St Kitts and Nevis - your luxury charter guide.

The verdant island of Nevis lies at the top of the Lesser Antilles archipelago, just 60 miles south of St Barth and 45 miles west of Antigua. It’s a land of plenty where wild donkeys, vervet monkeys and goats roam free, and electric-coloured hummingbirds sup at red hot pokers. Twinned with the island of St Kitts (officially named Saint Christopher), it’s just a 25-minute tender ride across The Narrows between the two. Luxury cruises arrive to the bustle of Port Zante, before stepping barefoot onto palm-fringed white sandy beaches and a slower pace of life. Whether sailing the famed trade winds or cruising the clear Caribbean Sea, the close proximity of the surrounding coral reef atolls makes for an adventurous island hopping charter.

A yacht charter to St Kitts and Nevis is incomplete without diving head first into its turquoise blue waters. Be sure to steer clear of the north Atlantic waters, which can be treacherous even in shallow areas, save perhaps for Frigate Bay North which is protected by a long reef. Instead, Kittitians will recommend South Friars Bay, flanked by jungle-covered mountains for family snorkelling from the shore. A tender ride to Shitten Bay promises shoals of reef fish and a multitude of coral, while scuba diving offers up rays, sea turtles and the occasional reef shark. Shallow shipwrecks can be discovered at White House Bay, but venture deeper and you’ll dive through coral towers, underhangs and sunken ships alive with angel fish, parrot fish and grouper.

Famed for its delectable lobster sandwich wrapped in fluffy, freshly baked bread, the food at Golden Rock delivers a tasty mix of traditional Caribbean favourites. Across the length of both St Kitts and Nevis, guests dine on freshly caught red snapper and mahi-mahi served with plantain mash and salty beet chips. For a gastronomic trip high above Charlestown in the historic Hamilton Estate, Bananas Restaurant offers a culinary medley, from goat curry to conch gratin and lightly dressed salad sourced from its hydroponic gardens. Sunshine’s Beach Bar & Grill is an understated establishment and firm favourite with the locals, known for its rum sundowners, grilled lobster and barefoot football on the sand.

Life aboard a yacht that is chartered in St Kitts and Nevis provides paddleboard fun amid a tropical setting. Shallow atolls mean the whole family can make the most of SeaBobs, paddle kayaks to the shore and experiment with surf boards in safety and comfort. The plentiful cays and coves dotted around the islands make personal watercraft ventures a popular pastime, but for those craving a little quiet on the green, the 125-acre link-style golf course at St Kitts Marriott Resort will deliver.

The well-preserved sight of the historic Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park carries both architectural and historic importance and sits atop a 230m double-peaked volcanic hill. Nevis and St Kitts were one of the first Caribbean countries to be colonised in the 17th century. A palm-lined lawn avenue leads up to the Great House on Nisbet Plantation, a former sugar and coconut plantation where a young Horatio Nelson met his future wife Fanny Nisbet. At nearby Montpelier Plantation Inn, dine in the original sugar mill itself. Built in 1778, the hot springs of Bath Hotel were once a favourite wellness retreat of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, today transformed into a dedicated hotel, but it is in the Botanical Gardens of Nevis where native roses, vines, cacti and fruit orchids thrive. The rainforest conservatory, built in the style of the Palm House in England’s Kew Gardens, is a must-visit.

White misty clouds wreathe the top of iconic Mount Nevis’ 985m peak. Though a potentially active volcano, it has remained dormant for years, and beckons all adventurers to hike its lush mountainside. Its luscious facade belies a few pretty challenging sections, including segments fitted with nylon ropes woven between rocks and knotty roots to assist with the ascent. Only the actively fit are advised to attempt it, but the flourishing vegetation makes the arduous task worthwhile. Alternatively, St Kitts is dominated by the dormant Mount Liamuiga volcano, home to a crater lake and rainforest crisscrossed with hiking trails. At a dizzying 1,156m it is the highest point on both St Kitts and Nevis.

Caribbean Calypso drums carry on the wind from shore to shore, inviting guests to rest and rejuvenate on white velvet sands. To the north of famed Pinney's Beach with views to St Kitts lie the immaculately maintained sand dunes of Paradise Beach, while the narrow sands at Frigate Bay South are just a ten minute stroll from Port Zante. To experience the islands’ iconic black volcanic sands, head to South Friars Bay or Black Sand Cove. Both offer Caribbean seclusion at its best, while Banana Bay delivers the quintessential soft sands, pristine waters and coconut-laden palm that sway in time to the island’s reggae beats. 

The borders of St Kitts and Nevis reopened to all non-residents in October 2020. A negative PCR test 72 hours prior to arrival is required, and travellers will need to take further PCR tests on day seven and 14 of their visit. All travellers are asked to undergo a health screening on arrival and are requested to download the St Kitts and Nevis contact tracing mobile app. Cruising (once medically cleared) is permitted and restaurants are open. Charter is also available, but all vessels must be cleared at Christophe Harbour before embarking on their yacht vacation.