The highest point on the island of Nevis, Nevis Peak is a tree-covered, and now-dormant, volcano. Although it has not erupted since prehistoric times, there are still signs of volcanic activity in the area, including jets of steam and natural hot springs. Hiking to the peak is a popular activity for adventurous visitors.
Set within the grounds of a former sugar plantation and cotton ginnery, the Nevis Heritage Village at Fothergills Estate recreates the living conditions and examines the social history of the different peoples that have lived on Nevis, from the Carib Indians to the present day.
One of the lesser developed beaches of St. Kitt’s southeast peninsula, tranquil Turtle Beach is a lovely little stretch of sand, boasting opportunities to spot monkeys playing in the trees and swim with a view of the green mountains of Nevis. Snorkelers come here to observe the protected coral reef teaming with fish.
Built in 1740, the Eden Brown Estate is a former sugar and cotton plantation whose great house and outbuildings are in a state of beautiful disrepair. Encroaching wildflowers and overgrown grass surround the ruins, giving this hardly accessed site a magical, haunted feel. In fact, it's the most popular place on the island to spot a ghost.
Clay Villa Plantation House and Gardens is a 10-acre (7.5-hectare) property in Basseterre. Built in 1763, and owned by a family of Carib Indians whose 7th-generation descendants are the current owners, the estate is famous for being the only property of its type that stayed a free working plantation as others around it were profiting from the slave trade.
The Jewish cemetery in Nevis is a poignant reminder of the once-thriving Jewish community that lived on the island. Found in Charlestown, the island’s capital, the cemetery has headstones dating back to the late 17th century, when a number of Jewish families lived on the Caribbean island.
Saddle Hill Fortress stands as a reminder of British Admiral Lord Nelson’s presence on the island of Nevis. Designed as a fallback position in case of invasion, Nelson is said to have used it as a lookout point, though the fort was never equipped with weapons. Today, visitors come to enjoy great views from the observation post.
Located on the southeastern tip of St. Kitts, Great Salt Pond is a tranquil spot to hike paths and birdwatch. Bordered by both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, the pond has bright white sand beaches within walking distance. Body surfing is popular in the rougher waters of the Atlantic side, while snorkeling and swimming are the names of the games on the calm Caribbean side.
Built in 1680, St. John’s Figtree Anglican Church is one of the oldest churches in the Carribean. Inside the modest stone structure is one of the island’s most precious artifacts, the marriage certificate of British Navy Admiral Horatio Nelson and Frances Nisbet. Outside on the grounds is a cemetery where some of the weather-worn gravestones date back more than 300 years.
Built in 1778, the once opulent Bath Hotel and Spring House was the Caribbean’s first tourist hotel, with the international jet set flocking to its therapeutic hot springs. While it’s no longer a hotel, the volcanic baths and the relaxing landscaped gardens are open to the public.
In the foothills of St. Kitts’ central mountain range, Wingfield Estate is a 17th-century sugar plantation originally owned by Sam Jefferson, the great-great-great-grandfather of Thomas Jefferson. It was the first working estate on the island for tobacco, sugar and rum, and while here, you may inspect the ruins and visit the rum distillery to learn how sugar was converted into rum back in the day.
Soaring to 3,792 feet (1,155 meters), Mt. Liamuiga is the highest point in Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the entire British Leeward Islands. Climbing past farmlands and tropical cloud forests to the summit offers an invigorating adventure and an unparalleled vantage point for taking in the stunning expanses of the Eastern Caribbean.
The biggest (and best) cruise port in St. Kitts and Nevis, Port Zante is both a world-class cruise port and a tourist attraction in its own right. Steps from the island nation’s historic capital, Basseterre, Port Zante is a shopping haven, a welcoming jumping-off point to explore the island, and a great spot to grab some food or a drink.
Bloody Point along the western coast of St. Kitts is named after a tragic historical event there in 1626, when French and British colonies were being developed on the island, each claiming land as their own. As they expanded, the original native Carib Indians, led by Chief Tegremare, attacked the colonizers. But since the two nations had learned of his plan beforehand, they banded together, killing over 2,000 natives.
Founded on the west coast of St. Kitts, Old Road Town was settled in 1624 by a small group of settlers interested in trying their hand at tobacco farming. Old Road Town was the first settlement in the Caribbean established by the British. Highlights include a thriving farming industry, a historic Wingfield Estate, and a number of ancient Carib petroglyphs.
