Contrasting with the antiquity found in Basseterre is the island’s brand-new Port Zante, a deep-water cruise-ship facility. Passengers will delight in the modern terminal and berths. When completed in 1998, the complex will boast beautiful promenades, shady plazas, elegant shops and diverse restaurants that complement the town’s colonial architecture. From the port, you can easily reach the town’s historic district and explore the main attractions on foot. The best place to begin your tour is at the St. Kitts Tourist Board, located on the ground floor of the Pelican Mall. Island maps, brochures and other information can be obtained here.

From the mall it’s just a short walk to The Circus, an octagonal plaza that was intended to be a miniature version of London’s famous Piccadilly Circus. At its center is the Berkeley Memorial Drinking Fountain and Clock, erected in 1891. Every side of the square is lined with duty-free shops, local boutiques and banks, and you can always find a taxi or tour bus here. Stroll down Bank Street to Independence Square, a stately Georgian-style plaza built in 1790. Today the square offers a charming garden setting. The Co-Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, constructed in 1928, dominates the eastern side. The presbytery next door is considered one of the most attractive buildings in Basseterre.

Next, head down Cayon Street to St. George’s Anglican Church. The somber black stonework church was originally built by the French in 1670 and named Notre Dame. It was leveled three times by fire and once by an earthquake; each time it was restored. The current structure was completed in 1869. In 1974, another earthquake toppled the building’s steeple. If you are interested in history or ecology, visit the St. Christopher Heritage Society on Bank Street. Here you can learn about the island’s environmental, historic and cultural heritage.

To explore the northwestern side of the island, head west on Bay Road. As you leave Basseterre, you’ll pass two important landmarks: the War Memorial, at the end of Bay Road, and the ruins of Fort Thomas, on an adjacent hill. Your next stop will be St. Kitts’ Breweries, where the world-famous Carib beer is brewed. At the end of a free tour, you’re invited to sample the product. Bloody Point, the spot where the Caribs were massacred by French and English forces in 1626, lies just beyond the village of Challengers. From here you’ll get an excellent view of Mount Liamuiga, a 3,792-foot dormant volcano. You can take a guided tour all the way up the mountain and inside its huge 750-foot crater.

After stopping for a rest in Old Road Town, the site of the first permanent English settlement in the West Indies, watch for the sign that points to the Carib petroglyphs and turn right. These enigmatic pictographs were created by the Caribs long before the first Europeans arrived; no one is quite sure of their meaning. Farther along this unpaved road are the ruins of the Wingfield Estate. Back in the 17th century, this area was the home of Carib Chief Tegreman. Romney Manor, a 19th-century great house, is a short distance from this point. Set in one of the island’s most spectacular gardens, the house is now the Caribelle Batik workshop. There’s a 350-year-old saman tree at the center of the garden.

Not far away is Brimstone Hill, a massive fortress known as the Gibraltar of the West Indies, which was built by the British over a 100-year period and never completed. The 38-acre complex is situated on a limestone hilltop rising almost 800 feet above sea level. From the top, you can catch a glimpse of six neighboring islands: Montserrat, Nevis, Saba, St. Barts, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten. You can also explore the fort’s numerous bastions and barracks and browse through a fascinating historical museum. The site is now protected as a national park.

Sandy Point is St. Kitts’ second-largest city and the place where the first English colonists landed in 1623. Many of the buildings in this area are fine examples of early West Indian architecture. You’ll pass several estates as you wind through the cane fields toward St. Paul’s Village, famous for its breadfruit trees. Breadfruit, originally from the South Pacific, was brought to the island during the 18th century as an inexpensive food for the slaves. Today, this potato-like substance is a staple of Kittitian cuisine.

Beaches:
The strands of white sand along the southeast peninsula are undoubtedly St. Kitts’ best, offering an ideal environment for sunbathers and water-sports enthusiasts. Two recommended beaches along the southern tip are Banana Bay and Cockleshell Bay, both known for their beautiful sands and clear, placid waters. To the north, the beaches are no less entrancing. Along the island’s northern coast are black-volcanic-sand beaches, which provide some breathtaking vistas. Dieppe Bay is perhaps the most popular of the northern beaches; the reefs in this area provide wonderful snorkeling opportunities.

Activities:
St. Kitts offers diverse sports options. The island’s coastline provides visitors with a perfect setting for almost any aquatic sport. Charter a boat or angle for gamefish; explore the forests of corals, sponges and sea ferns on the ocean floor; or skim the surface on a Windsurfer. Land sports include golf and tennis at the Jack Tar Village Resort and hiking the island’s volcanic peaks and rain forests.