A Saint Kitts and Nevis Vacation

If you are looking for a relaxing stay on a small island, maybe a Saint Kitts and Nevis vacation is for you. We were there in 2019 for a very short stay.

About Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis is a very small two island nation in the eastern Caribbean. They are located south of St. Martin, west of Antigua, and northwest of Montserrat. Combined, the two islands only take up an area of 269 square kilometers (104 sq. mi.). This was the first British settlement in the Caribbean, but they became an independent state (joined with Anguilla) in 1967. In 1980, Anguilla left the union but Saint Kitts and Nevis remain in the Commonwealth realm. The people are predominantly black or mulatto and speak English and Creole.

Sugarcane, once the driving force of their economy, has today been replaced by tourism. Other fruits and vegetables, particularly coconuts, and electronics and batik fabrics are the main export items. As well, remittances from emigrants to other countries are a major influence on the economy. Cricket and athletics are the main sports, while visitors take part in hiking, cycling, and watersports.

What to Do

As a bit of a train buff, I was most interested in taking the St. Kitts Scenic Railway. This is a tour that runs on the narrow gauge railway track originally built for transporting sugar cane. It runs 30 miles around the island, with narration of the sites as you pass by and some local entertainment. The train cars are double deckers; the lower level is enclosed and air conditioned while the upper level has a roof but open sides. The train took us through the rural landscape, over a few bridges, and along the coastline. Saint Kitts is made up mainly of volcanic rock, and we saw some of the black sand beaches that are common.

Our particular tour also included a narrated bus tour. This bus tour took us through the areas you don’t see from the train tracks. There were many very old buildings and ruins from the sugar plantations.

Back in Basseterre, the capital and port city, there was a buzz of lively street entertainment. I was disappointed to see monkeys dressed up and on leashes. The poor monkeys looked terrified. I hope that tourists will think this through and not get a photo with the monkeys. They are are wild animals who should not be used for profit.

Next Time in Saint Kitts and Nevis

I thoroughly enjoyed the train ride but I did feel that we had missed a lot by not getting out and walking around more. And we never got to Nevis at all. If I were to go back, there are a few things I would put at the top of my list to do. I would take a hike up Mount Liamiuga, through the rainforest to the summit of this dormant volcano. I like to learn about the history of the places I visit, so I would include a stop at Romney Manor next time. Once a sugar plantation, it is currently the home of a batik maker. The ruins of Wingfield Estate are also nearby and there you can see some Carib petroglyphs. Of course I would also take advantage of one of the excursions over to the island of Nevis. There are many different options, traveling by catamaran or speedboat, and staying at the beach there or taking an island tour.