Weather Lowdown
St. Kitts, one of the two islands that make up the Caribbean nation of St. Kitts and Nevis, is an absolutely gorgeous destination for a January vacation. This time of year is arguably the best to visit St. Kittst is the driest, sunniest and coolest time of year.
"Coolest" is relative, though, as the average temperature is 25°C in January, which is similar to December. In the afternoons, visitors are able to enjoy an average high temperature of 27°C, while at night, the mercury drops no lower than the average low of 22°C. T-shirts and shorts are all you need during a holiday in St. Kitts in January, in other words. The sea temperature averages 26°C this month, which, mind you, is as cool as the Caribbean Sea ever gets!
January falls within the comfortable dry season in the Caribbean. It is, in fact, the driest month of the entire year, receiving no more than 60mm of rainfall, spread out over 16 days with some kind of rainfall. While 16 rainy days might seem like a lot, it is essential to know that the chance of rainfall is only 20% on average this month. If it rains in January, it will almost certainly be just light rain, which occurs on 73% of the days with rainfall. Moderate rain falls on 24% of those days.
With such low rainfall levels come fewer clouds and, as such, plenty of sunshine. The chance of sunny days is 80% this time of year and there are 9 hours of sunshine per day on average. This number of 9 sunshine hours per day could be considered to be the annual daily average, as it is basically sunny all-year round in St. Kitts. Only March and July are slightly sunnier with 10 hours of sunshine per day.
So, with more than pleasant temperatures, few raindrops and an abundance of sunshine, January is unquestionably a superb month to visit St. Kitts. If you do plan to visit, you can always check out our detailed weather forecast.
Where to Stay
If you decide you've had enough of the cold weather at home and want to visit St. Kitts and enjoy its amazing temperatures, consider staying at the Beach Music Villa in Frigate Bay. This luxurious villa overlooks the Royal St. Kitts Golf Course and is set right by the ocean. Each of the rooms offers a beautiful ocean view. You can rent the one-bedroom main house or even the entire villa, including the guesthouse, which has three additional bedrooms. There is a large swimming pool and a lush garden as well.
Situated scenically between the Caribbean Sea and Mount Liamuiga, Belle Mont Farm lies on 400 acres of lush farmland and boasts phenomenal views of the coastline and the islands on the horizon. This extraordinary organic farm has 84 guesthouses, 12 three-bedroom villas and 7 four-bedroom farmhouses. Amenities are excellent, including farm-to-table restaurants, a bar and a large swimming pool with sunbeds.
Another recommended place to stay in January is Timothy Beach Resort. This is, in fact, the only resort hotel located on a beach in St. Kitts, so if you're looking for a convenient beach destination, this is where you want to stay. Facilities range from a water sports centre to wedding venues and services, and a café and restaurant.
Hit the Beach
Cockleshell Bay is one of the most popular of the handful of beaches at the island's southeastern tip, a great place to enjoy the abundance of sunshine this time of year. A three-kilometer-long stretch of golden sand, it offers a beautiful view of neighbouring Nevis and boasts a number of great restaurants, grills and beach bars. It is a favoured place for locals during the weekends and on holidays as well as for cruise ships.
Eating and Drinking Out
You will be surprised by the beautiful setting at The Verandah at the Ocean Terrace Inn. Its nine-foot wrap-around verandah offers indoor and outdoor seating, overlooking Basseterre Bay. It is open for breakfast and lunch every day of the week, and for dinner six evenings per week. Its menu consists of a wonderful collection of Caribbean and Asian dishes.
If you are in the mood for seafood, consider visiting Blu Seafood Restaurant, part of the St. Kitts Marriott Resort. Serving all kinds of fish and seafood dishes with a typical Caribbean twist, this recommended restaurant is only open for dinner.
Italian food can be enjoyed at La Terrazza Restaurant, considered to be one of the best Italian restaurants on the island. It features a menu with a wide variety of Italian specialties, all prepared according to traditional recipes and with fresh, organic ingredients. Although you can order pretty much every typical Italian dish, the wood-burning pizza oven is the restaurant's centrepieceefinitely try one of their delicious pizzas.
Things to Do
January with its abundance of sunshine and dry weather is a great time of year to explore St. Kitts and the Caribbean Sea. A catamaran cruise is a wonderful and popular activity. These boat trips take guests along the stunning coastline and include stops in secluded coves that offer great snorkelling. Catamaran cruises range from private charters to half-day trips to sunset trips. Check out Blue Water Safaris for more information.
Another rather popular pastime during a vacation in St. Kitts is golfing. This tropical island with its golden beaches, palm trees and spectacular weather is also home to a few world-class golf courses, all overlooking the coast and the sea. If you're looking to play a round, you can head to the Royal St. Kitts Golf Club in Frigate Bay, the Four Seasons Golf Course in Nevis, or the Irie Fields Golf Club at Kittian Hill.
