This warm and welcoming two-island nation combines some lovely beaches with impressive mountains, activities on land and water, and a rich history. The local culture is mellow, friendly and infused with a pulsing soca beat, and revolves around limin.
St Kitts and Nevis
St Kitts is larger and more commercial island, ranging from bustling Basseterre to its huge Port Zante cruise terminal to the party strip and resorts of Frigate Bay. Across the Narrows, tranquil Nevis is a neater package, anchored by a single volcanic mountain buttressed by a handful of wonderful beaches and tiny colonial capital, Charlestown.
Nature walks will take you to the verdant upper reaches of the peak, while the island’s history takes in British admiral Horatio Nelson, US founding father Alexander Hamilton and several well-preserved sugar plantations, now luxurious hotels.
Beach in St Kitts
Top Things To Do
Clear Blue Waters St Kitts
Activities
From climbing a volcano to zooming through the rainforest canopy on the Caribbean’s longest zipline, St. Kitts and Nevis offer something for everyone. St. Kitts has an irresistible collection of attractions and it is easy to engage with the island through a host of activities.
Scenic Railway – St Kitts
Sugar Train, St Kitts
Ride the Sugar Train
If you could do just one thing in St. Kitts, it should be to board the Scenic Railway – the last one in the West Indies. Built for the sugar trade in the early 20th century, today the train takes sightseers on an 18-mile journey. The double-decker carriages have open-sided top decks, so you can enjoy the breeze with your complimentary rum punch and the sounds of the train’s own choir.
Mount Liamuiga
The island is dominated by three volcanic peaks, the highest being the 3,792ft (1,156m) Mount Liamuiga. It is shrouded with rainforest and on the way up you may see vervet monkeys and wild orchids. Only the fittest reach the very top, where there is an impressive deep crater, but you can go part of the way or try a gentler nature trail on the slopes.
Mount Liamuiga, St Kitts
Jet Skiing in St Kitts
Watersports in St Kitts
Surrounded by warm blue seas, the island is great for all manner of water sports. Kiteboarding has become a key pursuit for thrill-seekers – there’s tuition if needed – and there are several places to hire windsurfers, sailing dinghies and the exhilarating Hobie Cats. For a less intense experience, glide across the sea in a kayak, which is also a good way to spot wildlife.
Music Festival in St Kitts
Music in St Kitts
Festivals play a big part in local life and the end of the year is celebrated in grand style. Sugar Mas takes place across the festive period and features live calypso music, fabulous costume parades and energetic parties. In June, there’s the renowned St. Kitts Music Festival, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2016, with reggae, R&B and more, while in October there is the Latin Festival.
Brimstone Hill
Almost every visitor to St. Kitts makes their way up to Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park. Crowning the hill at this Unesco World Heritage Site is a citadel that dates back to the late 17th century. After touring it and learning about its history, it is well nigh compulsory to take a selfie beside one of the old cannons on the ramparts with a wonderful Caribbean vista in the background.
Brimstone Hill Fortress, St Kitts
Nevis across the Narrows, St Kitts
Nip off to Nevis
Sister island Nevis lies just 2½ miles across the channel known as The Narrows – so close that every March there’s a swimming race between the islands that attracts competitors from around the world. Of course, you can just take the ferry. Nevis has its own volcano and waterfalls, hot springs, picturesque houses and more monkeys than people.
When to visit
December to April is the high season and the coolest, driest time of year, with an average daily maximum temperature of around 28.5°C.
Getting here
St Kitts is reachable with many international carriers flying daily.
How to get around
As St Kitts is a relatively small island, getting around the island is fairly convenient. Though the public transportation is sparse (check with your hotel for schedules and rates), taxis are available to get you wherever you need at reasonable prices.
Scenic Railway – St Kitts
