Trish Berry
Saint (St.) Kitts is one of my favorite places to visit. When your Royal Caribbean Cruise ship docks, you look out at volcanic mountains that have clouds hanging below their tops. It reminds you of the Alps.
When you book a cruise to St. Kitts, it will come up as St. Kitts and Nevis.
Nevis is an island two miles away from St. Kitts. You take a ferry across a rough channel to get to Nevis.
St. Kitts is a 65-suare mile island in the West Indies, approximately 1300 miles from Florida and 500 miles from South America, in the Caribbean
St. Kitts is part of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles.
The primary language is English, with Spanish being the secondary.
St. Kitts is a lush, green island with plenty of activities:
- Scenic Train Ride (highly recommend)
- Hike Mount Liamuiga Volcano and see the Natural Farm
- Flyboarding (for the young athletic)
- ATV tours and dune buggy tours
- Catamaran, which includes snorkeling at different beaches
- Snorkeling Tour without the catamaran
- Rain Forest Tour
We took the Scenic Train Ride the first time we were here.
Scenic Train Ride Station
We were bussed from the dock to the train station.
This train is an open-air ride that bumps and rattles and chugs over bridges and up and down hills. It was great fun!
Entertainment on board!!
Entertainment on the Scenic Train Ride
It is hot in St. Kitts, as all island are in the Caribbean. Take your water with you.
When on the train, the wind blowing through the open windows, you see lush parts of the island. You see the sea all around you.
Arriving in St. Kitts
The hike up and around Liamuiga Volcano is a must-do hike. You see things that are unique, unusual, things you will not forget.
Mount Liamuiga, St. Kitts
Taking Care of St. Kitts
A Home of a Resident of St. Kitts
Residents’ homes are built around the outer edge of the volcanic rock island of St. Kitts, as the interior is too dense with trees and foliage and rocks for the construction of homes.
An Old Uninhabited Home on St. Kitts
Our Arrival at St. Kitts
St. Kitts is one of our favorite islands. It is to others, as well. It is a wedding destination spot for many. Each time we have been there, there has been a destination wedding.
We were on the scenic train ride. It was hot on the top side.
When I went below to the lady’s room, I found air conditioning. I sat at one of the tables and read the placemats.
The placemats told the history of St. Kitts. Its creation by a volcano many, many years ago. How it thrived by selling tobacco and then switching to sugarcane for survival.
Slavery is a deep part of St. Kitts’ history. The placemats gave a gruesome tale of the truth of slavery on the island. Independence Square is a central public park in downtown Basseterre where the slave market was located. Humans forcibly imported and then bought and sold to the highest bidder. It brought tears to my eyes.
Today, the island survives on tourism. This enables the island to provide for the young on their island.
There are excellent schools, and the island has a literacy rate of over 90 percent. That’s an impressive number.
The children are required to attend school through the 12th grade, and then college is an option for any student on the island.
Basseterre is the capital of both St. Kitts and Nevis, and still has many of the original buildings from the 1700s, which have been restored and are beautiful.
Basseterre has many interesting things to see:
- The Circus (a roundabout that contains the Berkely Memorial fountain)
- Basseterre Co-Cathedral of Immaculate Conception (beautiful)
- National Museum of Saint Kitts (see photos of the growth of the island)
- Romney Manor (a sugar plantation that now contains the Caribelle Batik, a place to see how batik is made and also see the flamboyant gardens
St. Kitts is a beautiful island. There is much to see and much to do. I hope you get there one day.
There are many souvenir shops, but head for the local artist. Buy from the local artist. You support the artist and help pay for their art supplies.
Safe travels!! Have fun!! Drink your water!!
Many smiles to you!!!