When you think of dirtbike vacation destinations, Haiti may not be at the top of your list.
Whether or deserved or not, the country of Haiti, located just southeast of Cuba, has a reputation as an impoverished nation that is a dangerous place to visit. In fact, the U.S. State Department updated its travel warning for Haiti just two days ago as follows:
“The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to carefully consider the risks of traveling to Haiti due to its current security environment and lack of adequate medical facilities and response. The Department of State also warns U.S. citizens to carefully reconsider travel to Haiti due to Hurricane Irma, a category 5 storm projected to impact Haiti. This storm may bring significant rainfall and wind that may result in life-threatening flooding, flash flooding, mudslides, and storm surge. Disruptions to travel and services are likely throughout the country. On September 5, the Department authorized the voluntary departure of U.S. government employees and their family members due to Hurricane Irma. This replaces the Travel Warning dated May 22, 2017.
Rates of kidnapping, murder, and rape rose in 2016. While there is no indication that U. S. citizens are specifically targeted, kidnapping for ransom can affect anyone in Haiti, particularly long-term residents. Armed robberies and violent assaults reported by U.S. citizens have risen in recent years.”
But that didn’t stop dirtbike enthusiast Olivier Kroh and a few of his friends from checking out portions of Haiti as part of their own dirtbike adventure. Kroh and company shot video of their ride to Môle-Saint-Nicolas in Haiti. In fact, Kroh’s YouTube page has a few videos that show him dirtbiking in different parts of Haiti.
Môle-Saint-Nicolas is located on the north-western coast of Haiti. And here’s a little historical factoid: Christopher Columbus’ first voyage to the Americas landed at the site of what is now Môle-Saint-Nicolas on December 6, 1492. The town received its present name after France gained control of the western part of Hispaniola in 1697. The town itself currently has a population of about 4000, with another 20,000 spread throughout the rural areas nearby. Fishing and wood charcoal manufacturing are two major industries in the region, and the latter has had a negative environmental impact on the area. According to Wikipedia, the original forest that once covered is gone, and the terrain around Mole looks more like the high desert of Arizona than the lush tropical island that was first described to Europeans by Columbus.
Still, if there’s one thing that Kroh’w video shows, it’s that there is no place that isn’t cool enough to go for a dirtbike ride!
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