Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis is a two-island country in the Lesser Antilles. The islands are situated in Central America in the Caribbean Sea. The country shares its borders with Montserrat, Antigua and Barbuda, Sint Eustatius and Saint-Barthelemy. The capital city is Basseterre.

The tropical climate is dominant on the islands. The average temperature is +18 - +24°C. In summer, the temperature can reach +27 - +35°C. The wet season is from May to November. The maximum amount of precipitation (up to 70%) occurs on the north-east of Saint Kitts and Nevis. From December to April the weather is dry. And from August to October, tropical cyclones are not rare in this country.

Plan your travel to the islands in the touristic season which lasts for three months: June, July and August.

Over 90% of the population are the ancestors of the African slaves who were brought to the islands in the 17th-19th centuries. The indigenous population are the ancestors of the Cariba Indians and only 3% of them live in Saint Kitts and Nevis. The official language is English. The people on the islands follow Christianity. There are the Anglicans, Catholics and Protestants.

The islands Saint Kitts and Nevis attract those who like active holidays. There is everything and anything for surfing and windsurfing, diving and snorkeling, underwater fishing and a trip to the jungles.

Among the beach resorts, we should mention South Frigate Bay Gulf on the Saint Kitts Island. The Caribbean coast of Saint Kitts is a place for shopping, clubbing and trying one’s faith in the casino. The Atlantic Coast looks much more quiet and this is a refuge for ecological tourists.

On the south coast of the Nevis island is a famous beach Turtle Beach. However, Pinney Beach is the best.

If you like historical monuments head straight to Basseterre which is on the southern coast of Saint Kitts.

Get in

By Plane

The tourists from CIS countries can take a transit flight to the islands with a stop in European capitals or in Cuba. The air gate of Saint Kitts and Nevis welcomes the planes from the USA and the United Kingdom. If the tourists have a Schengen visa or a valid transit USA visa then the most convenient way to get to the islands is through London or New York.

By Ferry

The tourists can take advantage of yacht charter services and get to Saint Kitts and Nevis by sea from the neighboring islands.

There is a ferry route between Saint Kitts and Saint Martin. 

The travelers have a chance to travel to Saint Kitts by a cruise ship of the companies Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Cunard with a stop in the Port Zante in Basseterre.  

Visa

The tourists from European countries, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Belarus and Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan can travel to the islands without a visa provided that their stay in Saint Kitts and Nevis will nor exceed 90 days. Crossing a border, the tourists must have an international passport, return tickets and a document confirming financial sufficiency.

If the travelers want to stay in St. Kitts and Nevis for a longer period, they must come to the Migration service, submit the application and pay a fee. 

Customs

The travelers can import in St. Kitts and Nevis any amount of foreign and national currency but they should declare it first. The export of currency is allowed provided that the sum is the same as was declared.

Adult tourists can bring in cigarettes and alcohol for personal use.

It is not allowed to import medications and non-canned foods.  

To export antiquities and other objects with historical and artistic value,  a special permit is required.

It is prohibited to export sea shells and corals found at the bottom of the sea without a permit. 

Cuisine

The cuisine of St. Kitts and Nevis absorbed all the best traditions of the Mediterranean, Chinese and Creole cuisines. The tourists have a chance to try the dishes from all over the world.

The restaurants in St. Kitts offer its clients a great variety of European dishes and the chefs of the Nevis island prefer to treat their guests with substantial authentic dishes.

Roast suckling pig is the most traditional dish in St. Kitts served in the restaurants. Vegetable and fruit mixes are served as a side dish. Slightly fried seafood is a hallmark dish on the both islands because seafood is a staple food here. The people in Saint Kitts and Nevis cook their own version of Paella which is called Pelau. The ingredients for the dish are meat of a pigeon, rice, pea and seafood. With pickled, air-dried or smoked seafood, the people on the islands can cook hundreds of various dishes from salads and appetizers to hot and cold main dishes. 

In addition to fish, beef, pork and lamb, the locals also eat the meat of a turtle. Instead of a usual bread, the tourists will be offered vegetable and meat pies. For a dessert, you can treat yourself to fresh juicy fruits or fruit cakes. 

CSR is an alcoholic beverage which is a unique mixture of cane alcohol, tonic, soft drink or juice. The local rum and beer Carib and Skol.  

Money

The official currency in St. Kitts and Nevis is Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD). However, US dollar is also widely accepted.

It is better to convert the money you have into Euros or US dollars as the exchange rate is the best for these currencies. You can exchange currency at banks and in the offices of large financial institutions. 

ATMs are almost at any bank on the islands.

You can pay for goods and services with a credit card almost everywhere in the touristic area. The exception is the remote villages and local markets. 

It is better to get traveler’s checks in US dollars and the tourists can exchange them at banks and in hotels.

Duty-free shops are not widespread on the islands and the tourists can purchase things tax-free only in a couple of large malls. 

Details of interest

Sightseeing in Saint Kitts and Nevis

In the city of Charlestown on the Nevis island, there is the oldest synagogue which dates back to 1684. In this city, the tourists can visit the places closely associated with the colonial history of the island: the Cotton Plantation and the old cotton-processing factory, the Alexander Hamilton Museum, the Courthouse, the Memorial of War and the Jewish cemetery.

The national park and the fortress Brimstone Hill is under UNESCO protection. It is located on the Saint Christopher Island.

In the capital city Basseterre, there are many buildings of the colonial period, many churches and cathedrals. The Basseterre central square was a slave market in the past and everything here reminds of this period in the history of the islands. One can learn better the history of St. Kitts and Nevis in the Basseterre museum. Near the capital city, there is the House of Crafts. Not far from Basseterre the Liamuga volcano is located. Hiking and bike tours are arranged to this volcano. The Old Road Town is the oldest sight in Saint Kitts. On the Sir Thomas Warner Island, the travelers will see the tomb of the founder of the first European colony.

Souvenirs in Saint Kitt and Nevis

To remember their travel to the islands, the tourists usually buy crafts from corals and sea shells, bright textile, exotic jewelry and figurines made of a coconut.

In the House of Crafts, people paint on the batik and then they make beautiful national costumes and decor accessories (pictures, cushions).