Shaped like a giant chicken leg floating in the Caribbean Sea, the island of St. Kitts enjoys a tropical climate. Sugar is the island’s main source of industry, with tourism a close second. Plantations blanket much of the island, but attractive white, grey and black sand beaches fringe its periphery, and at its center a dense forest rises to the peak of Mount Liamuiga, a dormant volcano.
The beaches are the main draw for tourists to St. Kitts, but a number of other attractions are available. The St. Kitts Scenic Railway offers tours of the island’s lush scenery. Its open-air deck presents a journey that is exciting and immediate. Live music and a service bar add comfort and ambiance to the trip. In the center of a national park populated with monkeys, mongooses, deer and hummingbirds, one can visit the historical Brimstone Hill Fortress, one of the Caribbean’s most completely preserved monuments. In the capital city, Basseterre, one will find St. Kitts’ most photographed landmark, the tall green Victorian Berkeley Memorial Clock, around which the town is built. Ecotourism is popular here, as are golf and scuba-diving. Local produce and fresh fish make for delectable gastronomic experiences at restaurants such as Fisherman’s Wharf.
