4 minute read
Authentic Caribbean Hideaways
St. Kitts & Nevis
For a holiday to a land that represents the Caribbean of old, look no further than St. Kitts & Nevis. It’s a pair of islands that have, so far, been left uncharted on the tourist map and, as a result, their lush interiors largely remain as nature intended. Separated only by a slender two-mile channel (there’s even an organised annual swim across it), both feature lush mountainous interiors and a charming rural vibe.
Valleys, ravines and rock formations make for captivating scenery in St. Kitts, its green wilds speckled with colourful orchids and patrolled by white-tailed deer and mongooses. The southeast peninsula is a must-explore, where a string of beautiful beaches thread its coastline and the scenery remains compellingly raw and filled with roaming vervet monkeys – a formidable legacy of the French in the 17th century, as it’s now said they outnumber locals by two-to-one. The UNESCO-listed Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park is remarkably well-preserved, or enjoy a delightful train ride on the narrow gauge St. Kitts Scenic Railway, originally built in the early 1900s to transport sugar cane from the fields to the working mills. Your train carriage is the perfect vantage point for seeing some of St. Kitts’ most beautiful vistas.
The smaller and far quieter Nevis is like somewhere that time forgot. Here, there are more donkeys than people and it only has one road which circumnavigates the entire island – it takes two hours, in case you fancy a road trip! Hire a scooter and explore this natural paradise by road, where you can witness vast sugar cane fields stretching for as far as the eye can see, spy hummingbirds zipping in and out of bougainvillea and hibiscus and unearth hidden beaches without another soul in sight. The island is lorded over by Nevis Peak (3,232ft), a demanding but hugely rewarding hike for anyone looking for a challenge.
St. KIttS
Park Hyatt St. Kitts Nisbet Plantation Beach Club
NEVIS Montpelier Plantation
In truth, both islands are heavenly lands for hikers, with plenty of trails veining the contoured emerald landscapes, while the glittering waters offshore promise a range of water sports, including diving among iridescent coral reefs filled with tropical fish and paddling around the shallows just offshore either in a kayak or on a stand-up paddle board.
On both St Kitts and Nevis a languid pace of life still exists, with former plantations and charming colonial towns left to be characterised by the relaxed and care-free locals. It won’t be long before you’re ‘limin’ with the locals yourself, a simple way of life which just means to hang out with friends, drinking and talking with one another and just generally having a good time (sounds pretty good to us). Soak up the mellow atmosphere with a rum in hand and the sound of soca gently pulsing in the background, and raise a glass to the Caribbean of yesteryear.
Discover St. Kitts
St. Kitts Scenic Railway
Trains are a rarity in the Caribbean – the St. Kitts Scenic Railway is the only one left in the West Indies and it traces the same route as when it was carting sugar cane from the plantations to Basseterre’s sugar factory at the beginning of the 20th century. It takes in some of St. Kitts’ finest scenery, crossing canyonspanning bridges, winding round the slopes of Mount Liamuiga and trundling beside pristine volcanic beaches.
Brimstone Hill Fortress
A pioneering construction of its time, the 17th-century Brimstone Hill Fortress is a huge hilltop compound that is remarkably well preserved. Wander the citadels, bastions, barracks and ramparts forged from volcanic limestone to get a taste of what life was like for its guards. Peer over its 800ft-high walls for an incredible island-wide panorama of wild jungle and glittering sea.
Discover Nevis
Nevis Peak
Nevis has plenty of sun-kissed beaches but why not challenge yourself to climb up Nevis Peak? It’s inescapable wherever you are on the island, its perfect cinder cone swathed in rainforest and hazed in mist. It’s essential to hire a guide as the ascent isn’t straightforward, but the monkey-soundtracked foliage and epic vista from the summit makes it worth it!
Horse riding in Nevis
For something a little different, saddle up and explore Nevis on horseback – whether you’re a novice or an experienced rider. Plod through shaded coconut groves and quaint villages and stroll past crumbling forts, churches and derelict sugar mills. Then, you can trot along a sandy beach and feel the wind in your hair.
