You have been awake since before sunrise. The flight was full, the overhead bins were fuller, and somewhere below the wing is the green coastline of northern Haiti. What happens in the next hour decides how the whole trip feels. Get it right and you are unpacking, showered and eating dinner while the evening is still young. Get it wrong and you spend that hour standing at the curb with your bags, making calls.
This guide is here so it goes right. It walks you through what to prepare before you fly into Cap-Haïtien, what the arrival hall is like, and exactly how our free airport shuttle takes you from the terminal to your room at Hidden Palace on RN #1 in Vaudreuil. Whether you are coming home to see family, bringing the kids to meet their grandparents, leading a group or flying in for work, the goal is the same: land, exhale, and let someone else handle the details.
Before you fly: what to have ready
A calm arrival starts at home, a few days before departure. Five small things make the biggest difference.
Documents and official guidance
Check your passport, and confirm the current entry requirements for Haiti with your airline or the official Haitian authorities before you travel, since rules can change. We also suggest reading your own government’s current travel advisory for Haiti when you book your flights and again the week you fly. It is the most reliable, up-to-date guidance there is, and it is written for exactly this moment. Our honest guide to whether Cap-Haïtien is safe to visit sums up the current US, Canadian and French advice.
Your flights into CAP
The airport you want is Cap-Haïtien International Airport, code CAP. Some booking sites also list it as Hugo Chávez International Airport, so do not be thrown if you see that name. Haitian carrier Sunrise Airways flies nonstop to Cap-Haïtien from several US cities, and American Airlines has announced a return of service between Miami and Cap-Haïtien starting November 1, 2026. Routes and schedules change often, so always check directly with the airline. Our guide to Miami and Fort Lauderdale flights to Cap-Haïtien sums up what the airlines have published.
Your pickup details
As soon as your flight is booked, send us your flight number, arrival date, the number of travelers and roughly how many bags you are bringing. That one message is what lets us line up your ride. Traveling with extra suitcases full of gifts for family? Tell us. It helps us send the right vehicle. Just booked your ticket? Our checklist for after you book your flight covers the room, the pickup and your first night.
Your phone
Save our number, (561) 484-4210, in your contacts before you leave home. Then check with your mobile carrier about roaming in Haiti, so you know whether your phone will work the moment you land.
A carry-on for the first night
Pack your documents, medication, a phone charger, a light change of clothes and a pen in the bag that stays with you. If a checked bag takes a detour, your first night is still comfortable.
Landing at CAP: arrivals step by step
Cap-Haïtien’s airport is compact, which works in your favor: the walk from the aircraft to the exit is usually short compared with a big hub. The general order is familiar to anyone who has flown internationally. You go through passport control first, then collect your checked bags, then pass through customs before walking out to the arrivals area. Ask your airline about any arrival forms or fees that apply on your travel date.
A few tips from experience make it smoother. Keep your passport and your hotel details in the same pocket, because you may be asked where you are staying: the answer is Hidden Palace Guest House and Resort, RN #1, Vaudreuil. If you are traveling with children, give each of them one small job, like watching for your suitcase on the belt. And if people outside offer to carry bags or find you a taxi, a friendly “no, thank you” is all you need. Your ride is already arranged.
How the free Hidden Palace shuttle works
Our airport shuttle is free for guests. No haggling at arrivals, no guessing what a ride should cost, no waiting for a car to show up. Here is how it runs, step by step.
- You book your stay: the whole house on our Airbnb listing, or a single room by phone or WhatsApp.
- You send us your flight details, as described above.
- Our driver meets you at the airport when you land.
- You ride to Vaudreuil, to our door on RN #1, just outside the city. Guests often mention in their reviews how close we are to the airport.
- The front desk welcomes you, whatever the hour, and you are in your room soon after.
Flying in as a larger party? The whole house gives your group all 4 bedrooms and 7 beds under one roof, and we can talk through vehicles for everyone and all that luggage when you book. Our private car service and local shuttle cover extra trips, and car rental is available on site if you would rather drive yourself for the rest of the stay. Parking is free. You can see every transport option on our amenities page, and our directions and contact page shows exactly where we are.
Early or late flight? We’re open 24 hours
Flights do not always land on a friendly schedule, and delays happen. That is why our front desk is open 24 hours a day. A late landing is not a problem, and neither is an evening delay that pushes you past midnight. If anything changes on travel day, call (561) 484-4210 and a real person at the property will answer. Landed without a room? Our guide to finding a last-minute hotel in Cap-Haïtien explains how to get a bed tonight, and if you are only passing through, see where to stay on a layover or overnight connection.
Landing early in the day? Ask about early check-in when you book, and tell us your arrival time so we can plan around it. Either way, breakfast, a shower and a quiet room are never far off.
Money, phone and Wi-Fi basics
The local currency is the Haitian gourde (HTG). Before you go, let your bank know you are traveling. A whole-house stay is paid when you book it on Airbnb; for a single room booked by phone, and for extras such as a private driver, ask us which payment methods we accept. For your phone, your carrier’s roaming plan is the simplest option on day one. Once you arrive, our Wi-Fi keeps you connected, so you can message family that you have arrived and plan tomorrow over a cold drink. Our money, SIM card and Wi-Fi guide covers cash, ATMs, local SIM cards and staying online in more detail.
Your first evening: dinner, room service, jacuzzi
This is the part of the trip we love most. You have arrived. There is nothing left to organize.
Our restaurant serves Haitian cooking with table service and a buffet dinner, and the bar is open for the evening. Too tired to sit at a table? Our 24-hour room service means a hot plate can come to your door whatever time your flight landed. After a long travel day, the outdoor jacuzzi is the best reset we know, and the courtyard under the string lights is a lovely place to sit while the kids explore the game room.
Tomorrow starts with a free buffet breakfast, and then the north is yours. If you are still deciding where to base yourself, our honest guide to where to stay in Cap-Haïtien compares the areas. When you are ready to plan your days, try our 3-day Cap-Haïtien itinerary for families and groups, and read what to know before visiting the Citadelle Laferrière, including its current status. For your first outings, see our guides to things to do in Cap-Haïtien and getting around the city.
Book your stay and your pickup
The earlier we have your dates and flight number, the easier everything becomes for both of us. Booking early means your free airport pickup, your free buffet breakfast and a front desk that answers at any hour are all part of the plan before you pack a single bag. Solo and business travelers can book the One-Bed Room, friends and small families can share a Two-Bed Room, and families and groups can take the whole house. Not sure yet? Compare our rooms. Still comparing places near CAP? Read our guide to choosing a hotel near the Cap-Haïtien airport.
Book your stay and your pickup, or call us at (561) 484-4210, day or night. More answers about arriving are in our arrival FAQs.
Arrival questions, answered
Which airport should I fly into for Hidden Palace?
Cap-Haïtien International Airport (CAP). It is the airport our free shuttle serves, and it is the one guests often describe as close to us.
What if my flight is delayed or rerouted?
Call the front desk at (561) 484-4210. We are open 24 hours, so someone will pick up, and we will adjust your pickup to your new arrival time.
Can you pick up members of our group arriving on different flights?
Tell us every flight number when you book and we will plan around them.
<!– END OF PUBLISHED BODY. Everything below is editor notes and is not published. –>