St Kitts and Nevis Travel Guide

St Kitts and Nevis Travel Guide

St Kitts and NevisThe twin-island nation of St Kitts and Nevis, situated in the Leeward Islands of the eastern Caribbean, is shaped rather like a tennis racquet and ball - the larger St Kitts is separated from its ball-shaped southern counterpart, Nevis, by a two-mile (3km) channel called The Narrows. At first glance, the small, sleepy islands appear to be forgotten in time: a pair of quiet, lush and natural islands that convey nothing of their former prosperity and turbulent history. From their wealthy position as the most illustrious sugar colony in the Caribbean in the early 18th century they became the centre of conflict, as European powers fought for control of the islands, and the surrounding waters were an irresistible attraction for pirates who lay in wait for the riches transported on the merchant ships. Today the population consists mainly of descendants from the slaves who were shipped from Africa to work the sugar plantations; and vestiges of splendid estates are all that remain as a reminder of the infamously profligate way of life of the rich and famous of days gone by. St Kitts and Nevis have become the tourist pearls of the Caribbean, valued today more as a tropical paradise than a major sugar producer, with clear and inviting waters, sandy beaches and a natural splendour to stun even the most avid city-slicker. Together with a diverse range of activities, historical sites, and the charm of their two capital harbour towns, the volcanic islands are a seductive blend of colour, sunshine and luxurious relaxation.
St Kitts and Nevis Travel Guide

Need To Know

Money:
The official currency is the East Caribbean Dollar (XCD), which is divided into 100 cents. It is tied to the US dollar at a rate of US$1=EC$2.70. Most businesses accept US Dollar notes as payment, but change is given in EC$. Travellers cheques and major credit cards are widely accepted, and major currencies can be exchanged at banks, with US Dollars the cheapest to exchange. Most banks are closed on weekends, but provide 24-hour ATM services.
Time:
Local time is GMT -4.
Electricity:
Electrical current is 230 volts, 60 Hz, but a 117-volt supply is available in most hotels. Round three-pin plugs and three-pin rectangular blade plugs (as in the UK) are in use.
Language:
English is the official language.
Health:
No vaccinations are required for travel to the islands, but a yellow fever certificate is required from visitors travelling from a yellow fever infected country. Dengue fever is on the increase, and precautions against mosquito bites should be taken. There is a high incidence of HIV/AIDS. Medical facilities are adequate, but limited, and health insurance is essential, which should include emergency air evacuation. Most doctors and hospitals expect cash payment.
Tipping:
A 10% service charge is usually included in hotel and restaurant bills, otherwise it is customary to leave 10-15% of the bill depending on the service. Taxi drivers receive 10-15% of the fare.
Safety:
Although most visits to the islands are trouble-free, visitors should still guard against robbery and other crimes of opportunity. Valuables should be left in hotel safes where possible and remote places, particularly beaches, should be avoided, especially after dark. Hurricane season normally runs from June to November.
Customs:
Nudity is not allowed on beaches and beachwear should not be worn in the towns or villages. It is an offence to wear camouflage clothing. Homosexuality is illegal.
Business:
Business in St. Kitts and Nevis is conducted in a relatively informal manner, but a fairly formal dress is expected despite the heat. Handshakes for both men and women are the common form of greeting, and business cards should be exchanged immediately after being introduced. Business hours are generally 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday with an hour taken at lunch.
Duty Free:
Travellers over the age of 18 may import 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 225g tobacco, and 1.136 litres of wine or spirits without paying customs duty.
Communications:
The international dialling code for St Kitts and Nevis is +1 869. The outgoing code is 1 for the Caribbean, USA and Canada, and 011 for all other international destinations followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 01127 for South Africa). City/area codes are not in use. Internet services are widely available at hotels and Internet cafes. Cable and Wireless Caribbean Cellular (St Kitts) Ltd (GSM 850/1900) and Wireless Ventures Ltd (GSM 900/1800) provide cellular phone service.
St Kitts and Nevis Travel Guide

St Kitts and Nevis Attractions

Basseterre
Description:
The capital town of St Kitts, Basseterre retains a certain charm from its elegant days during British and French colonisation, although its British heritage is more evident than its French past. Buildings such as St George's Anglican Church, originally built by the French in 1670, has suffered fires, earthquakes and hurricanes and was rebuilt in 1869, while the Circus, styled on London's Piccadilly Circus, is a central piece of Georgian architecture that features the bright green Berkeley Memorial Clock. Streets lined with interesting shops and boutiques radiate out from the small roundabout in the centre of town. The domed Treasury Building, or customs house, located on the waterfront, stands testament to its heyday as a centre for sugar production, as does Independence Square, site of the original slave market that was built in 1790. It was renamed to commemorate the independence of the island nation from Great Britain in 1983.
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Brimstone Hill Fortress
Description:
The immense fortress situated atop an 800-foot (244m) hill was named the 'Gibraltar of the West Indies', and the citadel, boasting 49 guns, is protected by seven-foot (2m) thick walls. What started in 1690 took almost ten decades to complete, built largely by African slaves, and the scale and grandeur of the fortress was representative of the importance of St Kitts during the 17th and 18th centuries, and of the wealth that required such defence. Today, the indomitable military complex affords incredible views from its commanding position, as well as a small museum, a film recounting the history and restoration of the site, and tours of the officers' quarters, hospital and ammunition stores.
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Basseterre
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465 2609
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info@brimstonehillfortress.org
Website:
www.brimstonehillfortress.org

Frigate Bay Peninsula
Description:
If St Kitts can be described as a tennis racquet-shaped island, the Frigate Bay Peninsula is the narrow handle, stretching down towards Nevis, which connects the racquet head to the widened end of the handle to the southeast. The peninsula is unique in that it offers beaches on both the Atlantic and Caribbean coast; South Frigate Bay on the leeward side offers calm waters ideal for swimming, snorkelling and a variety of watersports activities, while North Frigate Bay on the Atlantic coast is battered by waves perfect for bodysurfing, and is one of the most scenic beaches on the island. As a result it has also attracted most of the resort and hotel development along the coast.
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Charlestown
Description:
The unassuming capital of Nevis is one of the most charming towns in the Caribbean, with a small population and a tranquil atmosphere to match. Eighteenth and 19th century Georgian buildings remain from the colonial era, with ground floors of stone and wooden structures upstairs, a building custom that came about due to the destruction caused by the frequent earthquakes of the 1800s. Part of Charlestown's vivid history was the birth of Alexander Hamilton, the great American statesman, whose family estate home has been turned into a museum of Nevis history as well as Hamilton memorabilia. Charlestown is also the site of the Jewish cemetery, a reminder of the Sephardic Jews whose sought-after sugar processing techniques were responsible for the ultimate success and prosperity of the sugar industry on the island.
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Horatio Nelson Museum
Description:
The museum contains the largest collection of Horatio Nelson memorabilia in the Americas, and is dedicated to the life of the Admiral, Britain's greatest naval hero who died in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Horatio Nelson visited Nevis in the late-18th century during his time based in nearby Antigua, and was where he courted and married Frances Nisbet in what is undoubtedly the island's most famous wedding yet. The displays offer a fascinating introduction to the life and times of Nelson, including photos of Nevis, his wedding, miniatures of his fleet, and other souvenirs of the island during his time.
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Bath Road, Charlestown
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Telephone:
469 0408
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Website:
nevis-nhcs.org/nelsonmuseum.html

Pinney's Beach
Description:
One of the best beaches in the Caribbean, Pinney's Beach is the epitome of paradise with its fine white sands backed by palm trees and lapped by calm Caribbean waters. Lying within convenient distance of Charlestown, Pinney's Beach has a few casual restaurants and beach bars. The four-mile (6km) stretch of sand is never crowded and is backed by a beautiful lagoon; however, the water is not ideal for scuba diving and snorkelling as it can be murky.
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Near Charlestown, half a kilometer from The Narrows strait.
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Mount Liamuiga
Description:
The highest point on St Kitts, Mount Liamuiga is a dormant volcano topped by a 0.6-mile (1km) wide crater lake. Formerly called Mount Misery, the name Liamuiga means 'fertile land' in the native Kalinago language. The slopes of the mountain are covered in farmland and lush tropical rainforest, and are popular places for hiking in St Kitts. Guided hikes usually start from Belmont Estate in the village of St Paul's and go up to the summit, which has panoramic views of the Caribbean, including the islands of St Barths, St Martin, Antigua and Nevis.
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Sandy Point
Description:
Sandy Point Town is the second-largest town in St Kitts, with a population of just more than 3,000 people in the surrounding area. Thought to be the original landing point for Sir Thomas Warner in 1623, Sandy Point was the commercial centre of the island until the 18th century, when most business was moved to Basseterre.These days, Sandy Point is an industrial centre and tourist attraction, located at the entrance to Brimstone Hill National Park. There are some excellent beaches around Sandy Bay, including the shiny black sand beach of Pump Bay, offering good scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities, and Belle Tete, which is near the La Valle estate.
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Oualie Beach
Description:
Oualie (pronounced wah-lee), meaning 'beautiful waters', was the original name of the island of Nevis, and the pretty stretch of sand known as Oualie Beach lives up to this name very well. Located on the northern shore of the island, Oualie Beach boasts fine yellow sand and sheltered waters that are ideal for swimming. The area also makes a good base for a holiday on the island of Nevis, with the excellent Oualie Beach Resort providing top-class accommodation in the picturesque bay. Oualie Beach is home to some fun activities, with water taxis, scuba diving, snorkelling, fishing, mountain biking and windsurfing easily organised from its pleasant dock area.
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Scenic Railway
Description:
One of the most popular tourists activities on the island, the St Kitts Scenic Railway is a must for first-time visitors to the Caribbean nation. A fantastic way to experience the beautiful scenery of the island, as well as to learn about its interesting history as a major sugar producer in the 17th and 18th centuries, the St Kitts Scenic Railway takes visitors on a three-hour tour of the island, following a 30-mile (48km) circular track. The 'island style' narrow-gauge train is unique, in that it has two decks: an open-air observation deck on the top (offering panoramic views), and an air-conditioned parlour below, where complimentary beverages (including rum cocktails!) are served throughout the trip. As the train rolls by sugar cane fields, traditional villages and great sights such as Brimstone Hill Fortress, friendly tour guides contribute to your understanding of St Kitts by sharing anecdotes about the island and snippets of its curious colonial history. Cruise passengers should note that tickets for the Scenic Railway can be booked while on board your cruise ship.
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The train departs from Needsmust Station
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The Strip
Description:
'The Strip', the area immediately surrounding Frigate Bay on St Kitts, is the beating heart of the island when it comes to nightlife and entertainment options. Visitors should not expect neon lights or chic buildings - rather, envisage a series of unpretentious beach shacks located a mere stone's throw from the ocean. Visitors can rest assured that what the Strip lacks in glitz, it more than makes up for in spirit, with numerous bars and clubs offering live music, DJs, fire-eating performances, bonfires and - of course - a steady supply of cold rum cocktails to fuel your dancefloor heroics. Some of the most popular haunts on the Strip include Monkey Bar, The Rainbow, The Shiggidy Shack and Inon's Bar, which draws a nice mixed crowd of tourists and young locals. Also located on The Strip is eDock, a small restaurant offering free Wi-Fi internet access and spectacular views of Frigate Bay.
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