Green mountains surround bay and ship at Labadee. Credit: Wikimedia

Few tourist opportunities exist in Haiti because of the country’s political and economic instability. The private cruise port of Labadee is an exception.

Labadee, owned by Royal Caribbean, is on the north coast of Haiti in a remote area of the country. It has a beautiful white beach surrounded by lush mountains, an aqua park for children, parasailing, kayaking, banana boat and shopping in a local village, among other activities.

Celebrity and Azamara cruise lines visit Labadee in addition to Royal Caribbean.

Labadee is a stop on some western Caribbean cruises. Visitors will see lagoon-like bays surrounded by forest-covered mountains. The homes of locals who provide workers for the facility as well as sell arts and crafts often peek out from the mountain sides.

Quick Travel Tips

• Labadee is best known for beaches.
• It has the longest zip line in the world over water.
• Shopping is mostly limited to local arts and crafts.

Attractions and Shore Excursions

The shallow bays offer excellent snorkeling for families as well as some energetic banana boat rides.

Labadee continues to grow and has added several major features in recent years. Some are available without charge and some require an extra fee.

The Dragon’s Breath Flight Line is the longest flight line in the world over water. It allows visitors to go 500 feet up the mountain and zip down on a cable more than 2,600 feet to the beach below at 40-50 miles an hour.

Dragon’s Splash Waterslide goes 300 feet through 10 turns and takes people into a splash zone. Dragon’s Tail Coaster goes 30 miles an hour and offers views of the surrounding area. Arawak Aqua Park has trampolines, water slides, a rolling log and other water toys.

Labadee also has kayaking, parasailing and jet skis available for rent.

Dining is available on the beach at three different cafes. Visitors who rent a cabana get meals from the cafes included in the price.

Beaches Near the Cruise Port

Labadee is perhaps best known for the quality of its beaches. They have some of the whitest and finest sand in the Caribbean.

Dragon Tail Beach on the north shore of the peninsula is the largest one. It is good for swimming, snorkeling and resting.

Barefoot Beach Club is where visitors go who are renting cabanas. Nellie’s Beach is another option for anyone renting a cabana.

Columbus Cove is the place for water toys such as Arawak Aqua Park and Dragon’s Splash Waterslide. Adrenaline Beach is farthest from the ship and the best option for sunbathing and small crowds.

Shopping

Local residents who sell arts and crafts in Haiti and Dominican Republic are among the most aggressive people we have met in the Caribbean. This includes our visit to Labadee.

Be polite but firm and assertive when saying no. Keep in mind that they freely negotiate prices, so hagglers will find plenty of chances to bring down prices.

Examine any wood products for purchase with care. We brought home a beautiful mask, only to find that it had termites.

Weather

Temperatures in Labadee average in the mid to upper 80s Fahrenheit or about 30 degrees Celsius during most of the year.

Like the rest of the western Caribbean, Haiti has a dry season from December until March. This is the most popular time to visit.