Saint Kitts and Nevis Travel Guide

Saint Kitts and Nevis OVERVIEW

So you're going to St Kitts and Nevis but don't know which to stay on. If you're up to a little bit of island hopping, an "eeny, meeny, miny, moe" sort of thing will do as the frequent ferry service enables you to change location as quickly as you change your mind about what you feel like doing. But if you're planning to drop the anchor for longer and need to book a dock early, you must know the two islands cut considerably different figures and it does matter what's on your preliminary agenda.

Saint Kitts draws a lot more tourists thanks to a better infrastructure and a greater number of sightseeing spots. It is more extrovert and frenetic, with the the lively buzz of Basseterre that retains much of the sheer elegance and Georgian character of Nelson's days. Throughout the island, set before the dramatic backdrop of lush green hills or surrounded by vast sugarcane plantations, you'll find numerous colonial houses, tiny villages, and heavenly seafront resorts. The picturesque Caribbean cliché is presided by majestic, climbable Mt. Liamuiga (a volcano also called Mount Misery), and well-guarded by the UNESCO-protected Brimstone Hill Fortress, both elevations commanding astounding views. And when you've had enough of hiking, the gorgeous scenery and rum serving beach bars of the Frigate Bay will provide a shelter from the heat of the day and soothe your aching muscles before the night goes off with a bang.

The twin sister, Nevis, is an oasis of tranquility, where time seems to stand still and silence is only broken by the piercing alarm calls of vervet monkeys. The ground rises upward into a cloud forest filled with brilliant tropical flowers, crystal clear waters lap at pristine sugar sand beaches, and even the bellicose young Horatio Nelson gave in to a summer romance here, courting and wedding Fanny Nisbet, with whispering breezes and the golden glow of sunsets as backdrop. Lovely churches, mills and old colonial houses of Charleston, the cradle of the Civil War and an adorable wedding spot, add flavor to the mellow scenery of perfectly stereotypical Caribbeanness.

Venerable history, love of music, an intoxicating blend of sunlight and fantastically abundant vegetation unite the distinct "personalities" that make up the dual-island nation of St Kitts and Nevis. It's a place to fall in love at first sight, and the fact that it is not overrun with tourism means it has managed to retain its original vibe and heart-melting charm. Don't dilly-dally. Be there first before others twig onto the benefits.