Trip to Saint Kitts and Nevis islands in the Caribbean
♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA
General Information
Saint Kitts and Nevis are two small islands in the northeast Caribbean. The islands are only about 3 km apart. Together, they constitute the smallest country in both land area and population in the Americas. Only about 53,000 residents live there, the vast majority of whom are descendants of African slaves brought to work in sugar cane cultivation. 75% of the residents live on the larger island, Saint Kitts.
These islands were ruled by the British and the French starting from the beginning of the 17th century. They also massacred and exiled the Carib inhabitants who lived on these islands at the time. In the 18th century, the islands came under British sovereignty, and in 1983, they became an independent nation.
Today, the islands' economy is primarily based on tourism, especially cruise ships, and a small amount of agriculture.
The largest city on the island is located in southern Saint Kitts and is named Basseterre, where the cruise port is situated. The international airport is located in its northern part.
The northern part of the islands borders the Atlantic Ocean, while the southern part borders the Caribbean Sea.
Transportation
A regular ferry line connects the two islands, and the sailing time between them is about 40 minutes. Saint Kitts has an international airport with flights to destinations in the United States, Canada, and London in Europe.
British Airways flies to the island from London but with a layover in Antigua. Besides flights from several Caribbean islands, there are flights only by American, Delta, United, JetBlue, and Air Canada from New York, Toronto, Atlanta, and Miami.
Nevis has a small airport with flights to Caribbean destinations.
Weather and Recommended Visit Time
The islands have a tropical climate, and the temperature throughout the year is between 24 and 27 degrees Celsius. The amount of precipitation on the islands is very high, about 2400 mm per year! This occurs mainly between May and November, but rain also falls in the other months. It should also be remembered that the hurricane season in the Caribbean is between the months of July and October. The peak of the tourist season on the islands is between December and April. The islands have mountains that are peaks of ancient volcanoes, and on the larger island of Saint Kitts, the mountain reaches a height of over 1100 meters.
Most tourists arrive at the large island of Saint Kitts, which also has more tourist attractions, but the better beaches are actually found on the small island of Nevis. Many catamaran sailing trips depart from Saint Kitts to the beautiful beaches of Nevis. Both islands have luxurious hotels and resorts.
Recommended Hotels in Saint Kitts:
St. Kitts Marriott Resort & The Royal Beach Casino A Marriott chain resort on the most recommended beach in Saint Kitts with a casino, a large and recommended pool, a spa, sports facilities, and eight restaurants.
Recommended Hotels in Nevis:
Four Seasons Resort Nevis A luxury resort considered the most recommended hotel in Nevis, located on the most beautiful beach, with impressive views and a variety of facilities and treats. The hotel has three infinity pools, golf and tennis courts, five restaurants, and a spa.
The Hamilton Beach Villas & Spa
An excellent suite hotel on a beautiful beach in Nevis with two pools, a restaurant, and a spa.
Trips and Attractions
Most tourists arrive at the islands on cruise ships, so it is highly recommended to take a guided tour departing from the port and reaching the main destinations on the island. The ships offer group tours that are quite expensive, but I recommend taking a private tour where you can see much more and without the hassle of a large group.
Guided Tours from Saint Kitts (to order from Viator)
Private Tour of Saint Kitts Island
A five-hour private tour of Saint Kitts with the company St. Kitts/Nevis Luxury Taxi & Tours in a luxury Cadillac with VIP service (including wine, soft drinks, watermelon, island souvenirs) with an excellent guide full of explanations. The tour included the best of the island, a visit to an ancient estate and gardens, a factory for producing colorful fabrics (Batik) housed in a beautiful building surrounded by gardens and views,
A rock with petroglyphs,
The capital's city center with British characteristics
And the highlight, a visit to a giant fortress at the top of a mountain which is a UNESCO heritage site and overlooks a spectacular view.
The tour included many impressive scenic overlooks, a view of the place where the lava from the last eruption, about four hundred years ago, poured into the stormy Atlantic Ocean and froze, a visit to the yacht harbor, a view of tiny ancient houses compared to celebrity villas (Robert Redford, for example), and for dessert, a visit to a beach on the quiet Caribbean side of the island overlooking the neighboring island, Nevis.
Catamaran Sailing from Saint Kitts to Nevis Island
A recommended experience is going on a catamaran sailing trip from the port in Saint Kitts to the neighboring island of Nevis and spending time at a beach in Nevis. The sailing duration is about an hour to Nevis. During the sailing, you receive soft and alcoholic drinks included in the price, and on the beach in Nevis, you get a buffet lunch including a drink bar.
The beach in Nevis has soft white sand and the water is clear turquoise.
You can walk along the beach in Nevis and visit the Four Seasons Hotel beach located nearby.
