The park sits in the mountains above the town of Kenscoff, south of Port-au-Prince. At the highest points the air is cool and crisp, and clouds often drift right through the trees. Walking there can feel like being inside a cloud — misty, quiet, and magical.
La Visite is home to some of the rarest birds in the Caribbean. The Hispaniolan trogon — Haiti's national bird, with its bright green back and crimson belly — lives here. So does the Hispaniolan amazon parrot, a noisy, bright green bird that mates for life and travels in chattering flocks. Birdwatchers come from around the world to spot these special species.
The forest floor is covered with ferns and mosses, and small streams run between the tree roots. Wild orchids grow on tree trunks. At night, the calls of frogs echo through the forest — Haiti has its own unique species of tiny frogs found nowhere else on Earth.
Local guides lead hikes through the park on trails that wind between pine trees and viewpoints. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the Caribbean Sea far below. The contrast between the cool mountain forest and the warm turquoise ocean in the distance is breathtaking.