Top 5 Surfing and Windsurfing in Haiti

Haiti gets a bad rap in most travel circles, but if you’re a water sports fan, that’s exactly why you should pay attention. The country’s 1,100 miles of Caribbean and Atlantic coastline has empty, uncrowded breaks and some of the most consistent, reliable trade winds in the entire region, all without the eye-watering prices or tourist crowds of nearby hotspots like the Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico. Most visitors write Haiti off entirely, which means the surf and windsurf spots here stay almost entirely under the radar.

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A lot of well-traveled wind and wave riders have never even considered Haiti as a destination, which is a huge mistake. Whether you’re a total beginner looking for flat water to practice your first jibe, or an advanced surfer hunting for unridden point breaks, there’s a spot here that fits your skill level. We’ve rounded up the 5 best places to surf and windsurf in Haiti, with practical tips to make your trip as smooth as possible, no fancy tour operator required.

1. Montrouis Windsurfing Zone

Tucked along Haiti’s north coast, about an hour and a half drive from Port-au-Prince, Montrouis is the unofficial windsurfing capital of the country, and for good reason. The wide, protected bay here has shallow, flat water that’s perfect for learning, and the steady 15-25 knot trade winds blow almost every day from November through July, meaning you won’t waste a single day sitting on the beach waiting for wind. Intermediate riders can head a little further out to play in the small, manageable chop, while advanced windsurfers can even catch small wave rides along the edge of the bay when the swell picks up. The vibe here is super laid-back: local fishermen launch their small wooden boats right next to the windsurfers, and you’ll almost always find someone selling cold beer and grilled fish out of a cooler on the sand if you need a break.

This spot is ideal for first-time windsurfers, families with kids who want to try the sport, and anyone who hates the crowded, expensive windsurfing spots you find in more popular Caribbean destinations. There are a few local rental shops right on the beach, so you don’t need to bring your own gear unless you really want to, and the water is warm year-round, so you won’t even need a wetsuit most days.

• Best time to visit: Hit the spot between December and April, when the trade winds are most consistent and the chance of sudden rain squalls is lowest. If you’re a total beginner, avoid July through November, which is hurricane season, even if the wind is still good some days.
• Booking tip: Skip the big international tour operators and rent gear directly from the small local shops on the beach, like Ti Kiri Windsurf Rentals. You’ll pay half the price you would at a tourist-focused shop, and the owners will usually give you free tips on the best spots to ride that day for free.

2. Jacmel South Coast Surf Breaks

If you’re a surfer first and a windsurfer second, Jacmel is your go-to spot in Haiti. This artsy, colorful town on the south coast sits right in the path of Atlantic swells that roll in almost year-round, creating a handful of fun, accessible breaks that work for everyone from total beginners to experienced shortboarders. The most popular spot, Bassin Bleu, is a mellow beach break with small, forgiving waves that are perfect for learning to pop up, while the nearby point break at Ravine du Sud holds longer, more powerful waves for intermediate and advanced riders when the swell is over 3 feet. The whole town has a super creative, laid-back vibe, with street art everywhere, small art galleries, and some of the best live music in the Caribbean if you want to party after a day on the water.

What makes Jacmel really special is that it never gets crowded. Even on the best swell days, you’ll rarely see more than 5 or 6 other surfers in the water, which is a far cry from the packed lineups you’ll deal with in San Juan or Punta Cana. The water is warm, the locals are super friendly, and you can walk to almost every surf spot right from the main town, no long drives required.

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• Best time to visit: Plan your trip between October and March, when the Atlantic swells are biggest and most consistent. If you’re a beginner, stick to the smaller summer swells in June through August, when the waves are gentle and easy to practice in.
• Booking tip: Skip the generic surf camps and book a room at the small, locally owned surf hostel Auberge du Surf, right on the beach. The owners are lifelong local surfers who will give you free, personalized tips on the best breaks for your skill level that day, and they’ll even take you out on a boat to the more remote spots if you ask.

3. Gonâve Island Point Breaks

If you’re an advanced surfer or windsurfer looking for untouched, unridden spots that almost no tourist ever visits, Gonâve Island is your holy grail. This large, rugged island sits just off the coast of Port-au-Prince, and its remote west coast has a handful of uncrowded point breaks that hold some of the cleanest, most powerful waves in all of Haiti. The best spot, Anse à la Gourde, is a fast, tubing left-hander that breaks over a rocky bottom, perfect for experienced shortboarders who know how to read a wave. For windsurfers, the north shore of the island has consistent cross-shore winds and small, playful waves that are perfect for advanced riders who want to practice wave riding without the crowds of more popular windsurf spots.

The only catch to Gonâve Island is that it’s pretty remote: there’s no reliable public transportation, and most of the spots are only accessible by boat or 4×4, so you’ll need to go with a local guide to get there safely. That said, the remoteness is exactly what makes it worth it: you’ll almost never have to share the waves with anyone else, and the local communities on the island are incredibly welcoming to visitors who respect their space.

• Best time to visit: Go between December and February, when the swells are biggest and the trade winds are most consistent. Avoid the rainy season from May to October, when the roads become impassable and the waves are often messy and unpredictable.
• Booking tip: Book a day trip through the local community-run tour group Gonâve Adventure Co., based out of Port-au-Prince. They charge a fair, fixed price that goes directly to the local community, and their guides know every hidden spot on the island, plus they’ll provide all the safety gear you need for the boat ride.

4. Cap-Haïtien Coastal Surf Runs

Cap-Haïtien, Haiti’s second largest city on the north coast, is a great spot for surfers and windsurfers who want to mix their water sports with a bit of culture and history. The coastline just outside the city has a mix of gentle beach breaks and rocky point breaks that work for all skill levels: the mellow beach break at Plage du Nord is perfect for beginners learning to surf, while the nearby point break at Anse du Clerc holds longer, more powerful waves for intermediate and advanced riders when the swell is up. For windsurfers, the bay right off the city’s main waterfront has consistent side-shore winds and flat water that’s perfect for practicing tricks, and you can easily walk to the spot from most hotels in the city center.

What makes Cap-Haïtien stand out is that you can easily spend a full day here mixing water sports with exploring the nearby historic sites, like the Sans-Souci Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site just a short drive from the coast. After a day on the waves, you can grab a cold Prestige beer (Haiti’s national beer) and some grilled lobster at a local beach shack, and watch the sunset over the ocean without another tourist in sight.

• Best time to visit: Visit between November and March, when the winds are most consistent for windsurfing and the swells are biggest for surfing. The summer months can be pretty hot and humid, and the wind often dies down in the afternoons, making it harder to get in a full day of riding.
• Booking tip: Book your gear rental through the small local surf shop, Cap-Haïtien Surf Co., run by a group of lifelong local surfers. They’ll give you a free map of all the local breaks, and they’ll even let you leave your gear at the shop overnight for no extra charge if you want to explore the city after your session.

5. Les Cayes Wind and Surf Bays

Les Cayes, a laid-back port town on Haiti’s southwest coast, is a hidden gem for surfers and windsurfers who want a more low-key, family-friendly vibe than the bigger surf towns. The town sits on a wide, protected bay that’s perfect for windsurfing, with steady 10-20 knot winds that blow almost every afternoon, and shallow, warm water that’s safe for kids to play in while you ride. For surfers, the small beach breaks just outside the bay hold gentle, mellow waves that are perfect for beginners and longboarders, and you can easily walk to all the spots right from the main town.

Les Cayes is also one of the most affordable spots on this list: a full day of windsurf rental only costs about $20, and you can get a full, fresh-caught fish dinner at a local beach shack for less than $5. The locals are super friendly, and you’ll rarely see other tourists here, so you can enjoy the waves and the town without any of the hassle of more popular Caribbean destinations.

• Best time to visit: Hit Les Cayes between January and April, when the winds are most consistent and the water is at its clearest. The rainy season from May to October brings occasional big swells that are great for advanced surfers, but the wind is often less reliable, and there’s a higher chance of sudden thunderstorms in the afternoons.
• Booking tip: Stay at the small, family-run guesthouse, La Maison des Vagues, right on the beach. The owners will let you use their complimentary windsurf and surf boards for free if you stay for 3 nights or more, and they’ll even cook you a free breakfast of fresh fruit and coffee every morning.

At the end of the day, Haiti’s biggest draw for surfers and windsurfers isn’t just the empty waves or the consistent wind, it’s the chance to experience a side of the Caribbean that almost no other tourist gets to see. The locals here are some of the warmest, most welcoming people you’ll ever meet, and the lack of crowds means you can enjoy the ocean exactly how it’s meant to be enjoyed: quiet, uncrowded, and totally authentic. If you’re tired of paying $100 a day for a windsurf rental in a crowded resort town, or waiting in line for a surf break that’s full of other tourists, Haiti is the perfect place to go, and you’ll leave with just as many amazing stories about the people you met as you will about the waves you rode.