Saint Kitts And Nevis Travel Guide

Saint Kitts and Nevis Travel: General Information

Saint Kitts and Nevis, the two-island nation in the Caribbean stands for a perfect ‘cool’ vacation – relaxed and stress-free. A tropical dreamland, nature is at its best here so you can be sure of great visual-treats in the form of tranquil turquoise waters, unspoiled beaches, and cloud-tipped volcanic peaks interrupted by verdant valleys, lush tropical woodlands and grasslands. Nevis has some of the best resorts and spas in the world, but in general you will like the relaxed pace of life and friendliness of the islanders. In case you are all for some excitement and fun, there are different water-sports and activities to keep you hooked. Besides, there’s the lure of the twin-islands’ colonial past – with their remnants of sugar-plantation estates, old buildings and other historic sites.

Saint Kitts and Nevis Travel: Key Facts

Capital City: Basseterre

Area: 261 sq km

Population: 42,696

Monetary Unit: East Caribbean Dollar (XCD)

Official Language: English

International Dialing Code: 1-869

Saint Kitts and Nevis Travel: Popular Tourist Destinations

• Bassaterre: Bassaterre, the capital-city, has a very picturesque setting amidst lush green hills and the city-planning has further added to its beauty. Must-see attractions of the city include its many colonial structures, some famous among these featuring in the Independence Square. There are also quite a few churches and cathedrals in the city. Then, there are the city’s museums, memorials, markets and sporting complexes to visit.

• Charlestown: Charlestown, the capital of Nevis, is a charming town full of unique colonial houses that have wooden upper floors standing on stone-built ground-floors. A historical town, Charlestown is full of important historical buildings and structures that include Alexander Hamilton’s birthplace, Cotton Ginnery, the Court House, the War Memorial, etc. Charlestown’s once-famous plantation estates have now been turned into luxury hotels. The town also gives you access to a small stretch of beach known as Pinney’s Beach.

• Other Tourist Destinations: There is much more to see and do in Saint Kitts and Nevis – there is Mount Liamuiga’s volcanic crater, there is the resort area of Frigate Bay with its stunning beaches, there is the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park and so on; in fact, every aspect of the islands brings forth something new, something interesting and all you need is a deep-desire to explore…explore the urban centers and quaint villages, explore the natural world…you will love everything about the island-pair.

Saint Kitts and Nevis Travel: Economy and Infrastructure

The economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis was dominated by the sugar-industry for long and the sugar-cane plantations and processing units were the chief sources of employment. Now, however, a far more diversified agriculture, tourism, light-manufacturing industries and offshore financial (chiefly banking) services have taken precedence and contribute largely to the country’s economy.

Natural calamities like the double hurricanes in the late 1990s wrought havoc, stalling economic progress but the government’s calculated steps and focused attempts at developing the economy through proper investments in diverse sectors including transport and telecommunications have borne unprecedented results. Today, the nation is once making progress and with nice air-route and water-route connections, it is one of the easily accessed tourist destinations of the world.

Saint Kitts and Nevis Travel: Culture

Saint Kitts and Nevis has a mixed population – while a larger-section of the people have African lineage (their ancestors were brought to the islands as slaves), descendants of Europeans and native Caribs are also found here. The people are deeply religious and Anglicanism is the religion followed by the majority. English, the language of the colonizers, is the most-used language and has been awarded the status of official language but otherwise the influences of West African cultures and traditions are clearly manifested in arts and crafts, music, festivities and even cuisine.