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St Kitts map
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Spas
Emerald Mist Spa, St Kitts Marriot Resort, Frigate Bay, t 466 1200, ext 7630
Full service spa and fitness centre offering a range of health and beauty treatments including massage, body scrubs, body wraps, therapy baths, facials, manicures/pedicures, paraffin hand treatments and waxing. Other facilities in the spa include a restaurant, steam room, hair salon, with fitness counselling and fitness and yoga classes.
The Mango Orchard Spa, Ottley’s Plantation Inn, t 465 7234
A small and very personal spa set in a charming brightly painted chattel house surrounded by fantastic tropical greenery and with a view out over the inn’s rainforest ravine. Mango Orchard offers massage, body wraps, manicures, pedicures and facials in a delightfully peaceful setting.
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Sports
WATERSPORTS
The best place for general watersports is Frigate Bay, where most of the hotels are located. The Caribbean side has a couple of concessions where you can get hold of a kayak, a small sailboat or a jetski. The Atlantic side is less suitable because the waves come barrelling in off the ocean. If you would like to make a day out then the Reggae Beach Bar & Grill in the far south of the island has some sports, including snorkelling and kayaking. You will also find some sports concessions on other beaches such as Friars Bay, where the Sunset Beach Bar (also known as Olivia’s or Hanley’s) has some kayaks and snorkelling gear and Shipwreck rents out snorkelling gear too.
Kayaking
Kayaks (sit on) are available for rent and are a good way to get to isolated snorkelling spots. You can take a half-day trip through Blue Water Safaris, t 466 4933. Kayaks are also available from the Reggae Beach Bar & Grill in Cockleshell Bay and at the Marriott Resort.
Snorkelling
Snorkelling is available through most of the hotels, who will lend you a mask and fins. There are reefs around the island, but some of the best places to snorkel include Turtle Beach in the far south-east and isolated coves along the South East Peninsula if you can get to them, Ballast Bay and Shitten Bay). In the North of the island the snorkelling is excellent around Sandy Point.
Snorkelling trips can be arranged through the scuba operator Kenneth's Dive Center (below) and with the many catamaran day sailing trips. Leeward Islands Charters, t 465 7474, as well as Blue Water Safaris t 466 4933 always include a snorkelling stop.
Scuba Diving
Our recommended scuba dive operator in St Kitts is -
Kenneth’s Dive Centre
The longest-established scuba diving operator in St Kitts, owned and run by Kittitian Kenneth Samuel. The dive shop is located on the waterfront in Basseterre, close to Port Zante, the dock for their three dive boats and the arrival point for cruise ships. A Padi Dive Center, Kenneth’s Dive Center offers courses up to Dive Master certification level. Also snorkelling trips.
Surfing
The waves along the Atlantic Coast are the best but they are mostly only suitable for boogie boarding and body surfing. The best area is around the village of Keyes.
Sports Fishing
Deep sea fishing is possible in the waters off St Kitts, where fish such as marlin, kingfish, sailfish and tuna run. A number of fishermen go out and are happy to take others out with them, or you can charter a boat from one of the businesses including the dive shops. Try Kenneth’s Dive Centre, t 465 2670.
LAND BASED SPORTS
Tennis
Many of the hotels have a court and most can provide equipment. If your hotel does not have a court ask at Reception, and they may be able to arrange it for you. Lessons are also easily arranged.
SPECTATOR SPORTS
Cricket
Cricket is played in St Kitts' national stadium at Warner Park at the back of Basseterre (on the way to the airport). It is always fun to go along to inter-island and West Indian matches.
Horse Racing
A new racecourse for both horse and greyhound racing is currently being built in the Dieppe Bay area, in the north of St Kitts. |
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Taxis
Taxi rates are fixed rather than metered and are posted in EC dollars at the airport and at the ferry dock in Basseterre. It is best to confirm the fare before setting off and to check if EC dollars or US dollars are being quoted. There are taxi stands at the airport and the Circus in Basseterre. Circus Taxi stand t 465 3006. Taxis can also be ordered through the St. Kitts Taxi Association t 465 8487/4253 and 465 7818 after hours
Fares from the airport are as follows, and are for 1-4 persons:
Basseterre East/West – US$8/EC$21-US$9/EC$24
Ottley’s Plantation - US$18/EC$48
Deep Water Port - US$12/EC$32
Frigate Bay – US$12/EC$32
Dieppe Bay – US$22/EC$58
Fares from Basseterre are as follows, and are for 1-4 persons:
Ottley’s Plantation - US$20/EC$53
Dieppe Bay – US$22/EC$58
Frigate Bay – US$10/EC$27
Fares increase by 25% between 11pm and 5am. Maximum 2 pieces of luggage, extra pieces charged at US$0.50/EC$2. Waiting time after 15 minutes charged at US$5/EC$13 per 15 minutes. Fares available for 5 persons or more.
Taxi drivers are all qualified as guides and will conduct island tours, some based on hourly rates. Following is a selection of fixed tour fares for 1-4 persons:
Half Island – US$60/EC$159
Full island (excluding SE Peninsular) – US$80/EC$212
2 ½ hour tour of SE Peninsular – US$52/EC$138
Basseterre to Turtle Beach – US$26/EC$69
City Tour – US$30/EC$80 |
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Telephone
The IDD code for St Kitts is +1 869, which is followed by a 7 digit number, usually beginning with 469. (Mobile and cell numbers begin with 662-5). When on island, dial the full seven digits. Many hotels offer Internet access, and e-mail facilities. If you are staying in a villa do check to see if the phone allows international calls, as some have debars, which will need to be lifted, and for which there is normally a deposit.
Mobile phones can be rented or a roaming feature can be added to your own mobile phone if it is compatible with the local network, through LIME (Cable & Wireless), Cayon Street, Basseterre t 465-1000 or Digicel, Fort Stree, t764 5451. Phone cards for use can be purchased throughout the island. |
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Time Zone
St Kitts is in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone, which is four hours behind GMT, i.e. in winter 4 hours behind Britain and five hours behind Europe. During the winter it is an hour ahead of the eastern seaboard of the USA.
St Kitts has no daylight saving time, so when the clocks change in summer the island is five hours behind Britain, six behind Europe and on the same time as the eastern seaboard. |
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Tour Operators
There are a number of tour operators (UK and Europe) and wholesalers (US) that offer St Kitts in their programmes. On DefinitiveCaribbean we will be picking out the cream of the bunch for you - operators that are Caribbean specialists and give the best levels of service, in all price ranges. Collectively we will call them 'travel organisers' because whether in the UK, Europe or the States, tour operators and wholesalers are generally speaking the principals. They put the holidays together that may subsequently be sold to the public via travel agents.
In the UK and Europe, all tour operators should be bonded for your financial protection, and sell flight inclusive holidays under licence from government bodies such as the Civil Aviation Authority (UK). Some travel agents also have the required bonding and licences to put together flight inclusive holidays, and there are a few Caribbean specialists among them.
We are beginning to look at the best travel organisers offering holidays to St Kitts and the list that follows will be developed as we make progress.
Message to Tour Operators, Wholesalers and specialist travel agents:
We invite any travel organiser working as a Caribbean specialist with a programme to Nevis to contact us if we are not already in communication with you. Initially please email us
The list of travel organisers for St Kitts will appear below as we populate the section:
| | CaribtoursA lovely company that has not diluted its high standards of personal service for the sake of profit; excellent brochure; fairly priced holidays. Strong following of repeat clients, some famous, some infamous and others simply seeking consistently reliable service and value for money. | | Just St Kitts & NevisJust St Kitts & Nevis is a specialist Caribbean tour operator that concentrates on just a small selection of islands in the region. The Just St Kitts & Nevis programme was only conceived in 2005 but builds on the specialist nature of the company's sister programmes Just Grenada and Just Tobago. Its portfolio represents the best that St Kitts and Nevis have to offer independent travellers in all price brackets, and includes their charming plantation inns, some hotels with villas and a few beach hotels. Very personal service, with a good knowledge base. | | Tropic BreezeA small and knowledgeable UK tour operator with a good depth of accommodation, particularly in the mid to upper price range, in twelve islands in the Eastern Caribbean, from the BVI down to Tobago. Tropic Breeze is friendly and offers tailor-made advice from long-time Caribbean specialists |
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Tourist Information
The St Kitts Tourism Authority is based in Pelican Mall, Bay Road, Basseterre, St. Kitts, t 465 4040. There is also a tourist information desk at the airport.
Overseas there are St Kitts Tourism Authority offices in:
United Kingdom
10 Kensington Court, London W8 5DL, t 0207 376 0881, Email: uk@stkittstourism.kn
USA
414 East 75th Street, Suite 5, New York, NY 10021, t 212 535 1234, Toll free: 800-582-6208, Email: newyork@stkittstourism.kn
and
3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016-2745, t 202 364 8123, Toll free: 877-533-1555, Email: info@stkittstourism.kn
Canada
133 Richmond Street, West, Suite 311, Toronto, ON, M5H 2L3, t 416 368 6707, Toll free: 888-395-4887, Email: canada@stkittstourism.kn |
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Tours of St Kitts
St Kitts has quite a surprising number of historic and natural places of interest, including the extraordinary Brimstone Hill, an enormous fortress that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A number of trips are on offer to enable you to get out and discover the island.
St Kitts Island Tour, Kantours
A round island tour that tells you about the history of Independence Square and The Circus in the capital Basseterre and then takes you north along the west coast to Bloody Point, the Carib Petroglyphs at Old Road, Romney Manor and Caribelle Batik and then Brimstone Hill Fortress and National Park. The return follows the eastern, Atlantic coast, passing through Dieppe Town and Bellevue Village and its volcanic formations known as Black Rocks.
St Kitts Scenic Railway National Tour, 465 7263
scenicreservations@sisterisles.kn www.stkittsscenicrailway.com
A unique way to see St Kitts aboard a specially designed train which travels along the narrow-gauge railway track originally built between 1912 and 1926 for the transportation of sugar cane. The track encircles the entire north section of St Kitts, an extremely attractive section of the island. You view the passing countryside from air-conditioned coaches through large windows or from the open-air upper deck. Each car has a service bar and restrooms.
Off-the-Beaten-Track, Greg's Safaris, t 465 4121, g-safari@sisterisles.kn, www.gregsafaris.com
An informative combination tour by jeep which takes you off road through the old sugar estates that once patched the island like a quilt, up to the edge of the rainforest. You will see the ruins of an old sugar plantation, with its windmills and plantation estate house and then take a look inside an 18th century lodge filled with antiques. Greg offers a number of hiking and vehicle-borne tours including an ascent of Mt Liamuiga and a rainforest hike. All hikes include a picnic on all tours with home made juices, local fruit and sugar cane, island pastries and local rum. See Hiking. Also private tours by arrangement.
Kayaking Adventure, Blue Water Safaris, t 466 4933
info@bluewatersafaris.com
A half day trip with snorkelling in White House Bay, one of St Kitts’ secluded bays. Then you paddle along 2½ miles of the South East Peninsula in a self-bailing, sit-on-top, ocean kayak. You will see nesting sea birds, monkeys and maybe turtles in the remote bays. The trip ends with a light beach picnic of local favourites including fresh juices, coconut water and, if you can bear it, tamarind balls.
Annie’s Tours, t 465 5425
Annie Fontaine offers award-winning walking tours of Basseterre. |
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Water
The water piped into your room on St Kitts is drinkable. You may however prefer to drink bottled water, in which case local brands are available. |
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Weather
St Kitts has a tropical maritime climate with temperatures that range between 17 and 33 degrees Centigrade. November to May is generally drier and the island gets around 48 inches of rain per year. |
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Weddings
St Kitts has some lovely spots for a memorable wedding or renewal of wedding vows. This might be on the beach, in one of the lovely plantation hotels or at a historic hillside fort. Most of the hotels will assist you in your plans and many have a ‘package’, which they can adapt to your particular needs. This is likely to include the services of a minister, the flowers and photography and then of course the ceremony afterwards, the music and food. In order to ensure that everything is just as you would wish it to be and runs smoothly, you should include your wedding plans at the same time as you plan your holiday.
As an alternative to marrying at your hotel, you might consider a variety of other venues. Two of the most popular locations for St Kitts weddings include the awe inspiring Brimstone Hill Fortress and National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) which has a number of locations within itself to choose from, and Romney Manor which has 12 acres of beautiful botanical gardens, plus a backdrop of old sugar estate ruins and rainforest. You might also consider tying the knot in Nevis.
If you are booking via a tour operator or travel organiser, discuss your requirements with them before booking, and if you are making your own arrangements, again, make sure that you contact your hotel, villa agent or a local wedding co-ordinator such as Kantours Vacation & Tour Consultants for advice.
Do think about the practicalities of what you want to do and how it will affect the enjoyment of the event. Consider the time of day when you would like to get married, and what you are going to wear. It may not be practical or comfortable to choose full blown traditional attire and high heels if want to get married on a beach. Would getting sand in your shoes bother you? Most weddings take place late afternoon to avoid the heat and to use the best of the sunsets for romantic photos.
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ST KITTS WEDDINGS
Here are the official regulations and legal requirements for getting married on St Kitts and Nevis.
- Residency - couples are required to be on St. Kitts or Nevis for two full working days before the wedding day. However, do note it will take three full working days for completion of all administrative and legal requirements. There are exceptions for visiting cruise ship passengers wishing to get married when arriving in port by pre-arrangement.
- Both parties must have a valid passport and birth certificate (original or certified copy).
- If either party is divorced, a decree absolute must be presented. If documents are not in English they must be accompanied by a notarized translation.
- If either party is widowed, a copy of the death certificate of the deceased spouse must be presented.
- If the ceremony is to be performed by a Catholic priest, it must take place in a Catholic Church, and a letter must come from the couple's parish priest verifying that they are unmarried and have received the necessary counselling sessions. You will also need to submit the necessary Catholic documents to the local Bishop (based in Antigua).
- If an Anglican priest or other minister of religion is to perform the ceremony, a letter must come from the couple's parish minister verifying that they are known and unmarried. It the couple is resident in St Kitts and Nevis for the stipulated period, a notary public and a marriage officer will have to be paid. Charges vary from officer to officer.
- If the couple is resident on St Kitts & Nevis for the minimum period of two working days prior to the marriage, the licence fee is US$80; if the couple is resident for 15 days, the fee is reduced to US$20.
- If parties have never been married before an affidavit is required confirming single status and can be obtained from a Notary Public in the home country or on island for a cost of US$20 (compulsory on Nevis and optional on St Kitts).
If your documents are not in English they must be accompanied by a notarized translation.
The wedding ceremony can be performed between the hours of 6am and 6pm if performed by a religious person and between 8am and 6pm if performed by a Magistrate. |
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What to Pack
Consider packing the following items when heading out to the Caribbean:
Adequate sun protection, high factor sun cream, sunglasses, hat/cap and a lightweight shirt/blouse/t-shirt for the beach, suitable beach and walking shoes; mosquito repellent containing DEET suitable for use all day, cream for insect bites, beach mat/towel. St Kitts is usually well stocked with batteries, but do not depend on there being camera film or batteries. Also bring an electrical adapter and you may want to bring a small torch.
Lightweight cotton is the best clothing, with elegant/casual attire for evenings. Note that the smarter hotels request men to wear long trousers and shirts with a collar in the evenings. During the festive season people tend to dress up more. Women may wish to pack a lightweight wrap or jacket during the winter months, as the evenings (Jan/Feb) sometimes feel cool after the heat of the day. You should be aware that it is an offence for anyone, including children, to dress in camouflage clothing in St Kitts.
Any prescription medication that needs to be taken on a regular basis should be carried in your hand luggage, and should remain in their original packaging for clear identification by customs should they need to check contents.
Don’t forget your passport, driving licence and insurance (medical and travel) documents. |
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Windsurfing/Kitesurfing
Windsurfing facilities are limited to Frigate Bay, which is St Kitts’ busiest beach, with conditions that are suitable for beginners. If you travel with your own board, then conditions around Turtle Beach down on the South East Peninsula are much more challenging. From here you can head out into the Narrows, the channel between St Kitts and Nevis, where the islands are pinched between the landmasses and the wind is constant and strong.
Mr X’s Watersports, Frigate Bay beach, t 762 3983
Mrx_watersports@hotmail.com,
www.mrxshiggidyshack.com
You can hire windsurfers, kayaks, peddle boats, snorkelling gear, sail boats, jet skiis, beach umbrellas and sun loungers from Mr X’s Watersports which is part of Mr X’s Shiggidy Shack.
Kitesurfing is just beginning on the island. A school was set up in 2009 in the Frigate Bay area, on the Atlantic side, where there are cross-shore and onshore winds, making it ideal for beginners.
St Kitt’s Kiteboarding, Frigate Bay North, t 762 3543
www.stkittskiteboarding.com
An IKO school based near the hotels of Frigate Bay, on the Atlantic side where there are waves and constant ocean winds. They offer instruction at all levels and have equipment to hire to experienced riders.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
DefinitiveCaribbean is very grateful to the late Jim Johnson (Top to Bottom, Nevis), www.walknevis.com and Greg Pereira (Greg's Safaris, St Kitts), www.gregsafaris.com for their research and helpful contributions to this guide. We would particularly like to thank Jim for the 100 images that he took for us around St Kitts.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Definitive Caribbean is most grateful for the photographic contributions we received for use in the St Kitts Guide. Contributions came from Jim Johnson, Kate Spencer and the St Kitts Tourist Authority.
Picture Editors, Alexander Gray and Will Orr |
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