Saint Kitts and Nevis

My Saint Kitts and Nevis travel summary:

Visited: November 2017

Duration of visit: 3 days

Capital city: Basseterre

Population: 53.000 (2017)

Saint Kitts and Nevis travel blog reading time: 5 minutes

• Arriving with a one-day delay due to a flight cancellation in Puerto Rico.
• Staying with my generous host, who showed me around and introduced me to local life.
• Stunning views of the surrounding volcanos.
• Gorgeous beaches, pristine tropical forests and friendly locals.

Saint Kitts and Nevis were among the first Caribbean islands colonized by Europeans and the first English colony in the region. Christopher Columbus first saw them in 1493, though they were already inhabited. St. Kitts and Nevis was also the first stop on my Caribbean Islands trip in 2017.

Saint Kitts and Nevis is the smallest sovereign state in the Western Hemisphere, both in area and population.

It is also the most recent British territory in the Caribbean to gain independence, achieving it in 1983. Since the population is so small, a lot of the territory is still pristine and not developed.

There are many tourist facilities, mostly all-inclusive hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. At the time of my trip, the impact on the local lifestyle was smaller than on many other Caribbean islands.

Nevertheless, there were some multi-million projects to develop the existing infrastructure and build resorts on the best beaches on the island. In recent years, the government had sought to diversify the economy through agriculture, tourism, and export-oriented manufacturing. Offshore banking has been especially significant, bringing substantial income and development to the country.

I arrived a day later than planned, because the original flight from Puerto Rico was cancelled.

My host Kennrick picked me up from the airport and brought me to his home, which was located just a few blocks from Basseterre downtown. At first glance, I was a little disappointed with the size and infrastructure of Basseterre. After visiting many Caribbean islands, I realized their scale differs greatly from that of mainland American countries.

Many picturesque wooden houses and old churches reflect the island’s colonial influence. Modern buildings, fast-food restaurants, and the port terminal cater to international visitors arriving mostly by cruise ships.

Walking around Basseterre, I noticed, that people are used to foreign visitors. The majority are of African descent, the primary language is English. People were friendly and willing to help me, when I was asking for information. They also knew I wasn’t a cruise tourist with lots of money to spend. I had no interest in rushed island tours, souvenir shopping, or taking a taxi to the beach during a short stop.

Each year, St. Kitts attracts over one million tourists, predominantly from cruise ship arrivals. I noticed a big change in the capital when thousands of tourists filled the streets that morning.

There are not many things to do, landmarks or places to visit in the island of St. Kits. The main tourist attraction, St. Kitts Scenic Railways, offers spectacular views of the mountains, beaches, and plantations. The route is 29 kilometers long by rail and an additional 19 kilometers by bus. It makes a complete 48-kilometers circle of the island.

Of course, I didn’t spend my time riding the Scenic Railway. As a backpacker, I didn’t travel all this way to do the instant tourist activities meant for short term visitors.

I asked Kennrick if he could give me a tour of the island in his car. His mum joined us, and we explored the island in the afternoon. Roads are in good condition, traffic is light, driving is pleasant.

We stopped at the best viewpoint on the island to observe Mount Liamuiga stratovolcano, which forms the western part of the island of Saint Kitts. At 1,156 meters high, this peak is the tallest place on Saint Kitts. From Timothy Hill Overlook, I saw an amazing view of the Verchilds Range and the volcanic peaks of the Olivees Range.

“Thank you to bring me here Kennrick!” were me words of gratitude.

“Yeah man. When you finish the Caribbean journey, tell me if you think this is the best viewpoint in the area,” was an interesting observation.

We descended to the southern part of the island through a narrow stretch, where the most attractive beaches are located. The last stop was a remote and vacant beach, where I could enjoy swimming in warm, clear water.

At night, Kennrick took me to South Frigate Bay, where the island’s most popular hangout spot is. The Strip is a collection of beach bars, restaurants and dancing clubs along a lovely beach. During the day it’s for sunbathing, and at night it turns into a lively party spot.

Many restaurants offering international cuisine complete the offer with traditional dances, live music or performances in the evening. There are sports bars, live shows, street food, and DJs that keep people dancing late into the night. The place is especially crowded with visitors when a cruise ship is in town.

The night I was there, was a regular Friday, with a mix of local and international people having fun.

The next day, I visited Nevis, a smaller, quieter island separated by the 3-km-wide channel – the Narrows. I took the ferry from St. Kitts to Charlestown – the capital town of Nevis island.

It didn’t take long to realize there wasn’t much to do or see. I spent my time walking along the quiet streets and soaking in the peaceful island vibe. Apart from a few banks, businesses, and restaurants, the town felt very quiet.

I spent my time walking along the quiet streets and soaking in the peaceful island vibe. Apart from a few banks, businesses, and restaurants, the town felt very quiet.

I walked to Pinney’s Beach and ran into my friend John, whom I had met two days earlier at a bar in San Juan airport, Puerto Rico. He invited me for a beer and we started to talk, drink and discuss about life on the island. For the past two years, he ran a restaurant at a nearby all-inclusive hotel. He is now eager to take on new challenges around the globe.

Life in Nevis can become routine, with limited activities beyond visiting bars and spending time on the beach.

I can see that even perfect beaches and sunshine need other activities over time. It’s clear why many St. Kitts residents often visit the USA, where they have family and friends. Kittitians can fly directly to the US without a visa.

One of the interesting facts about Saint Kitts and Nevis is that it operates the world’s oldest CBI Programme, which enables wealthy foreign investors and their families a route to second citizenship, once donating to the Sustainable Growth Fund.

St. Kitts and Nevis passport includes visa-free travel to nearly 160 destinations in the World, including all European countries, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Hong Kong. Since 1984, more than 20,000 applicants have received passports. The fee for this privilege is 150.000 US$ to 200.00 USD$ per family (in 2017).

Saint Kitts and Nevis was my first travel stop (after Puerto Rico) on my Caribbean trip in 2017.

Small islands with no frills, but a peaceful atmosphere, are well organized and provide a quality lifestyle for locals and a comfortable stay to the visitors, who mostly arrive by cruise ships.

Staying with a local friend allowed me to explore the island in a more personal way, through the perspective of my host.

Even perfect beaches, bars and nightlife may become monotonous over time. Therefore, locals often choose the mainland United States as their top holiday destination or a place to live, where they can enjoy unrestricted access. I didn’t find many exciting places to visit or things to do, which is normal given the small territory the country occupies.

So far, St. Kitts and Nevis has successfully balanced the impact of tourism on the local community I believe that with smart policies, they will be able to continue bringing benefits to Kittitians in the future as well.