Destination:
St Kitts and Nevis

Officially known as St Christopher, the island was named by Christopher Columbus on landing there in 1493, but it wasn't until it became an English colony in 1623 that its name was shortened to St Kitts, by which the island is known today.

A lush, verdant island, St Kitts is the larger of the twin-island nation and is more developed than Nevis. However, neither island has succumbed to the usual tourist trappings, and St Kitts remains a naturally unassuming, uncrowded destination that is a true gem in the Caribbean crown. Dominated by an extinct 3,792ft (1,156m) volcano, the island is covered in green vegetation and sugar cane fields, and is ringed by sandy coves, coral reefs and clear waters. Most beaches to the north are black sand due to the volcanic nature of the island, but the beaches at the southern end, including Frigate Bay, Banana Bay, Sand Bank Bay and Cockleshell Bay, are what beach-gurus dream of: deserted stretches of fine white sand, while those yearning for waves will find Atlantic surf along the east coast.

However there is more to St Kitts than splendid natural surroundings and beaches. An explosive history of slave revolutions and colonial contention during the 18th century has left the island with a rich heritage of architecture, as well as sites such as the impressive fortress at Brimstone Hill, which was constructed to defend the wealth, and to protect the wealthy, of the island. During the prosperous days of the sugar industry, St Kitts as the oldest and richest colony in the Caribbean boasted 68 sugar plantations in total. With the abolition of slavery, and the production of beet sugar in Europe, the surge of wealth finally came to an end, and today the once-prolific factories and windmills lie in ruins among the abandoned sugar plantations. St Kitts was the last island in the Caribbean to persist in the production of sugar cane, but the industry has been discontinued due to the high costs involved.

From its beginnings as Dulcina, or 'Sweet Island' during the time of the island's first inhabitants, to Oualie, or 'land of beautiful waters' as named by the Carib Indians, Nevis has always been a paradise to those who lived there, and is like finding a pearl hidden in the Caribbean oyster for those who visit today. Christopher Columbus derived the present-day name of Nevis from his sighting of the island in 1493: the island's cloud-capped volcanic peak reminded him of snow, or 'nieves' in Spanish.

Small and round, Nevis is about seven miles (11km) long and five miles (8km) wide, an unspoilt and serene island that is a delight for nature-lovers and for those seeking an escape from the stresses of the modern-day world. Its single volcanic peak rises 3,232ft (985m) above verdant rainforest filled with tropical flowers and animals, and the beaches and clear waters that surround the island provide the ideal holiday environment for swimming, sunbathing and underwater exploration.

During the 18th century Nevis gained undreamt-of wealth from its sugar industry and became known as the Queen of the Caribbean sugar islands, with a social life that became as decadent as it was extravagant. Today, grand estate houses and once lavish hotels lie in ruins, and sugar plantations remain untouched as they have been since the decline of the most coveted trade in the Caribbean towards the end of the 18th century.

A sad decline it might have been then, but the charm of its small towns, the genuine hospitality and friendliness of the people, and the laws controlling over-development and natural conservation, are attractions far more endearing to visitors today. Lavish manors have been preserved and rank among the best plantation inns in the Caribbean, and architectural gems and historical relics hold hours of exploration amid the natural splendour that covers the island.

Today, Nevis has a reputation of elegant living, with one of the world's most exlusive resorts and spas, golf courses, a variety of restaurants and bars, and beautiful gardens and beaches. A vacation in Nevis is sure to recharge any traveller's batteries.