ST. KITTS & NEVIS

St. Kitts and Nevis, like no other islands in the Caribbean, seem to embody a kind of lush tropical paradise usually associated with the South Pacific. The atmosphere here is palpably luxuriant, an intoxicating blend of sunlight, sea air and fantastically abundant vegetation. At the center of St. Kitts stands the spectacular, cloud-fringed peak of Mount Liamuiga (pronounced Lee-a-mweega), a dormant volcano covered by dense tropical forest. And on Nevis, too, the ground rises upward into a cloud forest filled with elusive green monkeys and brilliant tropical flowers.

Nature is only a small part of the wonder of these small, relatively undiscovered destinations. Long ago, St. Kitts and Nevis were the pearls of the British Caribbean, rich and enormously important islands that were celebrated throughout Europe. Nevis, the “Queen of the Caribbees,” possessed unimaginable wealth from its super-productive sugar industry, while on St. Kitts the impregnable fortress of Brimstone Hill stood as the Gibraltar of the West Indies. In this venerable history is plenty of romance as well, for it was on Nevis that the dashing young Horatio Nelson met, courted, and wedded Fanny Nisbet, all the while attending to the whirling social life of the island’s prosperous plantation estates.

Location

St. Kitts & Nevis are located in the northern part of the Leeward Islands in the eastern Caribbean, 19 degrees north of the equator, separated by a channel two miles wide.

Size

St. Kitts is 23 miles long and 5 miles across at its widest, encompassing an area of 68 square miles. The island’s point of highest elevation is Mt. Liamuiga, at 3,792 feet. Nevis, the smaller island, lies to the south and is approximately 7 miles in diameter, covering a total of 36 square miles.

Climate

Yearly average temperature is 79 degrees; annual rainfall averages 55 inches; humidity is low, and constant northeast trade winds keep the islands cool.

Banks

Credit Union Bank of Nova Scotia, First Caribbean International Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, St. Kitts Nevis-Anguilla National Bank, Development Bank of St. Kitts & Nevis

Banks are open Monday-Thursday 8am-2pm; Friday 8am-4pm Saturday 8:30am -11am.

Each bank provides 24 hour ATM services where you can get cash advances from your VISA or MasterCard. You can also withdraw from or check the balance of the primary chequing and savings accounts linked to your bankcard, via the PLUS/Electron or Cirrus/Maestro networks.

Currency

Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD$). U.S. bills are accepted by most stores and businesses and change is given in E.C. currency. U.S. coins are not accepted.

Exchange Rate

$1.00 USD = $2.70 XCD

Economy

$1.00 USD = $2.70 XCD

Time

Atlantic Standard Time throughout the year. 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-4 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is not observed.

Travel Documents and Entry/Departure Requirements

Citizens of Canada need only to present proof of citizenship – preferably a passport or birth certificate with the raised seal – in order to enter St. Kitts-Nevis. If the birth certificate is used, it must be accompanied by a government issued photo ID (a drivers licence, for example) showing the same name. Where applicable, documentation of a legal name change (for example, a marriage certificate) must also be presented. Citizens of the United States, however, are required to have passports in order to re-enter that country. As such a valid passport is a required travel document when travelling to the Caribbean.

Additionally, proof of sufficient funds and a return or onward passage might be required. There is a departure tax of $60 XCD (about $22 USD) payable in cash, or by credit card – Visa or MasterCard – at the airport.

Please reconfirm travel document requirements with your carrier prior to the commencement of your trip. Also, kindly click here for information regarding recent changes to the entry/re-entry requirements, as advanced by the United States Department of State. If you would like to apply for a United States Passport now, please click here.
Citizens of some countries are required to have visas in order to enter St. Kitts-Nevis. However, citizens from countries that are members of certain international organizations might be eligible for exemption. Please click on the appropriate category to see if your country is listed as an exempted country: Commonwealth Countries; Organization of American States (OAS) Countries; Other Countries. Cruise ship visitors, staying less than twenty-four (24) hours, are never required to have visas.

If you are not exempted and, therefore, need a visa, kindly download the instructions for applying. You can also click here to get the visa application form. We look forward to seeing you in the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis.

Phones

Cable & Wireless serves 17, 000 telephone lines in St. Kitts & Nevis. Direct Dialing, Leased Circuits, Internet, Class Services, Voice Mail, Caller ID and other features are currently offered. ISDN and DSL services are also available. The area code for St. Kitts is 1-869.

Emergency Numbers

Police / Ambulance – 911
Fire – 333
Air Ambulance – (869) 465-2801
JNF General Hospital – (869) 465-2551

Internet Service

Internet services are available at all of the hotels, as well as from an Internet Cafe in the city. Broadband connections (DSL & Cable) are also available, as are Web developing and hosting technology.

Radio and Television

St. Kitts-Nevis is served by ten (10) radio stations, namely::

  • ZIZ – 96.0 FM
  • BIG WAVE- 96.7 FM
  • GOODWILL RADIO – 104.5 FM
  • WINN FM – 98.9 FM
  • CHOICE FM – 105 FM
  • SUGAR CITY ROCK – 90.1 FM
  • RADIO ONE – 94.1 FM
  • KYSS FM 102.3
  • VON Radio 895 AM
  • Choice FM 105.3

The Cable system provides at least 53 Cable TV Channels, including the local broadcasters ZIZ, CNN, ESPN and BBC.

Electricity

The domestic market is served by a 230 volt single phase supply. However, a 117 volt supply is available in most hotels.

Water

The water is of good quality and suitable for drinking. It is collected from direct precipitation, mountain springs and wells, and is chemically treated for purification. Locally bottled water is also available.

Health

There are no particular health concerns associated with St. Kitts. Therefore, special vaccines are usually not required. Modern ambulatory services are available and there are specialists in most fields of medicine. A brand new state of the art hospital was opened in 2003, and emergency 911 services are available.

Pets

St. Kitts is quite a pet-friendly island. As such, we have put in place a set of protocols to facilitate those who would like to travel with their pets, specifically cats and dogs. These regulations serve to protect the interests of you, the pet’s owner, the destination and, indeed, the pets themselves.

What to Wear

Light summer clothing may be worn all year. Dress is informal, even at elegant hotels and plantation inns, though you may want to dress up a bit for a nice dinner. Nudity is not permitted at any beach. Swim wear or scant clothing should never be worn in towns or villages.

Tipping Overview

A 10% service charge is normally included in hotel bills. In restaurants, leave 10%-15%. Tipping taxi drivers is not customary.

Legal System

The legal system is based on English Common Law served by a high court of justice, a Court of Appeal and her Majesty’s Privy Council in London. St. Kitts has agreed to be included in the Caribbean Court of Appeals Circuit.