Top Things To Do
Get transported by St Kitts and Nevis’ rich heritage and abundant nature, and explore the multitude of sites and activities both islands have to offer.
A hike up St Kitts’ Mount Liamuiga, a ride on the Sugar Train, or zip-line tour above the rainforest canopies will reward you with spectacular vistas of the islands. A bike ride or stroll around the country’s botanical gardens and National Parks will get you closer to the islands’ wildlife. Whilst St Kitts and Nevis’ multiple historical sites will take you back to the country’s rich colonial past of fortresses, sugar plantations and Great Houses.
And when it’s pure leisure you’re looking for, explore the offshore for some snorkelling, diving and fishing, get your blood pumping with some windsurfing and bodyboarding, or completely relax at one of the islands’ spas.
BRIMSTONE HILL FORTRESS
Built in 1690by African slave labour, the fortress testifies of the value once attributed to St Kitts by the British Empire. Towering at 240 metres above sea level, the magnificent complex was once named the "Gibraltar of the West Indies" for its strength and resistance during the various battles that took place in the 18th century.
ROMNEY MANOR
Located in the very first British town in the Caribbean, Old Road Town, Romney Manor is a colourful edifice built in the 17th century as a sugar estate. Nowadays, it houses Caribelle Batik, a vibrant workshop where visitors can watch locals practice the art of batik making, and buy crafts directly from the artisans.
BLOODY POINT
Although the site does not display much more than a plaque, the spot, located a couple of kilometres from Basseterre via Old Road, is one of high significance in the history of St Kitts and Nevis.
ABUNDANT RAINFOREST
St Kitts might be small in size (around 175 square kilometres) but there's no limit to its love and wish of preservation of its environment. As a result, a quarter of the island is a dedicated national park that is home to a rainforest so bountiful, it is actually expanding - a rare occurrence in our modern world!
WINGFIELD RIVER & WATER WORKS
In the 17th century, when the English arrived and settled between Old Road's two rivers, the Carib regrouped around the Wingfield River area. In 1629, after having evicted the Caribs, the English developed the area into a tobacco, indigo, ginger and cotton plantation, before turning it into a major sugar plantation in the 1640's, and on the very few on the island to use water as a source of energy to power its factory - Wingfield Estate Yard's aqueduct is the only one of its kind on the island.
MOUNT LIAMUIGA
If to you a holiday isn't complete without a bit of exploration, you won't be disappointed by Mount Liamuiga, a dormant volcano that is also St Kitt's highest point, peaking at 1156 meters high.
FAIRVIEW GREAT HOUSE& BOTANICAL GARDENS
Built in 1701, this French colonial mansion has been restored, decorated and furnished with the purpose of recreating the authentic living environment of the French colonisers.
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heritage
CHARLESTOWN
Nevis' capital is one of the Caribbean's best preserved examples of the colonial ear. Strolling up and down, visitors come across numerous 18th and 19th century Georgian-style buildings, and the lack of modernisation has kept the town in its original state, one that the local communities strive to preserve.
EDEN BROWN ESTATE
Located about 30 minutes from Charlestown, this estate originally served as a sugar plantation before diversifying with cotton cultivation until the mid 1900's.
NEW RIVER & COCONUT WALK ESTATE
Located on the island's east coast, the ruins of these two estates offer beautiful views of Montserrat and Redonda.
LA GUERITE RESERVOIR
Serving Basseterre and its neighbouring locations, this reservoir features an interesting piece of architecture, a retaining wall supporting the undercover reservoir, believed to have been built in 1869, when the Basseterre water supply was upgraded.
CHARLES FORT, CLEVERLY HILL, SANDY POINT
Built as a replacement to the decaying English forts at Sandy Point Town and Hamilton Road, this stronger and bigger fort, was named after King Charles II. It was used for military purposes from 1670 until 1854, year it got abandoned, and reopened in 1890 as a leper asylum, also known as Hansen House.
ST KITTS SUGAR FACTORY & COMPOUND
After reaching its peak in the late 18th century, the island's sugar production started drastically declining in the 19th century, following the slave emancipation, the development of sugar beet in Europe, and of sugarcane plantations throughout the world.
MUSEUM OF NEVIS HISTORY
Built around 1680, this two-story Georgian stone house was the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton in 1757. An earthquake destroyed the building in 1840 which was then restored in 1983, and is now housing one of the island's two museums on its first floor.
BOTANICAL GARDENS OF NEVIS
Conceived by Philadelphia couple Joseph and Martha Murphy, these modern garden HamilHasss were developed with the purpose of creating a beautiful space on the island to preserve and cultivate flora from around the world.
COTTLE CHURCH
A very small church built in 1824 by Nevis' old president and planter John Cottle, as a place for his family and slaves to worship together.
SPOONER'S GINNERY
Located at the east of Cayon town, this estate is the island's only surviving cotton ginnery. Archives show that the estate belonged to French Captain Paul de Brissac, who built a boiling house, a mill and a still, before it was acquired by John Spooner in 1720 and remained in the family until 1823.
AMAZING GRACE EXPERIENCE
A museum dedicated to the famous song, documenting the story of the song and of its author, of what made the song so famous and of how it is deeply connected to St Kitts.
HAMILTON ESTATE
The ruins of this sugar plantation owned by the Hamilton family are located just outside of Charlestown. After the sugar production ceased, the plantation became a diversified farm growing various products such as vegetables and cotton.
HORATIO NELSON MUSEUM
A display of memorabilia and artefacts dedicated to the life and work of British Naval Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, who visited Nevis in the late 18th century
NEVISIAN HERITAGE VILLAGE
A depiction of the evolution of Nevisian history through housing, created by the island's Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
INDEPENDENCE SQUARE
First acquired by the government in 1750, and known as Pall Mall until St Kitts and Nevis' political independence on 19th September 1983, the square served as the administrative, social and commercial centre of Basseterre. The square is also where the slave trade used to take place.
HALF WAY TREE VILLAGE
The great tamarind tree of Half Way Tree Village was chosen by both French and English colonist as a mark of the border between their respective territories on St Kitts. Though this point was originally chosen by both parties to avoid later disputes, the frontier's strength was severely tested at times.
OLD TREASURY BUILDING
Built in 1894 to replace the old Treasury Pier, Lady Haynes-Smith laid the first foundation stone for the construction of the site, which was partially funded with donations from planters.
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diving
AQUARIUM
Located on the Windward side of Nevis, this truly virgin site is best adapted to experienced divers, as its currents can be rough and somewhat unpredictable. Expect to see a wide variety of tropical fish, hence the name, as well as some stingrays and nurse sharks and angelfish.
BRIMSTONE SHALLOWS
Turtles, lobsters, eels and the occasional reef shark, populate this site with pristine hard and soft corals, and a wall sliding down to over a hundred feet. Located two miles west of the shoreline.
COCONUT TREE REEF
Starting at 40 feet deep and plunging to nearly 200 feet, this site is one of the area's largest reefs. Great site for divers of all levels, boasting clear waters, abundant marine life and impressive depth.
FRIGATE BAY REEF
Great site for all levels of experience, with turtles, lobsters and eels, and located about a mile west of Frigate Bay Beach.
THE VENTS
Hot water vent holes with spectacular black coral trees and wire coral, stingrays, barracudas and large lobsters, accessible by boat from Pinney's Beach, in Nevis
NAGS HEAD
Being located at the meeting point of the Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea, the strong currents of this site require a good level of experience to be approached. Expect to see turtles, eagle rays, lobsters and large reef fish, in an underwater landscape composed of large volcanic boulders covered in sponges and fire coral.
BLACK CORAL REEF
A very healthy reef with impressive black coral trees, the site is populated with Creole wrasse, snappers, grunt fish and lizardfish.
DEVIL'S CAVERN
A site populated with Black Triggerfish, Atlantic Chub, Snapper, squirrelfish and grunts, as well as a variety of corals and fans.
GREEN POINT REEF
An underwater architecture mostly composed of volcanic rocks covered with soft corals, and a few hard corals, home to lobsters, grouper, dogtooth snapper, angelfish, large sea fans and black coral trees, as well as tube and barrel sponges.
PARADISE REEF
A mini wall to be explored by divers of all levels, with healthy coral, turtles, barracudas, old anchors, rays, angelfish, eels, and lobsters, amongst others.
RIVER TAW WRECK
Named one of the Caibbean's best 20 wreck dives by Skin Diver Magazine, this site hosts the remains of this 144ft long island freighter, sunk by Hurricane Hugo in 1989.
THE CORINTHIAN WRECK
Sunk in 1995, this largely intact wreck sits upright in 72 feet of water, with beautiful black coral trees and fish. For a truly spectacular experience, try a night time dive.
MONKEY SHOALS
A relaxing dive with an average depth of 50 feet, located off the western tip of St Kitts' peninsula, with lobsters, lizardfish, nurse sharks and rays.
FRIARS BAY REEF
An easy dive with plenty to see, ideal for beginners and newly certified divers. Expect to see spotted morays, lobsters, angelfish, and stingrays.
TURTLE BAR
Located in a bay on the southern coast of St Kitts, this reef is a maze of volcanic rocks, populated with schools of fish and turtles.
THE FINGER REEF
Exciting site for beginners and experienced divers alike, schools of Creole wrasse, jacks and mackerel.
V. TALATA WRECK
An old sunk freighter sitting upright and facing east across the harbour, with a resident green moray, large lobsters, schooling yellow tail snappers and squirrelfish. You'll also find another wreck, the Goat Boat, 200 feet away, and 80 feet deep.
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