On the northeast Caribbean you’ll find two lesser-known beautiful islands forming a country officially known as the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis.
St. Kitts is the bigger, more developed island with a busy cruise ship port.
Nevis (pronounced NEE-vis) is the smaller, less developed, and quieter island where you can still experience the “Old Caribbean” vibe. With quieter I mean less crowds, I don’t mean boring as you can fill your days with many mini-adventures.
Centuries before becoming an independent country in 1983 -and a member of the Commonwealth- St. Kitts and Nevis was a colony of England, in constant battle with France to maintain control of the lucrative sugar plantations.
Today, these historic sites narrate the island’s past of wealth and suffering where restored sugar mills and great old houses are surrounded by mature trees, palms, and tropical plants. The hilly islands offer fabulous beaches and scenic hiking trails with plenty of wildlife (above ground and underwater) and breathtaking views.
Don’t forget to bring insect repellant. As soon as the sun goes down it’s a mosquito fest on steroids.
During my visit to this country I stayed on the island of Nevis. When you scroll to the end you’ll find blog posts with all the things you can do on this island full of picturesque sites.
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Official language: English
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD), but US dollars are accepted everywhere. Change will be given in XCD.
Capital: the capital of St. Kitts and Nevis is Basseterre (in St. Kitts). The capital city of Nevis is Charlestown
Power outlets: type A and B; 220V/60 Hz
Table of Contents
Best Time to Travel to St. Kitts and Nevis
Dry season in St. Kitts and Nevis runs from January to May. For the best combination of good weather and reasonable rates, it’s best to go between April and May.
Rainy season runs from June until December. This is also hurricane season, with the most active (and hottest) months being August, September, and October.
Top Things to Do in Nevis
- Visit the beaches: if dreamy beaches that could be on the front page of a magazine are your thing book your ticket right now. The best part? No huge crowds. For real.
- Hike your heart out: whether you choose easy to moderate trails traversing the dense forest, or ultra challenging trails like Nevis Peak, there is something for hike enthusiasts of all levels.
- Visit Alexander Hamilton’s house: yes, THE Alexander Hamilton, and THE house where he was born. You read that right. Walk around Charlestown to visit the museum where you can learn about his life, about the history of Nevis, and see traditional Caribbean architecture.
- Go to the Botanical Gardens of Nevis: a must-see on Nevis island, with tropical plants arranged in different styles and around fountains, sculptures and ponds. A great place for birdwatching.
How to Get to St. Kitts and Nevis
By Air
There are non-stop flights from major cities in the United States and from Toronto, Canada to the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport in St. Kitts (SKB), as well as direct flights from London.
You can also reach St. Kitts from other Caribbean islands, with non-stop flights from other Eastern Caribbean islands like Sint Maarten, Antigua, Dominica, Puerto Rico, and Barbados.
You can fly non-stop to the small Vance W Amory International Airport on Nevis (NEV) from St. Thomas (USVI).
Most people going to Nevis fly into St. Kitts and then take one of the ferries (a roughly 45-minute trip and your only option if you’re bringing a car from St. Kitts) or the much faster -10 minutes or less- water taxis that dock in Oualie Beach (Nevis).
You can also use the water taxi to take a day trip between islands. For schedules and prices check bluwavesnevis.com. There are other water taxis, but we used this one.
How to Get to St. Kitts and Nevis by Boat
Other than arriving on a cruise ship, you can take the Makana Ferry (makanaferryservice.com) to St. Kitts from St. Maarten, from Saba, and from Statia (Sint Eustatius). If you want to go this route keep in mind that your trip can be cancelled anytime due to high winds and sea. You must book your trip 48 hours in advance.
Getting Around Nevis
Although there’s public transit on Nevis, there’s no fixed schedule and some remote sites are away from bus routes.
The best way to get around Nevis is by car. Taxis are expensive but it may be an alternative if you’re there only for a few days and plan to hang out at the beach most of the time. If you want to rent a car be aware that driving is on the left and that you need to get a drive permit which costs US$20. You can get it at the police station or the car rental agency can arrange it for you.
Blog Posts About St. Kitts and Nevis
Best Booking Resources
These are the go-to resources we use all the time to find where to stay, book flights, and get travel insurance
- Agoda: we’ve found great deals in apartments, guesthouses, and boutique hotels through this site.
- Airbnb: rent a whole house or a room directly from the homeowner through Airbnb. We’ve used it to book apartments and private rooms.
- Booking.com: you’ll find any type of property you can think of in their massive listing, with one of the most comprehensive filters. We’ve found great deals on boutique hotels and apartments.
- Great Escape: it combines the listings from Expedia, Kiwi, Kayak, and Skyscanner (on the premium service) to find the best airfares.
- Hotwire: the first site I check when we plan to stay at a hotel for a few nights. You can save anything from 20% to 60%. Use the search filter to find what you want and you’ll end up with three listings that match your criteria. You’ll know which one you’ll get after you book. If you can handle a little bit of uncertainty you can score big savings.
- House Sitting: you take care of people’s pets and house for free while staying for free. It’s the closest thing to experiencing a place “like a local”. But it comes with responsibilities. Are you an animal lover? You may want to give it a try.
- Momondo: we check Momondo to find great deals to book our flights.
- SafetyWing: travel medical insurance gives us peace of mind knowing that we’re covered in case of emergency. It’s convenient, affordable, and great for digital nomads who spend a long time outside their home country.
Check my Resource Page to learn about the brands I use and trust during my travels and how they can save you time and money. More sightseeing and more cocktails for you!