St Kitts (and Nevis)
St Kitts:
Area: 68 square miles, Population:
31,880
Capital: Basseterre (Administrative
capital of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis)
Situated in the northeastern Caribbean, St Kitts is one of the northern Leeward islands. As with other Caribbean islands, St Kitts has glorious beaches, water sports and guaranteed sunshine. Once called Liamuiga - the fertile isle - by the native Caribs, this island still maintains the natural beauty that has always set it apart. The scenery consists of dramatic volcanic peaks, running through the centre of the island, and lush green rainforest, perfect for hiking. The forest abounds in aromatic flora, exotic birds and scuttling fauna, including the little vervet monkey that must appeal to all nature lovers. On the low-lying coastal plains, there are vast fields of sugar cane (the island's chief source of revenue), with many old sugar mills and plantation houses, many of which have been converted into top-quality hotels.
Climate:
The climate is tropical. Temperatures average 81 degrees
Fahrenheit (27 degrees Centigrade) with steady, cooling
breezes throughout most of the year. There is no rainy
season as such. Average annual rainfall is 58 inches, and
an average seven hours sunshine a day makes St Kitts an ideal year-round
destination.
Festivals:
Colourful and lively festivals run throughout the year, and visitors are as
welcome as the locals to join the celebrations. The biggest events in the
year include the International Music Festival in June and 10-day Christmas and
New Year celebrations. 19th September is Independence Day.
History:
The island boasts a rich history with over 200 heritage sites, one of which,
Brimstone Hill Fort, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The island was first
settled by the Amerindians. When Christopher Columbus discovered the
island in 1493 he liked it so much he renamed it after himself and his patron
saint, St Christopher. It was 130 years later that the name became
shortened to St Kitts. Over the ensuing years, the British and French
colonised the island and used it as a base for settling other islands such as
Antigua, Martinique and Anguilla, massacring all the indigenous Caribs as they
did so. They also had frequent skirmishes amongst themselves, hence the
establishment of the Brimstone Hill Fortress. Started in 1690, it took
African slaves 100 years to complete the 38 acre fort, which is one of the
largest engineering projects undertaken in the Caribbean. The disused
canons, high on a hillside overlooking the Caribbean Sea are a key tourist
attraction, and the views are spectacular. Britain gained permanent
control of St Kitts in 1713, and it became an independent country but part of
the British Commonwealth in 1983.
Day Trips:
Visitors can easily pop over to Nevis which is separated by a 2-mile
channel of water. You can fly over on Nevis Express, or take a ferry from
Port Zante, which takes anything from 30 to 50 minutes, depending which vessel
is being used. It is also very easy to take a day trip to several other
neighbouring islands. Anguilla, St Barts, St Eustatius, Saba, Montserrat
and St Martin/St Maarten are all less than half an hour away by air.
Nightlife in St. Kitts is not all about the flashing lights and thumping bass in
the weekend nightclubs. There are other things to do as well. Go to the little unassuming
spots in the villages and around the city. Play dominoes with the people;
eat lobster or grilled fish that were probably swimming in the Caribbean
Sea just hours earlier; sample as much of the local cuisine as possible and do
it in various ambiances; sip an ice-cold Carib Beer, a CSR & Ting, or some
island fruit drink; try some local tropical fruit. Experience real Kittitian friendliness in settings outside
the formal hospitality industry. The warm friendliness is not just a tourism facade. You can feel
absolutely safe, knowing that St. Kitts still ranks in the top
three Caribbean territories for having the lowest crime rates in the region.
Nevis:
Nevis is smaller than St Kitts, with an area of only 36 square miles and is St Kitts' sister island, just two miles away. When Columbus discovered it in 1493 his men were ecstatic and christened it "Las Nievas", as it reminded them of the snow-clad mountains of their native Spain. In fact, the "snow" is actually an almost permanent ring of cloud which covers the island's volcanic peak. Today the crater is peacefully wooded with trees, ferns and tropical plants, while the lower slopes are cultivated with sugar cane, cotton, coconuts, oranges and limes.
The island has great beaches and beautiful accommodation, with several plantation houses which have been converted into excellent relaxed hotels. One of these, Nisbet Plantation Inn, is the only plantation inn in the Caribbean which actually has beach frontage. The island is also known for its tropical botanical gardens, its horse riding and racing, and its fascinating history. It was on this island that Admiral Nelson met and married Fanny Nisbet, a rich and pretty widow, and a small museum bears testimony to their story. The capital, Charlestown, was once one of the most fashionable spots in the world. Here in the 19th century fashionable young ladies bathed in the island's natural hot spring waters with members of the aristocracy, planters, investors and speculators.
Nevis also hosts an excellent golf course in the grounds of its top-quality Four Seasons Hotel.