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St Kitts
• Basseterre, the picturesque capital, located near the seabord of the west coast, retains the flavour of both French and British occupation, and there are many Georgian buildings surrounding Independence Square. Other sights in or near the capital include: The Circus, the public market, St George’s Church, Craft House, Brimstone Hill Fortress (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Black Rocks, Romney Manor and the Caribelle Batik Factory, the Primate Research Centre, Frigate Bay Development, the southeastern peninsula and Mount Liamuiga’s volcanic crater.
• At Brimstone Hill, set your eyes on one of the most impressive New World forts, built on the peak of a sulphuric prominence, known as ‘The Gibraltar of the West Indies’. It commands the southern approach to what were the sugar mill plains, and boasts a splendid view of the nearby islands of Saba and St Eustatius. Built in 1690, Brimstone was the scene of a number of Franco-British battles during the 18th century.
• Frigate Bay is the main resort area on the island and boasts two fine beaches, hotels, a golf course and a casino.
Nevis
• Charlestown, the capital, is a delightful town, with weathered wooden buildings decorated like delicate gingerbread and great arches of brilliantly coloured bougainvillaea. The town contains several reminders of Nevisian history, such as the Cotton Ginnery, Alexander Hamilton’s birthplace and museum, the Court House, the War Memorial, the Alexandra Hospital and the Jewish Cemetery. Some of the plantation houses have now been transformed into superb hotels, such as the famous Nisbet. Other sights in or near Charlestown include: Nevis Philatelic Bureau, the Public Library, the Market, Bath House (one of the oldest hotels in the Leeward Islands), Eva Wilkin’s studio, Eden Brown’s Great House, Fig Tree Church, Nelson Museum, Bath Hot Springs, the Botanical Gardens of Nevis and the Newcastle Pottery.
• North of Charlestown is Pinney’s Beach, one of the best on the island, an expanse of silver sand, backed by palm trees. Head further north still to Black Sand Beach and Hurricane Hill, which offer excellent views of both St Kitts and Barbuda.
• Swimming is excellent; most hotels have freshwater pools and some have their own beaches. Scuba-diving and snorkelling are catered for and beach hotels generally have equipment. Several Basseterre skippers are equipped to take scuba parties. There are dozens of unexplored wrecks around the islands. Sailing boats can be hired from beach hotels, although Nevis has very limited facilities. Fast boats and waterskiing equipment are available for hire. Fishing trips can be organised. Deep-sea fishing is a speciality.
• Horse riding in the rainforest or on the beach can be arranged through hotels.
• There are several hiking trails leading into the mountains or through the rainforest. Local guides can be arranged through hotels.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.
• Basseterre, the picturesque capital, located near the seabord of the west coast, retains the flavour of both French and British occupation, and there are many Georgian buildings surrounding Independence Square. Other sights in or near the capital include: The Circus, the public market, St George’s Church, Craft House, Brimstone Hill Fortress (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Black Rocks, Romney Manor and the Caribelle Batik Factory, the Primate Research Centre, Frigate Bay Development, the southeastern peninsula and Mount Liamuiga’s volcanic crater.
• At Brimstone Hill, set your eyes on one of the most impressive New World forts, built on the peak of a sulphuric prominence, known as ‘The Gibraltar of the West Indies’. It commands the southern approach to what were the sugar mill plains, and boasts a splendid view of the nearby islands of Saba and St Eustatius. Built in 1690, Brimstone was the scene of a number of Franco-British battles during the 18th century.
• Frigate Bay is the main resort area on the island and boasts two fine beaches, hotels, a golf course and a casino.
Nevis
• Charlestown, the capital, is a delightful town, with weathered wooden buildings decorated like delicate gingerbread and great arches of brilliantly coloured bougainvillaea. The town contains several reminders of Nevisian history, such as the Cotton Ginnery, Alexander Hamilton’s birthplace and museum, the Court House, the War Memorial, the Alexandra Hospital and the Jewish Cemetery. Some of the plantation houses have now been transformed into superb hotels, such as the famous Nisbet. Other sights in or near Charlestown include: Nevis Philatelic Bureau, the Public Library, the Market, Bath House (one of the oldest hotels in the Leeward Islands), Eva Wilkin’s studio, Eden Brown’s Great House, Fig Tree Church, Nelson Museum, Bath Hot Springs, the Botanical Gardens of Nevis and the Newcastle Pottery.
• North of Charlestown is Pinney’s Beach, one of the best on the island, an expanse of silver sand, backed by palm trees. Head further north still to Black Sand Beach and Hurricane Hill, which offer excellent views of both St Kitts and Barbuda.
• Swimming is excellent; most hotels have freshwater pools and some have their own beaches. Scuba-diving and snorkelling are catered for and beach hotels generally have equipment. Several Basseterre skippers are equipped to take scuba parties. There are dozens of unexplored wrecks around the islands. Sailing boats can be hired from beach hotels, although Nevis has very limited facilities. Fast boats and waterskiing equipment are available for hire. Fishing trips can be organised. Deep-sea fishing is a speciality.
• Horse riding in the rainforest or on the beach can be arranged through hotels.
• There are several hiking trails leading into the mountains or through the rainforest. Local guides can be arranged through hotels.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.