Saint Kitts and Nevis

Overview

Located in the Caribbean, and making up the northern part of the Leeward Islands, the islands of Nevis and St. Kitts are two of the more unspoilt holiday destinations to experience. Just a short ferry ride apart, the islands which could quite easily be described as a tropical paradise, both have dormant volcanoes. Mount Liamuiga on St. Kitts is covered in tropical forest, while Mount Nevis is enveloped in cloud forest, home to green monkeys, and an abundance of tropical flowers.

The islands' history is largely based on the sugar industry. They were both important producers, and many of the old plantations have been transformed into hotels or restaurants. For those who like a trip to have a cultural twist, these plantations are definitely worth seeing, and the capitals of Basseterre (St. Kitts) and Charlestown (Nevis) are harbour towns which both bear the traces of their colonial past. Interesting fact: Lord Nelson met and married his wife Fanny Nisbet in Nevis. The reasons most people holiday in the Caribbean are for the beaches and multitude of outdoor pursuits on offer. Nevis and St. Kitts offer these in spadefuls, and excellent facilities can be found on both islands for watersports, golf and fishing. If you enjoy diving, there are also unexplored wrecks and reefs to visit. The islands offer great hiking and walking as the terrain is largely volcanic and hilly. If you are feeling too exhausted for any of the above, sunbathing on white sandy beaches is an attractive alternative! Temperatures...more

History

First settled by the British in 1623, the islands became an associated state with full internal autonomy in 1967. The island of Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. Saint Kitts and Nevis achieved independence in 1983. In 1998, a vote in Nevis on a referendum to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the two-thirds majority needed. Nevis is once more trying to separate from the Saint Kitts. As if it were the custom in the Caribbean, St-Kitts and Nevis changed hands many times between English and French, which has left it a heritage of cities with names from both countries. Contrariwise, the architecture there is very Anglo-Saxon (Style Victorian) with driving on left and especially in downtown Basseterre: Circus Place the reproduction of the 'Berkeley Memorial Clock'. The islands became an associated state of the United Kingdom with full internal autonomy in 1967. The island of Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. Saint Kitts and Nevis achieved independence in 1983. In 1998, a vote in Nevis on a referendum to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the two-thirds majority needed. There are also several ancient British fortifications which have been restored with minutiae and reproducing the tiniest details of original construction. St-Kitts and Nevis will be called to be developed in the near future, in fact many projects are in progress or completion, notably vast dockings to accommodate the largest liners and cruisers...more