These two islands have it all – white sandy beaches providing relaxation, snorkeling and diving opportunities, rainforests, mountains and historical points of interest, such as military fortresses and disused sugar plantations.
Various beaches, such as South Friar's Bay on St Kitts and Pinney's Beach on Nevis, provide the opportunity to bask in the sun, do a bit of snorkeling or walk along azure water on the white sand.
The Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park is an important historical site on the island of St Kitts. Construction of the fortress began in 1690 and this UNESCO World Heritage collection of citadels and ramparts provides an example of Caribbean military architecture between the 17th and 18th centuries.
Hike it alone or take a guide and be amazed by the glorious views from the top.
Wingfield Estate on St Kitts consists of the remains of a once prolific sugar estate that was set up in 1625 and ran until the centralization of sugar processing in the 1920s. Explore the well-preserved remains of the mill, an aqueduct and a lime kiln.
With options to reef dive, cave dive or investigate the shipwrecks that are submerged off the coasts of St Kitts and Nevis, visitors will be spoiled for choice for exploring the underwater world of these islands.
Late November and early December are good times to visit St Kitts and Nevis as the temperatures are a little lower than they are in the summer months and there is less of a chance of rain. The islands come alive with festivals during this time, with the last of these ending in January.
Nationals from the EU, Canada, UK, USA and Australia are not required to have a visa to enter St Kitts and Nevis for periods of up to 90 days.
The main hub for air traffic is Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw International Airport, which is located on St Kitts and receives international airlines, such as United, Air Canada, British Airways American Airlines, and Delta. Seaborne Airlines provides connections with other islands in the Caribbean, as does Winair.
St Kitts is a popular stop on the Caribbean itineraries for cruise liners, such as Royal Caribbean and Silversea Luxury Cruises.
Both islands have a good selection of hotels, many of which are privately owned and managed and are located in converted sugar mills and plantation houses on the estates. There are also resorts on both islands, such as the Park Hyatt St Kitts Christophe Harbour and the Four Seasons Resort Nevis.
Local transportation on the islands takes the form of minibuses and taxis. Taxi fares will depend on distance and number of passengers, but are fixed.
The St Kitts Scenic Railway is a 30 mi loop of St Kitts. The journey is mostly done on train, but there is part of the loop where it will be necessary to catch a sightseeing bus.
There is a network of privately owned minibuses that carry passengers along certain routes that have both designated stops and can be flagged down. These are used more by locals than visitors.
Rent a car from companies located in St Kitts and explore the islands. There is a car ferry that runs between the island of St Kitts and the island of Nevis, so both islands can be explored by car.
Cost of living in St Kitts and Nevis can be high. A gallon of milk and a dozen eggs could cost around 43 XCD (15.90 USD) in a supermarket. Eating out is reasonable with prices of less than around 30 XCD (11.10 USD) per person for a meal in a slightly cheaper restaurant. All major credit and debit cards are accepted and ATMs are available throughout the island.