Introduction
Separated a mere distance of 3.2 km or 2 miles from the island of Nevis, St. Kitts is dominated by the 3,792 foot Mount Liamuiga and features white and black-sand beaches. The island was named St. Christopher by Christopher Columbus, with the British calling it St. Kitts in 1623.
The small West Indies island encompasses 68 square miles, and is about 5 miles or 8k across and 18 miles or 29k long.
Types of Holiday-goers
St. Kitts draws a variety of holiday-goers, including young travellers, 18 to 35 years of age, families with young children and teens and older travellers.
The island features, among other things, the expansive Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino, a variety of Caribbean-themed clubs, and natural and historical sites.
The Best Time to Visit the Island
You can visit St. Kitts anytime of the year, given its balmy and tropical climate.
High season falls between December and February, which also means that the rates for accommodation will be higher as well. However, travellers often pick this time of year to go to St. Kitts as this is when Carnival takes place, running from Christmas Eve into the New Year. The event features parades, food, and dancing, plus other Caribbean-themed activities.
Low season, which lasts from June to August, is a less crowded time of year. Therefore, the hotel and accommodation rates are more affordable too. However, tourists are often deterred from visiting St. Kitts during this time as hurricane season begins in the later part of June and lasts until November. Nevertheless, the St. Kitts and Nevis Regatta is held in June.
Activities
St. Kitts offers a variety of activities for. Not only do its beaches offer such activities as snorkelling, swimming, boating, and diving, its rainforests give travellers a chance to hike.
There is also plenty of duty free shopping to be done too.
Beaches
Both Banana Bay on St. Kitts and Cockleshell Bay provide holiday-goers with a white sandy shore on which to relax and warm, clear waters in which to swim. The beach at Friarâs Bay South offers plenty of water sports, including snorkelling, swimming and diving. The black-sand beach off Pump Bay as well is a good place to go if you like to snorkel or scuba dive.
Sights and Attractions to See
Marine World, which is located on South Friarâs Bay Beach, is the ideal attraction to visit with the family. The four-acre site features a tropical aviary as well as animals such as dolphins, sea lions, and stingrays.
Day hikes can also be taken up the 3,792-foot Mount Liamuiga. The day hike takes about six hours round trip, with half-day hikes also available for less enthusiastic climbers.
Nature and outdoor enthusiasts may also like to visit the Brimstone Hill Fortress, which is situated almost ten miles from the capital of Basseterre on a rock cliff. The large fortress, located within a national park, offers views of the surrounding tropical forest. Green velvet monkeys, which were left behind by once-French inhabitants, live in the forest and now outnumber the humans on the island by a ratio of 2.5 to one.
The Saint Kitts Scenic Railway, also known as the Sugar Train, provides scenic railroad rides over the tracks that once transported island sugar cane. Double decker cars take passengers along a route that offers amazing coastal and mountain views. Plan to spend a little over three hours on the train trip.
If you are a history buff, you wonât want to miss a visit to Bloody Point near Challengers Village, the site of a Carib Indian massacre in 1626. Over 2,000 Carib Indians were annihilated by colonial French and British troops.
Another site not to miss is Romney Manor, where Sam Jefferson II, the great-great grandfather of Thomas Jefferson, once lived. The home was named Romney Manor after the Earl of Romney acquired the real estate in the first part of the seventeenth century. In 1834, Lord Romney notably became the first slaveholder in the area to free his slaves.
Nightlife
If youâre looking for evening entertainment, then youâll find plenty of offerings by visiting the strip beside South Frigate Bay. This area features beach-type bars and pubs that provide plenty in the way of live entertainment, karaoke, and exotic drinks. If youâre not sure where to start, hop on board the Bob and Elvis party bus, which also includes an open bar. The fun begins as the sun goes down with a champagne reception and progresses to dinner at a restaurant.
The island is also the place to go if you like to gamble. Visit the Mapau Casino with its electronic roulette and state-of-the art slot machines or the Royal Beach Casino, the largest casino in the Caribbean. The Royal St. Kitts Hotel and Casino is another popular gambling venue too. In addition, you can play slots at the Oasis Sports Bar, which also features a pool table and 18 TVs, one of which highlights a sports bar-friendly big screen. Happy hour starts off at 4:00 p.m. daily.
If you enjoy dancing, then youâll want to stop by the Eclipse Bar and Nightclub too, which keeps the dance floor open until four in the morning. On the weekends, head on over to the Club Kactus, which showcases the talents of Jamaican artists.
Restaurants
Youâll have no problem finding a place to dine in St Kitts.
At theFishermanâs Wharf you can watch the food being prepared by various chefs over a charcoal grill. Fresh fish, lobster, and steak are always on the menu there. Or, if you are in the mood for West Indian cuisine, then youâll want to plan to dine at Jasminesor Rawlins Plantation Inn, which is known for its West Indian lunch buffet. Romantic dining options include the Sunset Caf©, which sits along the Caribbean or the Waterfalls Restaurant, situated amongst tropical gardens atop a hill that overlooks the capital city.
Accommodation
Whether you are on your honeymoon or on family holiday, St. Kitts offers a variety of accommodation, including apartments, guest houses, bed and breakfasts, resorts, and plantation inns. Many families like to stay at all-inclusive beach resorts while couples often select seafront villas and inns.
The Frigate Bay Resort has a Caribbean theme. Amenities include air conditioning and cable TV.
The Ocean Terrace Inn, on St. Kitts, sits on a hilltop and is surrounded by three acres of tropical scenery. Located just outside of Basseterre, the Inn is close to duty-free shopping, historical sights, and restaurants. Hotel residents can enjoy the hotelâs variety of pools including a natural fantasy pool, which features a jacuzzi. The hotel offers such amenities as cable TV, private balcony, and water sport activities.
Families like staying at the all-inclusive Royal St. Kitts Hotel and Casino, which provides free accommodations for children 12 and younger. Enjoy a round of golf at the Royal St. Kitts Golf Course or spend the day at one of the beaches along the Atlantic Ocean or Caribbean Sea.
The only hotel located in the Frigate Bay area, the Timothy Beach Resort is another popular option. The hotel features suites and studios with fully equipped kitchens, air conditioning, cable TV, and a private patio or balcony.