The charming two-island country sitting in the Leeward Islands region in the Caribbean is an endless playground for both adults and children alike. Adorned with white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters, Saint Kitts & Nevis bewilder with their natural appeal and the long list with activities visitors can try to fulfil their wish for dreamy island vacations. Below is just a small glimpse!
Unwind and Relax on the Shores of Saint Kitts & Nevis
Despite their relatively small size, compared to other Caribbean islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis have an impressive number of sugary beaches waiting to be explored or relaxed on, from beach bar-lined shores to isolated, remote coves.
One of the most exquisite spots to recharge your batteries is Frigate Bay on Saint Kitts which will blow your mind with the provided landscape as it juts out from the southeast of the coast in between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The small, yet lively, beach invites visitors to enjoy water sports experiences (its Caribbean side has warmer and a bit safer waters) and lively evenings featuring live local bands and beach BBQs.
Now, depending on the beach endeavours you seek, you could head to South Frigate Beach or North Frigate Beach and cherish cosmopolitan beach bars and quieter drinks or rougher seas and windsurfing or secluded beachside walks, respectively.
As for Nevis, it is less developed and somewhat quieter than Saint Kitts, and greets with untouched sandy shores exuding a laid-back ambiance. The main beach on the island is Pinney’s which stretches for over 6.4 kilometres (4 miles) and offers transparent, azure waters, food stalls, relaxed beach bars, and plenty of tables and chairs to enjoy a cold beer and/or freshly-caught fish!
Hike Across Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts is a hiker’s haven as its unique volcanic morphology makes it an appealing hiking destination. Dotted with lush vegetation, ravines, fertile valleys, imposing rock formations, a low-land rainforest, and trade routes created centuries ago, you simply choose the type of hike you desire depending on your physical condition and hiking experience and either challenge yourself with a difficult trek or go after a more relaxing venture.
Some of the best hiking options is Mount Liamuiga (aka Mount Misery), the highest peak in Saint Kitts, which is cut for experienced hikers as you will have to climb through the rain forest and also break through the cloudy scenery on the way to the lip of the foliage-filled crater (aka the giant’s salad bowl) and then the summit at 1,155 metres (around 3,800 feet). As expected, the seascapes from up there are simply mind-blowing.
Visit the Nevis Botanical Gardens to Spot Rare Species
During the 17th century, Nevis was full of sugar plantations that flourished due to the island's particularly fertile volcanic soils. Now long forgotten, the sugar plantations have given their place to a constantly growing rainforest, which becomes home to a huge array of indigenous flora celebrated at the Nevis Botanical Gardens.
Tucked west of the island’s capital, the gardens opened in 1998 and occupy the location where the Montpelier Sugar Plantation was found. Inside its premises, you will find vine gardens adorned with antiques and sculptures, as well as cactus, orchid, and herb gardens, rare birds and butterflies, an indoor waterfall, a conservatory whose design was based on London’s Kew Gardens Palm House, and over 100 species of palm trees. There is even a gift shop and a Thai restaurant to grab a bite if you wish.
See the Sunset From Brimstone Fortress
Nestled atop a rocky outcrop in Saint Kitts, Brimstone Fortress is a fantastic place made from dark volcanic stone to pamper yourself with heart-stopping views of the island and the glistering sea. Also referred to as the Gibraltar of the West Indies, the Brimstone Fortress has also been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Built in 1690 by the British, the scenic landmark on the western side of the island is also the largest fortress in the entire Caribbean and still has most of its original cannons on its site lined up on the bastions.
Although it suffered great damage after a fire in 1867, 15 years after it was abandoned, it has been restored and is now home to a museum displaying the site’s history. While here, you may want to visit the cemetery, the parade grounds, and the past hospital rooms on the way up the hill. As for the most spectacular panoramas and sunset views, you could either head to the highest point, Fort George, or the top bastion. On a clear day, you might be able to see all the way to Montserrat island, some 64 kilometres (40 miles) away!
Ride St. Kitts’ Quaint Railway
Constructed in 1912, Saint Kitts’ railway brought convenience and a new era to the local sugar industry, enabling fast transportation to the central mills in the capital of the island. The narrow gauge railway fell into despair with the decline of the sugar industry that arrived a few years later. Luckily, it was refurbished in the early 2000s and now serves as perhaps the most scenic way to see the island. Plus, you won’t find another train still running in the Caribbean region!
The charming railway with the 29-kilometre (18 miles) track will take you on a 2-hour ride around the eastern part of the island, then hop on a coach and go back to where you started after a 19-kilometre (12 miles) sightseeing route.
Along the way, you will be surrounded by the lush rainforest and go over steel bridges and across deep ravines (called ghuts in Saint Kitts and Nevis), patches of sugar cane, and an amazing countryside that you can admire even more by sitting at the (open air) top deck of the double-decker carriages.
And, while you glide past spellbinding scenery, the train driver will let you know which sites you are passing, while you might even be entertained by an adorable local 3-member band singing a capella!
The charming two-island country sitting in the Leeward Islands region in the Caribbean is an endless playground for both adults and children alike. Adorned with white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters, Saint Kitts & Nevis bewilder with their natural appeal and the long list with activities visitors can try to fulfil their wish for dreamy island vacations. Below is just a small glimpse!
Unwind and Relax on the Shores of Saint Kitts & Nevis
Despite their relatively small size, compared to other Caribbean islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis have an impressive number of sugary beaches waiting to be explored or relaxed on, from beach bar-lined shores to isolated, remote coves.
One of the most exquisite spots to recharge your batteries is Frigate Bay on Saint Kitts which will blow your mind with the provided landscape as it juts out from the southeast of the coast in between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The small, yet lively, beach invites visitors to enjoy water sports experiences (its Caribbean side has warmer and a bit safer waters) and lively evenings featuring live local bands and beach BBQs.
Now, depending on the beach endeavours you seek, you could head to South Frigate Beach or North Frigate Beach and cherish cosmopolitan beach bars and quieter drinks or rougher seas and windsurfing or secluded beachside walks, respectively.
As for Nevis, it is less developed and somewhat quieter than Saint Kitts, and greets with untouched sandy shores exuding a laid-back ambiance. The main beach on the island is Pinney’s which stretches for over 6.4 kilometres (4 miles) and offers transparent, azure waters, food stalls, relaxed beach bars, and plenty of tables and chairs to enjoy a cold beer and/or freshly-caught fish!
Hike Across Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts is a hiker’s haven as its unique volcanic morphology makes it an appealing hiking destination. Dotted with lush vegetation, ravines, fertile valleys, imposing rock formations, a low-land rainforest, and trade routes created centuries ago, you simply choose the type of hike you desire depending on your physical condition and hiking experience and either challenge yourself with a difficult trek or go after a more relaxing venture.
Some of the best hiking options is Mount Liamuiga (aka Mount Misery), the highest peak in Saint Kitts, which is cut for experienced hikers as you will have to climb through the rain forest and also break through the cloudy scenery on the way to the lip of the foliage-filled crater (aka the giant’s salad bowl) and then the summit at 1,155 metres (around 3,800 feet). As expected, the seascapes from up there are simply mind-blowing.
Visit the Nevis Botanical Gardens to Spot Rare Species
During the 17th century, Nevis was full of sugar plantations that flourished due to the island's particularly fertile volcanic soils. Now long forgotten, the sugar plantations have given their place to a constantly growing rainforest, which becomes home to a huge array of indigenous flora celebrated at the Nevis Botanical Gardens.
Tucked west of the island’s capital, the gardens opened in 1998 and occupy the location where the Montpelier Sugar Plantation was found. Inside its premises, you will find vine gardens adorned with antiques and sculptures, as well as cactus, orchid, and herb gardens, rare birds and butterflies, an indoor waterfall, a conservatory whose design was based on London’s Kew Gardens Palm House, and over 100 species of palm trees. There is even a gift shop and a Thai restaurant to grab a bite if you wish.
See the Sunset From Brimstone Fortress
Nestled atop a rocky outcrop in Saint Kitts, Brimstone Fortress is a fantastic place made from dark volcanic stone to pamper yourself with heart-stopping views of the island and the glistering sea. Also referred to as the Gibraltar of the West Indies, the Brimstone Fortress has also been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Built in 1690 by the British, the scenic landmark on the western side of the island is also the largest fortress in the entire Caribbean and still has most of its original cannons on its site lined up on the bastions.
Although it suffered great damage after a fire in 1867, 15 years after it was abandoned, it has been restored and is now home to a museum displaying the site’s history. While here, you may want to visit the cemetery, the parade grounds, and the past hospital rooms on the way up the hill. As for the most spectacular panoramas and sunset views, you could either head to the highest point, Fort George, or the top bastion. On a clear day, you might be able to see all the way to Montserrat island, some 64 kilometres (40 miles) away!
Ride St. Kitts’ Quaint Railway
Constructed in 1912, Saint Kitts’ railway brought convenience and a new era to the local sugar industry, enabling fast transportation to the central mills in the capital of the island. The narrow gauge railway fell into despair with the decline of the sugar industry that arrived a few years later. Luckily, it was refurbished in the early 2000s and now serves as perhaps the most scenic way to see the island. Plus, you won’t find another train still running in the Caribbean region!
The charming railway with the 29-kilometre (18 miles) track will take you on a 2-hour ride around the eastern part of the island, then hop on a coach and go back to where you started after a 19-kilometre (12 miles) sightseeing route.
Along the way, you will be surrounded by the lush rainforest and go over steel bridges and across deep ravines (called ghuts in Saint Kitts and Nevis), patches of sugar cane, and an amazing countryside that you can admire even more by sitting at the (open air) top deck of the double-decker carriages.
And, while you glide past spellbinding scenery, the train driver will let you know which sites you are passing, while you might even be entertained by an adorable local 3-member band singing a capella!