Cheap flights to Saint Kitts and Nevis

St. Kitts, along with sister island Nevis, make up the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. In common with many islands in the Caribbean, sugar was the number one industry but tourism has come into its own in recent years. Nevis may have a more established tourist sector with St. Kitts playing catch-up, but it’s making up ground gracefully, with well planned, small-scale developments that are not marring the beauty of this lush, tropical island.

St. Kitts is a small island – it takes just 40 minutes to drive around it – but there is plenty to see and do. There are tours through the tropical forests and lava formations, while bobbing along on a boat tour through the Caribbean Sea is a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours. St. Kitts is gaining a reputation as a dive destination too. Divers are starting to take cheap flights to St. Kitts in greater and greater numbers to explore the reefs and shipwrecks off its shores.

Basseterre is the capital, with a cool, quaint vibe and beautiful Colonial architecture. It’s also where you can catch the ferry to Nevis, a 45-minute journey. South Frigate Bay, southeast of Basseterre, is where Kittitians go to kick back or lime on the weekend.

For vacationers keen to forget about work for a while, St. Kitts beaches are the place to relax. The south of the island has the best beaches – Cockleshell Bay has soft, soft white sand and killer views of Nevis. On the north of the island, the beaches are volcanic with black and gray sand and usually bigger surf. Belle Tete in Sandy Point and Dieppe Bay beach are the best of these and at Dieppe Bay you can also see where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean.

Saint Kitts and Nevis climate

Sea breezes help the tropical climate of St Kitts and Nevis stay cool and comfortable. Temperatures hover around 26 C all year and there are no distinct seasons. It rains throughout the year, but hurricane season lasts from July to November. 

Getting around Saint Kitts and Nevis

Renting a car or scooter allows maximum independence while on St. Kitts. Drivers will need to get a local driver’s licence from the traffic department in Basseterre or facilitated through the rental agency. If you’re spending some of your vacation on Nevis, you can obtain the license at the police departments in Nevis, such as Charlestown, Newcastle, Cotton Ground or Gingerland. Some car-rental agencies allow car-exchange services if you’re flitting between both islands. Remember to drive on the left. Scooter and moped rental is more reasonably priced. You’ll still need that temporary driving permit however… 

Bus transportation includes privately owned minibuses. They offer cheap, if sometimes unreliable, journeys around St. Kitts. Services are plentiful in the capitals of St. Kitts and Nevis, but more limited around hotels and in the more remote parts of the islands. 

Ferries between Basseterre and Charlestown take about 45 minutes and are cheap. There are several ferry companies operating between Nevis and St Kitts. The 45-minute crossing is pleasant, comfortable, and provides beautiful views of both islands. There is also a Car Ferry Service which takes approximately 25 minutes, operating from the South East Peninsula St. Kitts to Cade Bay Nevis.

What is good to know if travelling to Saint Kitts and Nevis?

• Stroll around Basseterre. It’s a lovely, small capital with a strong British feel. There is a tiny roundabout, modelled after Piccadilly Circus in London, UK, and in the middle is the green-and-gold Berkeley Memorial Clock. Pick up some jelly coconut and fresh pineapple from the street vendors.
• The history of St. Kitts mirrors the history of several other islands in the Caribbean… The British and the French fought for control of the island, the British triumphed. Today, the culture is more African than British. African slaves were brought here to work on the sugar plantations. The official language of the island is English however.
• The Brimstone Hill Fortress was built by the British in the 18th century to defend St. Kitts against the French. It’s a Unesco World Heritage Site and is well worth a visit. It’s one of the best-preserved historical fortifications in this part of the world. It’s also a wonderful vantage point for views of the mountains and fields, Sandy Point and, across the Caribbean Sea, the neighbouring islands. Open every day except Christmas Day and Good Friday.
• Probably the best way of seeing St. Kitts is from the Scenic Railway (www.stkittsscenicrailway.com). This train was built between 1912 and 1926 to transport sugar cane from the plantations to Basseterre. You can catch the train at Needsmust Station from where it chugs around the slopes of Mount Liamuiga and the Atlantic Ocean and through little villages.