St. Kitts

A UNESCO World Heritage Site — the 'Gibraltar of the West Indies', a massive 18th-century British fortress rising 240m above sea level with commanding views across the Caribbean and to five neighbouring islands.

The last surviving railway in the Caribbean — originally built to transport sugarcane, now carrying cruise passengers in double-decker coaches through the island's volcanic peaks and past colonial plantation ruins.

The historic heart of Basseterre — an 18th-century circular plaza with a central fountain, surrounded by Georgian colonial buildings, a Catholic cathedral and the old court house.

The dormant volcano at the heart of St. Kitts — a challenging but rewarding 3-4 hour hike through cloud forest to the 1,156m summit crater, filled with a lake and hot springs.

Modern Caribbean restaurant at the marina — rooftop terrace overlooking the port, specialising in local seafood and Kittitian-spiced dishes with rum cocktails.

The most beloved local beach bar on the island — open-sided wooden shack on Old Road Bay serving grilled fish caught that morning, cold Carib beer and the best coconut rum punch on St. Kitts.

Upstairs restaurant on the Circus roundabout with balcony overlooking the colonial Berkeley Memorial Clock — excellent Kittitian cuisine including goat water stew (the island's national dish).

The most authentic local lunch spot in Basseterre — stewed chicken, rice and peas, macaroni pie and fresh fruit juices served from a counter at very low prices.

Popular spot for cruise visitors and locals — good rum punches, conch fritters and grilled snapper.

Waterfront bar right at the pier entrance — cold Carib beers, rum punches and frozen cocktails.

The legendary beach bar strip at Frigate Bay — a row of colourful shacks serving Carib beer, rum punch and BBQ on the island's most popular beach.

The main nightclub in Basseterre — soca, reggae and dancehall, the rhythms of Kittitian nightlife. Fills after midnight.

The best coffee in St. Kitts — Caribbean-roasted beans with a terrace overlooking the Georgian street. Fresh pastries and Caribbean smoothies.

Small local café near the ferry terminal — fresh johnnycakes with saltfish, coconut bakes and Kittitian bush tea (herbal infusions of local plants).

St. Kitts' most popular beach — a long crescent of light brown sand with calm Caribbean water and the famous beach bar strip at the eastern end.

The finest beach on St. Kitts — a stunning arc of white-gold sand with a direct view across the Narrows to the cone of Nevis. Two beach bars, clear water, and almost no crowds compared to Frigate Bay.

Zip-line through the rainforest canopy above the northeast peninsula — the lines cross the narrow isthmus with simultaneous views of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Extraordinary.

The tiny island of Nevis is as close to unspoilt Caribbean as possible — Alexander Hamilton's birthplace, a Georgian hot spring bath house, and the peak of Nevis's own volcano accessible by horse.

Romney Manor — a 17th-century plantation house with a 350-year-old saman tree and the Caribelle Batik studio — followed by a visit to Brinley Gold Rum distillery for a tasting.