St. Kitts & Nevis

St. Kitts and Nevis is the smallest independent country in the Americas, made up of two volcanic islands separated by a narrow channel. St. Kitts, the larger island, is home to the capital, Basseterre, and to Brimstone Hill Fortress, a huge 18th-century British fort on a hilltop that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The St. Kitts Scenic Railway runs visitors around the island on the old narrow-gauge line once used to carry sugar cane. Nevis, across the channel, is quieter and dominated by the cloud-topped Nevis Peak. Alexander Hamilton, one of America's founding fathers, was born in Charlestown, Nevis.

Photo: Ukexpat via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

St. Kitts has direct flights from the US, Canada and the UK, and regional flights from nearby hubs such as Antigua, St. Martin and San Juan. From Jamaica, plan on at least one connection.

Ferries and water taxis connect St. Kitts and Nevis in about 45 minutes, or less on a water taxi.

St. Kitts and Nevis will feel familiar to Jamaicans in some ways. Both islands are green and mountainous, English is spoken, the history is British and built on sugar, and cars drive on the left. But everything is smaller and quieter, with a population of only around 50,000.

You will also spot green vervet monkeys, brought over centuries ago, which now outnumber people by some estimates. The food is Caribbean comfort cooking: stewed saltfish, spicy plantains, coconut dumplings and breadfruit.

Photo: David Broad via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

• Tour Brimstone Hill Fortress and its views across to Sint Eustatius and Saba.
• Ride the St. Kitts Scenic Railway around the island's coast.
• Hike Mount Liamuiga, St. Kitts's dormant volcano, through rainforest to the crater rim.
• Visit Nevis for Pinney's Beach and the Alexander Hamilton birthplace museum in Charlestown.
• Relax on the beaches of the southeast peninsula, such as Cockleshell Bay.

December to April is the dry season. June brings the St. Kitts Music Festival.

On St. Kitts, Frigate Bay is the main tourist area, with hotels, restaurants and bars on "The Strip." The southeast peninsula is quieter, with upscale resorts, marinas and some of the island's best beaches. Basseterre works for a short stay near the ferry and airport. On Nevis, many visitors stay in restored sugar plantation inns in the hills or at hotels along Pinney's Beach. Staying on both islands is easy thanks to frequent ferries.

• Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD); US dollars are accepted
• Language: English
• Driving: left-hand side
• Best for: history lovers, hikers, and travelers wanting a quieter island with some nightlife on "The Strip" at Frigate Bay

Jamaicans can typically visit St. Kitts and Nevis without a visa for short stays as fellow CARICOM citizens, but always check current rules. The St. Kitts Music Festival each June draws big-name Caribbean and international acts.