Together, Haiti and the Dominican Republic form the island of Hispaniola. Haiti is virgin territory for the low-impact traveler while the Dominican Republic has a well-developed tourist infra-structure with both excellent beaches and accommodations. With easy cross-border travel between the two countries, this guide is targeted at the independent traveler, enabling them to explore off the beaten track and providing all the necessary practical information. Hikes through the lush tropical jungle of the interior, mountain biking, and whale watching can all be experienced. Hispaniola is a good base for island hopping in this part of the Caribbean and information on this feature is given in the guide with a special section for the cruise market. This is the first guidebook to cover Haiti in such depth and is essential for every visitor.