t Crowds wandering the colorful harborfront area of Basseterre
t Crowds wandering the colorful harborfront area of Basseterre
Experience St. Kitts and Nevis
In the 1600s and 1700s, the British and French prized St. Kitts and Nevis. Due to their incredible fertility, the islands were major producers of tobacco, then sugar cane. The importance Britain placed on St. Kitts can be seen in Brimstone Hill Fortress, a colossal fortification dating from 1690, dubbed the Gibraltar of the West Indies. The twin islands became an independent nation in 1983, called the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. The sugar industry survived until 2005 – its legacy includes a scenic railway on St. Kitts once used to transport cane from the estates to the capital Basseterre. Tourism, which has grown rapidly on St. Kitts, is now the most important element in the country’s economy, along with hosting offshore financial and service companies.
St. Kitts and Nevis are two miles apart, separated by a stretch of water called The Narrows. St. Kitts divides into two halves. The north is mountainous – Mount Liamuiga, a dormant volcano covered in rainforest, rises to 3,972 ft (1,210 m) – and ringed by pretty villages. The south includes the capital Basseterre, the Frigate Bay resort area and popular beaches on the southeastern peninsula. Smaller, circular, and verdant Nevis centers on 3,292 ft (1,003 m) Nevis Peak, another photogenic dormant volcano often topped with clouds. It is possible to drive right around the base of the mountain, stopping off at the villagey Charlestown, plantation inns, and idyllic beaches.