Reasons for Buying Property in St Kitts

Lots of people who think about buying Caribbean property automatically turn towards the more well-known islands, but they should look towards St Kitts, as the popularity of this independent island state is growing rapidly. It used to be a British colony, but achieved independence in 1983, and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the United Nations and Caricom.

St Kitts has a pleasant year-round climate, and humidity is relatively low. The island only covers about sixty nine square miles, and along with Nevis supports a population of less than 50,000. Due to its lush, tropical nature, St Kitts is often compared to islands in the South Pacific, especially as it has an expanding rainforest that already covers around one quarter of the island. Vegetation thrives in the rich soil provided by the now dormant volcano, Mount Liamuiga, and its crater is a tourist attraction.

Since the sugarcane industry shutdown in 2005, St Kitts has made substantial investments into the tourism industry, and has also worked hard to attract financial services businesses. The Economic Citizenship Program has been in operation since 1984, and this requires investment into government approved property developments. The program allows successful applicants to have a second passport, enabling them to benefit from visa free travel.

Property development on the island tends to be sustainable and in keeping with the natural surroundings, and because of this St Kitts is becoming known as an upmarket tourist destination. Lots of people visit to enjoy the lush surroundings and numerous watersports, but St Kitts has many other attractions, including historical sites, fine dining, and shopping.

Eco-tourism in St Kitts

St Kitts is still a relative newcomer to the tourism industry, as it only took positive steps to promote itself as an upmarket destination once the sugarcane industry finally shut its doors for good in 2005.

This means it's perfectly positioned to be able to ensure the tourism industry develops in a way which is sustainable, and St Kitts has taken measures to make sure its delicate ecosystem is protected. This is extremely sensible as ecotourism is becoming increasingly popular, as people still want to travel and explore, but are more interested in pursuing activities perceived as being ‘green.’

The underwater world around St Kitts is a huge attraction, and it has a worldwide reputation for being pristine. St Kitts is working hard to make sure the coral reefs and marine life are preserved for generations to come and has worked with Philippe Cousteau's Earth Echo, and the Coral Reef Alliance to create protected areas. St Kitts is equally as well known for its lush environment.

Around one quarter of the island is covered in American Oceanic Rainforest, which is one of the rarest kinds of rainforest in the world. The environment on St Kitts is so healthy this rainforest is expanding, and with numerous trails winding through it, it provides a popular tourist attraction. These trails are enjoyed by hikers and mountain bikers and vary greatly as to the degree of difficulty.

The trails take sightseers past streams and waterfalls, and an endless variety of tropical plants and flowers. You don't have to be ultra-fit to experience this, as there are plenty of tour operators offering leisurely walks with a guide, or four-wheel-drive tours. All these natural attractions help make St Kitts quite different from its competitors, and it's easy to see why it's becoming increasingly popular amongst tourists.

Discovering the Culture of St Kitts

The culture on St Kitts has been shaped by numerous different countries to become something unique to the island. Much of the folk culture revolves around Moko-jumbies, masquerades and clowns, and which have been celebrated over hundreds of years. Clowns traditionally perform around Christmas time, and you'll typically see around 50 players in colourful suits decorated with bells. They often wear a pink wire mesh mask which hides the face of the performer, and apparently is meant to depict Europeans.

The Moko-jumbies are something completely different, and are part of West African culture. They are stilt walkers who celebrate West African mythology, and it's thought the name Moko came from the God of vengeance. Others believe Moko refers to the macaw, which is a tall palm tree covered with thorns, as the dancers wear headdresses which resemble the macaw plant when in full bloom. Whatever their origins, they perform wearing long dresses, balanced on 6 to 8 inch stilts.

Masquerades are combination of European and African influences which have gradually evolved over several hundred years, and the masquerade is one of the most popular performances during the carnival. Performers wear headdresses decorated with tall peacock feathers, and the costumes are finished with mirrors, ribbons and bangles. Researchers have identified the dances as having both African and European influences, and all of these traditions are very entertaining and interesting to watch.

The main carnival on St Kitts begins in late December, and includes numerous pageants and parades and festivities which carry on into the New Year. It's a great time to be on St Kitts, especially because the weather is warm and dry, making it the perfect winter escape.

Discovering Mountainous St Kitts

St Kitts is a beautiful Caribbean island which has its very own dormant volcano named Mount Liamuiga. It's one of the major tourist attractions on the island, as visitors to can go right up to the dormant crater, and can choose to take a 4x4 tour to the top, while the more active can hike and explore the island's flora and fauna on the way. This includes numerous birds such as frigate birds, brown boobies, cattle egrets and black whiskered vireos.

The island is also renowned for its exotic flowers, and one quarter is covered in extremely healthy rainforest that is expanding. There are lots of activities available on St Kitts, including mountain biking, horseback riding, or exploring the forest canopy from a zip line.

The waters around St Kitts are teeming with life, and it's a great destination for keen snorkellers and divers. There are numerous reefs and wrecks to explore, and as the water gets pretty deep pretty quickly, there's no need to travel too far. It's a very eco-friendly island, and tourism only took off a few years ago, so the newer resorts are all constructed to be sustainable and to blend in with the natural environment.

In spite of its eco-friendly attitude, St Kitts is a sophisticated destination that attracts upmarket tourists looking for something different. There are plenty of opportunities for shopping and gourmet dining, but St Kitts also benefits from a very rich history, distinguishing it from most of its Caribbean neighbours. Tourists can visit the Brimstone Hill Fortress, a beautifully preserved UNESCO world Heritage site, or can explore the island on the scenic railway, which is the only operational railway in the Caribbean outside Cuba.