St Kitts

An island of intoxicating natural beauty, St Kitts paints a flawless picture of all there is to love about the Caribbean - clear blue skies, shimmering azure waters and powder-white sands. St Kitts, part of the Leeward Islands, is situated where the temperate Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean. Dramatic volcanic mountains and lush tropical vegetation give St Kitts an appearance that is more akin to an island in the South Pacific, although its colonial history tells a different story.

Inhabited by the British in the 1620s, this seductive Caribbean island was an integral part of the lucrative sugar trade, which lead to high-quality economic and architectural development. Fortunately, St Kitts has remained unspoiled and uncrowded despite its picture-perfect Caribbean aura, which attracts many visitors throughout the year. Once thriving sugar plantations are now scenic great inns and beautiful colonial buildings that permeate the streets of cities and towns. St Kitts' lively capital Basseterre is set against a backdrop of verdant hills and is one of the oldest and most eye-catching towns in the eastern Caribbean. Despite its small size Basseterre has been chosen to host many events, including the Caribbean Festival of Arts and the first round of matches for the 2007 Cricket World Cup - making St Kitts the smallest nation ever to host a major world sporting event. A mixture of colourful Creole and elegant Georgian architecture adorns the streets in the centre of town. 

For shopping and eating perhaps the best place to visit is the octagonal-shaped Circus plaza, a miniature version of what is not too dissimilar to London's famous Piccadilly Circus. Duty-free shops and restaurants surround its focal point, the Berkeley Memorial Drinking Fountain and Clock. In addition to its historical splendour, no Caribbean destination is complete without a stunning coastline of white sandy beaches lapped by iridescent waters, and St Kitts is no exception. Ranging from the long stretches of white sands and active waters of lively Frigate Bay to the romantic, secluded coves like Cockleshell Bay, there is a beach haven to suit everyone. Nevis is just a short ferry ride away, why not spend a day visiting the quaint little shops or perhaps take a trip to the rainforests, reefs or ruins of the sugar plantation era.