Traditional Kittitian Food

St Kitts is a great place to try out new foods. The cuisine is generally Caribbean, but carries Trinidadian and British influences, but there are also many recipes which use Puerto Rico ingredients.

With such rich marine life around the islands it's hardly surprising that the main source of protein is seafood and fish, while the rich volcanic soils produce an enormous variety of exotic fruits and vegetables, as well as many which are more familiar.

The main ingredients for most dishes include coconut, yams, plantain or cassava and are likely to be seasoned with curry, chili, parsley or mint. Most locals tend to prefer light but spicy meals with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.

One of the most common dishes to be found on St Kitts is white rice with beans which is generally served with seafood, but the British influence is also easy to find in many places, as lots of recipes use sweet potatoes, and there is also an abundance of European style deserts.

Curried dishes tend to include chicken, goat, duck, beef or shrimp and are likely to come with a curried side dish. Using spices is vitally important in St Kitts cuisine, and they are used both for taste and colour. St Kitts is home to a number of fine dining restaurants, but it's also possible to find cheap and extremely good food in the numerous beach bars. Several local beers are brewed on the island using imported hops, and St Kitts also has several brands of its very own rum.

Exploring the Many, Many Beaches on St Kitts

St Kitts has an abundance of absolutely gorgeous beaches, and most people visiting the island do so because they are hoping to spend at least part of their holiday on the beach. There are beaches for every occasion, and while those on the south of the island are beautiful white sand, those further north become progressively darker due to the islands of volcanic history.

One of the most popular beaches is Friars Bay which is on the Caribbean side. The water is very calm and ideal for swimming. It's a very popular beach and the atmosphere can get pretty lively.

Those who enjoy surfing should head to North Frigate Bay which is on the Atlantic side of the island. It's perfect for just relaxing and windsurfing and surfing, and some of the major hotels are located on this beach. South Frigate Bay is just a short walk away on the Caribbean side so the sea is slightly calmer here, and perfect for swimming and numerous other watersports. It's also one of the liveliest beaches on the island.

If you simply want to get away from it all then head to Sandy Bank which is a relatively sheltered Atlantic beach. It's very quiet and private as there are no restaurants or watersports available. Another quiet, beautiful beach is Banana Bay which is right on the tip of the south-east peninsula.

It's perhaps the classic Caribbean beach with pristine waters and coconut trees, and is blissfully quiet. Those new to diving and snorkelling will probably appreciate Pump Bay which is perfect for beginners. This beautiful black sandy beach lies in the shadow of Brimstone Hill Fortress. St Kitts has a beach for every level of activity, or even inactivity.

Activities on St Kitts

St Kitts has to be one of the most beautiful Caribbean islands to visit, and it's hardly surprising that there are a wide range of outdoors activities available. The mountains are covered in rainforest and it’s very enjoyable to take a hike through the lush vegetation, or even visit Mount Liamuiga which is St Kitts dormant volcano.

If you do want to take a hike in its worth going with a local guide as they are very knowledgeable and are able to identify native plants, local flora and fauna and most also know a lot about the island's history and culture.

Learning which plants are used for medicinal uses and the identity of that bird you just took a photo of can make a trip much more enjoyable. St Kitts is also good for keen golfers, and the beaches are perfect for going horseback riding. Other popular activities revolve around the inviting waters of the Caribbean that are perfect for diving, snorkelling, swimming, sailing and fishing.

The best beaches to be found are around the southern end of the island as they are the classic, picture perfect white sandy beaches. The further north you go the darker the beaches become due to the volcanic origins of the island. The best beaches to visit include Frigate Bay, Friars Bay, Banana Bay, White House Bay and Cockleshell Bay. The beaches on the western side face the Caribbean Sea and tend to be calmer, while those on the eastern side are better for surfing, and are also extremely good for boating.

Exploring Points of Interest on St Kitts

One site that shouldn't be missed by anyone visiting St Kitts is the UNESCO world Heritage site of Brimstone Hill Fortress. This fortress was built to protect the island, as at one stage sugarcane production was so high the island was exceptionally wealthy and would have been an excellent prize for any country.

Brimstone Hill Fortress was built nearly 800 feet above the Caribbean and took more than 100 years to construct. It's easy to see why it was placed here as the views extend all the way from St Martin to Montserrat. British fears were well founded as in 1782 a large French fleet arrived and Brimstone Hill became the scene of one of the largest military battles in the Caribbean. Brimstone Hill Fortress has been beautifully restored, and the views are pretty spectacular as well.

Romney Manor is one of the most attractive plantation homes on the island and is also a well-known artisan centre. The estate was once owned by Sam Jefferson the second, the great, great, great-grandfather of Thomas Jefferson who was the first president of the USA.

It was renamed Romney Manor after it was acquired in the early 17th century by the Earl of Romney. It is notable for being the first estate in St Kitts to emancipate slaves, as Lord Romney declared his slaves to be free men in 1834, contrary to instructions from Britain. The Manor is set in 10 acres of ground, and there is a beautiful 350-year-old Saman tree in its grounds which covers half an acre. These days the manner is best known for being home to Caribelle Batik and is the perfect place to pick up souvenirs.

Exploring Points of Interest in St Kitts Capital City

Perhaps the best place to start exploring St Kitts is in its capital city of Basseterre. It is a French name that simply translates to mean lowland and it's thought it may have merely been a description written on a French sea chart at some point during the early 17th century.

The city has a dramatic backdrop of lush green rainforest, but still has much of its elegant colonial charm which dates back to Nelson's time, and its architecture is far more English than French. The Treasury building is right on the waterfront and as a reminder of the islands days as a major sugar cane producer. At one stage everything departing from St Kitts passed through this building.

The Circus is a roundabout in the centre of the city which has been modelled after Piccadilly Circus. Its centrepiece is the Berkeley Memorial Clock which is an ornate cast iron Georgian styled structure that is painted green. Independence Square was built in 1790 and was originally for council meetings and slave auctions.

It received its current name in 1983 when St Kitts and Nevis received independence from Great Britain. St George's Anglican Church wouldn't be out of place in the English countryside, but was originally called Notre Dame by the French in 1670. However it was destroyed four times before being built in its present Georgian style in 1869. The headstones in the graveyard date right back to the early 18th century.

St Kitts capital city is relatively small and easy to walk around, but it is well worth a visit and makes a very pleasant way to spend a few hours. It also gives a fascinating insight into the history which has shaped this beautiful island.

Experience a Different Kind of Caribbean Island by Visiting St Kitts

St Kitts differs from other Caribbean islands in several ways. The most obvious is the lush vegetation which may seem more reminiscent of a South Pacific island. It is an ideal place for anyone who enjoys being in stunning natural surroundings as one quarter of the island is covered in rainforest which is still expanding.

In the centre of the island is Mount Liamuiga which is a dormant volcano and visitors have the chance to explore its crater. Not surprisingly this lush rainforest is populated by numerous animals and is covered in vibrant tropical flowers.

The second way in which St Kitts differs from other tropical Caribbean islands is that it has a much richer history which is highly visible in the UNESCO world Heritage site of Brimstone Hill Fortress.

St Kitts was often called the Gibraltar of the West Indies, and many plantation owners became incredibly wealthy due to the sugar cane industry which finally closed in 2005. The remnants of the sugarcane industry are still very visible, and St Kitts capital city of Basseterre still has many of its colonial buildings, while the scenic railway which is now a popular tourist attraction was originally built to transport sugarcane into the capital.

Since then St Kitts has been developed into an upmarket tourist destination, and unlike many of its Caribbean neighbours has paid close attention to the way developments are carried out. High-end developments are constructed to be eco-friendly and sustainable, and many are eligible for the islands highly popular citizenship by investment programme. St Kitts is also different from its neighbours in that property here is currently much more affordable, but this situation is likely to last long due to its rapidly increasing popularity.