Saint Kitts and Nevis are a pair of tropical islands in the Caribbean, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago. It is called “The Mother Colony of the West Indies”. The most remarkable feature is nature: many tropical birds, monkeys introduced by the pirates and Turtle Beach.
Capital: Basseterre
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Population: 51,000 (2103)
Language. English with patois, or Creole
Country Code: +1869
Visa. Citizens of Commonwealth, OAS, and most western countries do not require visas
Money. Eastern Caribbean dollars”$” or “EC$” (XCD), also used by seven other island nations. It is pegged to the United States dollar at an exchange rate of US$1 = EC$2.70.
History. As if it were the custom in the Caribbean, Saint Kitts and Nevis changed hands many times between English and French, which has left it a heritage of cities with names from both countries. Contrariwise, the architecture in the island nation is very British (Victorian style) with driving on the left and especially in downtown Basseterre: Circus Place the reproduction of the ‘Berkeley Memorial Clock’.
The islands became an associated state of the United Kingdom with full internal autonomy in 1967. The island of Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. Saint Kitts and Nevis achieved independence in 1983. In 1998, a vote in Nevis on a referendum to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the two-thirds majority needed.
There are also several ancient British fortifications which have been restored with minutiae and reproducing the tiniest details of original construction. Saint Kitts and Nevis has many projects in progress or completion including docks to accommodate the largest liners and cruisers
Climate. Tropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November).
Landscape. With coastlines in the shape of a baseball bat and ball, the two volcanic islands are separated by a three km wide channel called The Narrows; on the southern tip of long, baseball bat-shaped Saint Kitts lies the Great Salt Pond; Nevis Peak sits in the center of its almost circular namesake island and its ball shape complements that of its sister island. The highest point is Mount Liamuiga (Saint Kitts) at 1,156 metres.
GET IN
By plane. Daily flights from San Juan, British Virgin Islands/Tortola. Miami and New York (American) and Atlanta on Delta. British Airways has non-stop flights from London Gatwick, once a week, on Saturdays.
Air Canada Rouge from Toronto.
By boat. Cruise ship terminal in Basseterre.
Ferry from St Kitts (Majors Bay) to Nevis (Cades Bay), take the Sea Bridge 8am -7pm.
GET AROUND
By train. Scenic narrow gauge railway tour sugar mill railway, rapidly filled by cruisers. Narrow gauge rail has more and tighter bends with more swaying screeching on curves.
By car. Several car rentals agencies.
By bus. Micro buses form the public transportation system and can be flagged down while in route. Service does not generally extend to Frigate Bay or the Southern Peninsula.
Costs. Prices on Nevis are pretty reasonable. Fuel is expensive as it has to be imported
Safety. Mount Liamuiga involves some scrambling and a rope at the top.
Health: Tap water is safe to drink.
Respect. Do not wear beach attire in the city.
==============================================================NOMAD MANIA Saint Kitts and Nevis – Saint Kitts
World Heritage Sites: Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park
Islands: Saint Kitts
Borders: Saint Kitts and Nevis (sea border/port)
Airports: St. Kitts (SKB)
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: St. Kitts’ Scenic Railway (Sight)
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Sandy Point Town: Brimstone Hill Fortress
Religious Temples:
Crab Hill: Lighthouse Baptist Church
St. Kitts: St. Thomas’ Anglican Church
World of Nature
Brimstone Hill Fortress
Central Forest Reserve
Festivals: St Kitts Music Festival
Beaches: Cockleshell Beach (Sight)
Religious Temples: Immaculate Conception Co-Cathedral
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NOMAD MANIA Saint Kitts and Nevis – Nevis
Islands: Nevis
Borders: Saint Kitts and Nevis (sea border/port)
Airports: Nevis (NEV)
Religious Temples: Nevis: St. Thomas’ Anglican Church
Festivals
Culturama, Nevis
Nevis Blues Festival
Botanical Gardens: Botanical Gardens of Nevis (Sight)
Beaches: Pinneys Beach (Sight)
CHARLESTOWN
Tentative WHS: City of Charlestown (17/09/1998)
Museums: Museum of Nevis History