday Market (something you’ll never forget). Visit farmer co-op processing station after a late lunch. Overnight in Thiotte.
Day 3: Sunday begins w/ a tour of Singing Rooster’s demonstration farms: see how coffee grows and is transforming Haiti’s bare mountain landscape. Includes hiking on small, rocky (and occasionally slippery) paths. Good shoes & attitude required.
Day 4: Monday tour a family farm. Visit local farmer co-ops, nursery, roastery, & facility.
Day 5: Wednesday morning, we’ll head back to Croix des Bouquets (12 km from Port au Price) where we’ll check into hotel. Visit the fabulous metal art district.
Day 6: Wednesday visit Haiti’s largest waterfall, Salt Eau / Sodo. Evening meal together.
Day 7: Thursday morning debriefing over breakfast. Travel to airport.
Trip is suited for glampers — glorified campers (Haiti’s country guest houses are basic):
- shared rooms & bathrooms
- occasional hot rooms (no fans – pack a mini fan?)
- occasional electrical outages
- little or no water pressure in your cold shower
- periodic cell phone coverage in the mountains
- basic mattresses & pillows
- dogs barking, roosters crowing (not just at dawn)
- occasional smoke from outdoor cookeries (they cook by fire)
- occasional exhaust from heavy traffic
- lots of dusty, unpaved & bumpy roads
- hiking on rocky, slippery paths
- lots of creole chicken, rice & beans!
Please note: traveling 80 miles to the destination is slow-going, bumpy, and tiring. Have a good back? Like sitting really close to strangers (who quickly become great friends)? This trip is for you. There is a lot to see along the way, and it’s a grand adventure. We’ll travel in a Toyota land cruiser that has 2 benches for seating. We’ll draw a lottery for the front seat! We’ll stop along the way to stretch legs and take photos. Experienced, trusted driver.
What to bring: we’ll email you a travel checklist.
We want you to love Haiti as much as we do. When we travel in small groups to places off the map – it changes us — how we think, interact. It inspires us in ways unanticipated. Join us.
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