St. Kitts

Black sand beaches, British colonial architecture, a lush rainforest, and over a dozen beach bars lure travelers to St. Kitts.

Entrance to Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park in St. Kitts, also known as the Gibraltar of the Caribbean. Photo: Nellmac/Getty Images

Overview

One of the last Caribbean islands to abandon sugar production in exchange for tourism, St. Kitts was known as “Sugar City”. Blanketed in sugarcane fields, the land was divided into plantations, each with main houses and mills for processing. Once the “Sugar Train” arrived, the cane was transported to Basseterre for processing. Today, the train carries visitors through the remaining sugar fields and past Mt. Liamuiga on a scenic island tour.

History buffs head to the fortress of Brimstone Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built on the top of an 800-foot volcanic hill. One of the largest forts in the Caribbean, it took over 100 years to build and was occupied by both the French and British. Hikers gravitate to the mountainous region of Mt. Liamuiga on the northwest end, where corridors of bamboo lead into the lush green forest hiking trails. Socializing takes place on the sand with a number of beach bars lining the strip at Frigate Bay.