St Kitts Is a Beautiful and Pristine Island

St Kitts has to be one of the most beautiful Caribbean islands, and because all development here is relatively recent it has retained its pristine and eco-friendly environment. It has something for everyone, and it's easy to see why some people are choosing to buy holiday homes here, and are returning year after year as there is always something new to do.

The island is steeped in history and boasts numerous historic sites including prehistoric Carib Indian grounds, plantation houses, remnants of sugar estate's and a fortress which is a UNESCO world Heritage site.

It has a glorious underwater world as there are ancient wrecks and numerous reefs to be explored, and dive sites tend to be a lot less crowded than on the better-known Caribbean islands. St Kitts has a thriving rainforest which is expanding rather than shrinking, and is teeming with wildlife including many fantastically coloured birds and butterflies and numerous tropical flowers.

One of the most popular places to visit is the botanical Gardens of Romney Manor which is also the home of Caribelle Batik. The estate was originally owned by Samuel Jefferson, grandfather of the American statesman. It was the only estate to use a water wheel from power, and the remnant can still be seen.

Just outside Romney Manor are some stone petroglyphs which were left by the Carib Indians who used to live in the area in the 17th century. Nowadays the estate is home to a number of artisans who give batik demonstrations. The 17th century sugar estate is surrounded by beautiful gardens that are extremely pleasant to wander around.

You'll find that two weeks isn't enough time to discover everything that St Kitts has to offer, and it's easy to see why many people return year after year.

St Kitts Capital’s Considerable History

Unlike most of Caribbean islands, St Kitts has a lot more to offer tourists than just beautiful beaches, as it has a considerable history which is especially visible in the elegant Georgian architecture in the capital city of Basseterre, and it has to be one of the nicest capitals in the Caribbean. Basseterre is set against a backdrop of lush green rainforest and has numerous interesting buildings for history lovers.

The Treasury Building is a domed colonial construction right on the waterfront which served as a Customs house, and in the past virtually everything which arrived or departed from St Kitts had to pass through its arches.

The Circus is a small roundabout in the centre of the city which is modelled on Piccadilly in London. In its centre is the bright green bronze Berkeley Memorial Clock which is a cast-iron tower with four intricate clock faces. St George's Anglican Church was once named Notre Dame in 1670 by the French, and was destroyed four times before its present Georgian style reincarnation was built in 1869.

Independence Square has a somewhat grim history as it was constructed in 1790 for council meetings and slave auctions. It was named in 1983 to commemorate the independence of St Kitts and Nevis from Great Britain. Outside the city lies Old Road Bay which was the first permanent European settlement in the Leeward Islands, and was home to Sir Thomas Warner, his family and 14 others.

Although the settlers were originally on good terms with the Carib inhabitants, this piece only lasted for a few years. Warner was originally drawn to the island by its tobacco crop, and at first this supported the settlement. Although Basseterre isn’t huge, it does make a pleasant place to spend a day or two learning about some of the history of St Kitts.

St Kitts Colourful Past

St Kitts may be a beautiful holiday destination, but it also has a colourful past and a heritage created by the nation's indigenous people and Europeans and Africans. The island is located in between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago, and was originally volcanic.

Columbus spotted the island in 1493, but long before this it was inhabited by indigenous Indians called Siboney who left very few traces behind. They were eventually overtaken by the Arawaks who were a group of farmers, who were in turn overtaken by the Carib Indians who were warriors. When the Europeans eventually began to arrive on St Kitts, the Carib Indians waged war against them.

The first British settlers arrived in 1623, while the first French settlers arrived around 1627. The two groups lived in relative harmony for a while and fought the Carib Indians and Spanish attacks together.

Unfortunately the harmony didn't last, and cumulated in a war which would last more than 100 years. In 1782 St Kitts and Nevis came under permanent British control after a bitter battle on Brimstone Hill. Once they regained control, the British began establishing sugar plantations which were originally maintained by Irish servants before being cultivated by African slaves.

A large percentage of the island's population is of African descent, and this influence is seen throughout their culture in celebrations, art, food and music. Eventually the sugarcane industry became unprofitable and has been replaced by tourism. It is now becoming one of the top luxury destinations in the world, and also has a growing reputation for eco-tourism.

St Kitts Is a Holiday Paradise All Year Round

St Kitts enjoys an enviable climate all year round, as temperatures rarely drop beneath 22°C at night and rarely exceed 30°C during the day. Even when the temperatures are high, the islands are cooled by the North East Trade winds. The climate in St Kitts is classified as tropical marine, which means it is influenced by the seas surrounding the area.

The high season is between December and February, as people from the northern hemisphere try to escape their own winters. During this time the beaches may be a little more crowded, and accommodation may cost slightly more.

A lot of tourists choose to visit during this time as it is also the Carnival season. The Carnival season begins on Christmas Eve and extends into early January. Celebrations include food festivals, parades, street dancing, masquerades and a number of other events.

The low season is during the summer months between June and August, and this is rather a nice time to visit as the beaches are a lot quieter and accommodation rates are a lot lower. The low season also has its fair share of celebrations and events including the St Kitts annual music festival in May and the St Kitts and Nevis regatta in June.

The wet season runs from May to October, and this is also the hottest time of year, and it's worth packing adequate rain gear if you intend to visit during these months. For most of the time, cool, light cotton clothing is best for staying comfortable. Even if you choose to visit during the rainy season, you will still see plenty of sunshine, and there are lots of activities and sites to keep you occupied when the weather is a little damp.

Which Are the Most Popular Beaches in St Kitts?

St Kitts is blessed with having pristine, uncrowded and utterly relaxing beaches, and some of them only used to be accessible by boat or by hiking over steep hills. The most popular beaches tend to be those on the Caribbean side, such as Frigate Bay and South Friars Bay.

A lot of people think the Frigate Bay beach is the best, and I'd have to agree as it has a long stretch of golden sand, and the waters here are generally calm. There are a number of beach bars, and there is a wide variety of watersports and other beach activities such as kayaking, Sunfish, windsurfing and scuba-diving available.

Snorkelling is excellent at either end of the beach near to the rock cliffs. Frigate Bay is popular with tourists, and is home to the excellent Oceans Edge Resort, which is a luxury resort that has been very tastefully developed. This resort has the advantage of being within walking distance of Frigate Bay, and residents can choose to go to either the Atlantic side or the Caribbean side, depending on their mood.

South Friars Bay is on the south eastern peninsular, and is great for swimming as the waters here are very calm. It has a long stretch of golden sandy beach which never feels crowded, and is a favourite with locals and tourists. It's especially good for snorkelling and other water sports. There are several bars here where you can purchase food and ice cold drinks, and it’s generally just the perfect spot for relaxing, although St Kitts is the perfect holiday destination for anyone who needs to unwind.

St Kitts a Great Destination for Family Holidays, Here's Why

St Kitts has an extremely wide appeal, as it has beautiful beaches, and an interesting historic town; in fact it has masses of history, as well as a wide variety of watersports and excursions. It is able to cater for all age groups, and is ideal for anyone who just likes lazing around on holiday, and is just as good for someone who seeks something different to do every day.

The beaches here are stunning, with gorgeous white sand as might be expected on a Caribbean island. However St Kitts also has black sand beaches due to its volcanic origins, and these are equally as stunning in their own way. The calm seas of the Caribbean are ideal for swimming, snorkelling and diving, while the slightly more turbulent waters of the Atlantic are great for anyone who loves windsurfing.

Family members who just hate to lie around on the beach for too long, or who don't want to get their feet wet everyday will enjoy exploring the interior of the island. It has the distinction of having an expanding rainforest which can be explored by taking a zip line over the canopy, or by taking the scenic railway which goes past the old sugar plantations and a number of picturesque villages.

You can also go on rainforest hikes and eco-safari tours, as this island is very much geared up towards preserving and enjoying the beautiful ecosystem. Keen shoppers will find plenty to buy in the capital city of Basseterre, and while the nightlife here is pretty low key, there are lots of excellent restaurants and bars to visit.

St Kitts Has a Rich Cultural History

A lot of people may not be aware that St Kitts has a rich history, in that it used to be one of the richest islands in the West Indies due to the sugar plantations and was very much considered to be the gateway to the Caribbean.

There is no doubt this has shaped much of the history both on St Kitts and within the Caribbean, but it has also had a huge influence on the culture here.

The island has a rich tradition of carnivals, especially at Christmas, and especially for the art of masquerade, as those taking part in the Carnival sometimes wear tall peacock feathers headdresses and masks, and their entire costume is decorated with ribbons, bangles and mirrors.

The dances tend to be a combination of European and African styles, and one of the dances has been identified as having its roots in 17th-century France. The island is also famous for the Moko-Jumbies, who dance on 6 to 8 foot stilts for the length of the parade route.

There are lots of different theories surrounding both the costumes and the dance, as some believe that Moko is the name of the African God of vengeance while others think it is a corruption of the name of a very tall palm tree called the macaw, as their headdresses resemble the macaw plant when in full bloom.

Somewhat surprisingly St Kitts is also famous for its clowns who have been part of their Christmas celebrations for hundreds of years. If you can, it's well worth visiting the island at Christmas time to see this famous and colourful carnival.

Exploring the Natural Beauty of St Kitts

St Kitts is one of the nicest of the Caribbean islands, and it's easy to see why it is growing in popularity with overseas investors. More than a quarter of its land is designated as a national park, and the rainforest is actually expanding, which isn't a claim that can be made by many countries.

It's a great spot for both divers and snorkellers, as the island is surrounded by new dive sites and huge beds of coral which attract numerous fish. In fact the wildlife is everywhere you look, as there are families of mongoose, chattering monkeys and black bellied sheep and goats.

There’s a lot to see and do here, as you can take a zip line over the rainforest or climb to the top of the still smouldering volcano. St Kitts also has a vibrant past and was once known as the Gibraltar of the West Indies due to the sheer number of 18th century battles which took place on this tiny island. Its history isn't forgotten, as Brimstone Hill Fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It was built several hundred years ago, and in the lush surroundings of St Kitts, it almost looks like natural growth from the 800 foot hill on which it is situated. It was designed by British military engineers, but was built by African slaves and is made out of hard volcanic rock.

The structure was first begun in the 1690s, but didn't become a complete military community until the 1790s. Everywhere you look at there are colonial influences which speak of the French and British occupation, contributing to the rich culture that can be found on St Kitts.