Overview

Introduction

Nevis, a green cone topped by cloud-covered Mount Nevis, is evolving rapidly from a sleepy backwater into a hideaway of the well-to-do. The island, though small, is intensely green and hilly, with magnificent beige- and white-sand beaches, coral reefs and gorgeous tropical flowers. The towns on the island are tiny, including Charlestown, the main city and port, and Newcastle, the site of the Vance W. Armory International Airport (NEV).

Must See or Do

Sights—Montpelier Estate; the Bath Hotel; numerous plantation inns.

Museums—Museum of Nevis History; Nevis Library and Archives.

Memorable Meals—Sunset Beach Bar and Grill; Cafe des Arts; Coconut Grove Restaurant and Wine Lounge.

Late Night—The Double Deuce; Sunshine's; V's Courtyard Restaurant.

Walks—A history or rain-forest tour of the island.

Especially for Kids—Occasions Entertainment Arcade; horseback riding through the botanical gardens at Montpelier Estate.

Potpourri

The Bath Hotel, built in the late 17th century, has hot springs that have been visited by a number of dignitaries and celebrities.

In 1822, on the Eden Brown Estate, a duel took place between Julia Huggins' fiance and brother the day before the wedding. The fiance was injured, and the wedding did not take place. It is said that the spirit of Julia Huggins still haunts the grounds, tortured because she did not get to marry her true love.

Although in 1998 a vote in Nevis on a referendum to separate from St. Kitts fell short of the two-thirds majority needed, Nevis continues in its efforts to separate from St. Kitts.

The name Nevis is derived from the Spanish for snows (nieves). It is said that Nevis was named "Our Lady of the Snows" as clouds on its mountain looked like snow to early mariners.

Location

Visiting cruise ships anchor off Charlestown, the capital and port of Nevis. Passengers are transported in smaller craft to a wooden-plank pier in the center of the tiny town. You can walk to most attractions and shops, but you'll need transportation to get to the better beaches. The Nevis Tourism Authority, near the pier, has tour information and brochures. Monday-Friday 8 am-4 pm, Saturday 9 am-noon. Phone 869-469-7550 or visit http://www.nevisisland.com.

The Nevis Air and Seaport Authority handles cruise-ship inquiries. Monday-Friday 8 am-4 pm. Phone 869-469-2001. http://www.nevisports.com.

Shore Excursions

Excursions may include visits to historical sites and museums or a drive offering panoramic views. Check with your travel agent for additional information.

Overview

Introduction

St. Kitts and Nevis is gradually shedding its reputation as the sleepiest two-island nation in the Caribbean. St. Kitts has spruced up Basseterre, the nation's capital and main port, and nearby Nevis (pronounced NEE-viss) has renovated Charlestown, where well-to-do vacationers often stop to shop during visits to the island's plush resorts. Airports on both islands have been upgraded to accommodate more and larger airplanes.

So far all this commotion hasn't made a dramatic change in the islands, which have always touted their charms as "the way the Caribbean used to be." The beaches remain delightfully empty, and you won't encounter anyone pitching time-share condos. Green vervet monkeys, brought over by the first European settlers, still outnumber people—even during high season.

Although St. Kitts and Nevis are only about 2 mi/3 km apart (separated by a sometimes treacherous strait), they have different personalities. St. Kitts is the larger of the two. Lively Basseterre is the center of shopping and dining, and most of the island's resorts are at Frigate Bay, about 3 mi/5 km away. Nevis is quaint, more expensive and peppered with upscale lodgings. Specifically the Four Seasons, one of the toniest family resorts in the Caribbean, complete with championship golf course, exciting cuisine and a signature spa. But Nevis also has several luxurious inns in restored plantation houses.

Must See or Do

Sights—Scuba dives along the coral reefs of Nevis and Shitten Bay; the Berkeley Memorial in the Circus; a Carib Breweries tour; the Potter's House Gallery; exploring Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park.

Museums—The National Museum in the old Treasury Building; International House Museum; the Fort George Museum.

Memorable Meals—Local fruits such as soursop and mammy apples; traditional dishes such as goat water, souse or black pudding; jelly water (coconut juice) at the Sunset Cafe on the beach.

Late Night—A moonlight cruise around the bays; trying your luck at the Royal Beach Casino in Frigate Bay; dancing on the Frigate Bay Beach Strip at one of the many beach bars.

Walks—Beachcombing the undeveloped beaches of North Friar's Bay and Major's Bay; climbing the dormant volcano Mount Liamuiga; a trek through the expanding rain forest to see green vervet monkeys; wandering through the botanical gardens of Romney Manor.

Geography

If St. Kitts is shaped like a drumstick, then smaller Nevis, just offshore, is the scoop of mashed potatoes. Steep volcanic peaks cover the interior of both islands, which are situated in the eastern Caribbean, about 200 mi/325 km southeast of Puerto Rico.

History

The history of this two-island nation, like that of so many in the Caribbean, is filled with conflict and violence. The Carib Indians inhabited the islands when the first British colonists arrived in 1624. When French settlers showed up a short time later, the Caribs decided enough was enough and prepared for battle. The results were not as they had hoped: In 1626, more than 2,000 Caribs were slaughtered at what's now called Bloody Point on St. Kitts.

The French and British then faced off for the right to control the islands' fertile sugarcane fields. The British won, and the islands officially became a British colony in 1783. Until then, it shared the island with the French for many decades. St. Kitts and Nevis make up the oldest British settlement in the Caribbean—St. Kitts was known as the Mother Colony of the West Indies. The island's original colonial name was St. Christopher, but it has been using its nickname for more than 350 years. The islands' sugar industry, powered by slave labor imported from Africa, flourished until the slaves were emancipated in 1834. The plantation owners eventually moved on, leaving the islands quiet and economically depressed.

In the 1950s and 1960s, St. Kitts and Nevis were politically joined with Anguilla, though all three were still British colonies. Anguilla left the alliance in 1971 as St. Kitts and Nevis moved toward independence, a status they achieved in 1983. The union was tested in late 1998, when secessionists on Nevis forced a referendum. The vote was close, but ultimately fell short of the two-thirds majority needed for independence. (Sixty-two percent favored secession.) Had they succeeded, the smallest country in the Western Hemisphere would have become two even smaller ones. The federal government has since promised more autonomy to Nevis residents.

Snapshot

The chief attractions of St. Kitts and Nevis are watersports, rain forests, spectacular peaks, lush tropical greenery, deep-sea fishing, diving, world-championship golf, tennis, a casino (on St. Kitts), uncrowded beaches, quiet bays, friendly people and historical sites.

If you want beautiful scenery and above average beaches (excellent on Nevis), or if you are interested in history and relaxation, St. Kitts and Nevis are for you. Don't expect to find a lot of action, deluxe shopping or a wide variety of nightlife.

Potpourri

At the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Kittitian Kim Collins was a track finalist and went on to win the World Championship in Paris in 2003. He ran the 100-m finals in 10 seconds flat at the Olympics in Athens and has become something of a local hero as a result. The first Olympic athletes from St. Kitts and Nevis competed at the 1996 summer games in Atlanta.

St. Kitts and Nevis is the smallest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

St. Kitts and Nevis was one of the hosts of the World Cup Cricket Championships in 2007—residents are fanatical about the sport.

In 1929, two years after his historic Atlantic crossing, Charles Lindbergh landed his seaplane off Pinney's Beach on Nevis, bringing the first air-mail delivery to the islands.

Almost 400 shipwrecks line the deep waters surrounding St. Kitts and Nevis. Most of them were sunk between 1492 and 1825, and only a small fraction of the wrecks have been identified and explored.

Starting the last week in July and running for a full three weeks, Culturama celebrates the islands' freedom from slavery. It is a must-see event for visitors.

Singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading was born on St. Kitts.

Location

Most cruise ships dock at Port Zante in the capital, Basseterre. The port can accommodate even the largest cruise ships, though if more than two ships call at once, the extra ships dock at the cargo port or tender passengers to shore. Plans are underway to build another cruise ship pier at Porte Zante, with dredging work already taking place. It will be able to accommodate two more large ships simultaneously. The current terminal consists of restaurants and duty-free shops, as well as many stands for tour operators who cater to visitors who don't want to go on a ship-sponsored excursion. The island has now reached one million cruise ship passengers, elevating it to marquee status in the cruise industry. It expects to see more ships calling regularly thanks to its growing facilities and amenities.

Taxis are widely available and are a great way to see some of the farther reaches of the island. It is possible to rent a car, but you must get a driving permit from a police station or the car rental agency.