St. Kitts Country Guide

The international dialling code for St Kitts & Nevis is 869. To dial overseas from within the country, dial 011 followed by the relevant country code and phone number.

Emergency Numbers in St Kitts & Nevis are:

Police/Ambulance - 911
Fire - 333
Air Ambulance - (869) 465-2801
JNF General Hospital - (869) 465-2551

St. Kitts and Nevis' modern telecommunications system permits smooth and prompt telephone, facsimile, and Internet connections throughout the world. To make an overseas call, dial 3-5-5 and follow the instructions to making a call using a credit card. Phone cards for use locally or overseas are available through Cable and Wireless, the telephone company. Internet service is available through a local server, Caribsurf, run by the phone company.

Mobile telephone - TDMA network not compatible with GSM handsets. Handsets can be hired from the network provider, C & W Caribbean Cellular. Unregistered roaming is available - visitors with TDMA handsets can make calls without registering, provided they can give a credit card number.

There are 3 Post Offices in St Kitts; one located in Basseterre, one at Sandy Point, & one in Cayon. Opening hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8am-3pm and Thursday from 8am-11am.

As would be expected, St. Kitts & Nevis has a tropical climate. The weather in St. Kitts is tempered by the northeast winds, and there is little variation, either daily or seasonal, in the climate. The average temperature is approximately 26°C (about 80°F), with a range between 18°C and 32°C (64°F to 90°F). St. Kitts does not have as distinct a rainy season as do many other Caribbean islands. Winds are generally quite mild, with the notable exception being during the hurricane season, which lasts from July to September. Humidity on the St. Kitts is normally around 70 percent, whereas humidity is lower on Nevis. Annual rainfall averages approximately 55 inches.

Click on this Weather link to view the current conditions in St Kitts.

The official currency of St. Kitts & Nevis is the East Caribbean Dollar ("XCD"), which is set at a fixed rate of 2.70 XCD per US$1. The exchange rate can change at any moment, for up-to-date changes, check the East Caribbean Dollar. US currency, travellers cheques and major credit cards are welcome everywhere. ATMs are also widely available.

To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars. There are no restrictions on the import of local or foreign currency, provided declared on arrival. Export of local and foreign currency is limited to the amount imported and declared.

The following banks are found on St Kitts & Nevis: Bank of Nova Scotia, First Caribbean International Bank, RBTT (SKN) Limited, Royal Bank of Canada, Nevis Co-operative Credit Union, St. Kitts Nevis- Anguilla National Bank & the Development Bank of St. Kitts & Nevis. Opening hours are: Monday - Thursday 8am- 2pm (Mon-Thu) & 8am- 4pm (Fri). The Bank of Nevis has opening hours on Saturdays of 8:30am -11:00 am.

Each bank provides 24 hour ATM services where you can get cash advances from your VISA or MasterCard. You also have the ability to withdraw from or check the balance on your cheque and savings accounts linked to your bank card, via the PLUS/Electron or Cirrus/Maestro networks.

Tipping is the same as in the US, meaning that a 10% - 15%, depending on the service. Some restaurants and hotels will automatically add a 10% gratuity. If you are in doubt, do not feel uncomfortable asking. Usually, porters and bellhops receive 50 cents per bag, taxi drivers 10-15% of the fare.

Saint Kitts & Nevis are islands located in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the distance from Puerto Rico to Trinidad & Tobago. It has a population of just under 40,000 people. The capital city is Basseterre, which is found on Saint Kitts. It lies in the Atlantic Standard Time, 1 hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time and the same as Eastern Daylight Time.

To view the current time in St. Kitts, click on this link to TimeAndDate.com.

Nationals of the United Kingdom, Other EU Countries (except nationals of Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland Portugal, Slovak Republic & Slovenia), USA, Canada, Australia, Israel, Korea (Rep), Norway & Japan do not require visas for stays of up to 3 months. Transit passengers continuing their journey within 24 hours by the same or next connecting aircraft provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport also do not require visas.

Passports with 6 months validity are required of all visitors, except those from Canada and the USA, who need only to provide a proof of citizenship to enter the country. An onward or return ticket is required of all visitors. An AIDS test is required for persons seeking residency/study/work permits, with U.S. tests results sometimes accepted.

Types of Visa: Ordinary (US$50). Cost can vary depending on nationality of applicant.

The departure tax is USD 20 or XCD 50 per person.

It is advisable to check this information with your relevant embassy prior to travel.

US citizens that need to renew, add pages, change name, or just get a new US passport, can Apply for a New US Passport here.

St. Kitts, which is officially known as Saint Christopher, is situated in the eastern Caribbean, and lies in the northern part of the Leeward Islands. Three groups of jagged volcanic peaks make up the high middle-ground of the island. Rainforest makes up the vegetation on the central mountain range, and it is here that Mount Liamuiga, the island's volcanic crater, rises to a height of 1155 metres.

Roughly 3 kilometres to the south, across the Narrows channel, lies the island of Nevis. Its highest mountain is Nevis Peak, at 985 metres, and this is bordered by two smaller peaks - Saddle Hill and Hurricane Hill. These mountains retain a commanding view of St Kitts and Barbuda, and as such were used by Nelson's fleet as look-out posts. Nevis is surrounded by mile upon mile of stunning white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and groves of gently swaying coconut trees.

Nevis is located in the Eastern Caribbean at 17 degrees North, 62 degrees west. It is roughly 1,300 miles from Miami, 2,000 miles from New York, 4,000 miles from London and about one hour by plane from Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

The sleepy nature of St. Kitts belies its historical significance. For centuries, it occupied a critical location, and it was precisely this factor which caused the island to be of such importance to the European struggle for control of the West Indies.  It occupied a strategic position as a gateway to the Caribbean, and was imbued with extraordinary potential for wealth due to its sugarcane plantations.

St. Kitts was colonised alternately by the French and British from 1623 onwards, and it was during the British period of colonisation that the name was corrupted from the original Saint Christopher.  St. Kitts was the first of the British colonies in the West Indies, and as such served as a base for further expansion within the Caribbean.

Rainforests:

This lush, tropical rainforest is where the fragrances of Jasmine and Mango await. Once you enter the cool shelter of the giant burr and mango trees, cabbage palms and giant tree ferns, you will hear the piping tree frogs, the call of thrashers, the haunting sounds of the Zenaida dove and see the quail dove searching for food through the forest floor. Among the trees grow a variety of plant life including a mixture of lianas, philodendron and ferns, strangler fig, cockspur and trumpet vine. If you look carefully you will see the blur of tiny wings and the iridescent green flash of the Antillean Crested Hummingbirds or the Green or Purple Throated Caribs as they feed on the red, yellow and orange Helicona flowers.

If you chose to take this walk without a tour guide, be sure to stay on the paths and return the same way. It is recommended that you take a guide with you and there are many local guides who are trustworthy and reliable for hire if you chose not to go with one of the tour groups. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and lightweight clothing because even when you are in the shade of this forest, it is still quite hot unless you go in January or February when the Christmas breezes cool it down.

Dry Forest:

The southeast Peninsula here is the extreme opposite of our lush rain forest. This is the area where you will see how plant life has adapted to the drought. There are several varieties of cacti and the Century plant that dies after producing a huge spike of yellow flowers; it is said that it blooms only once every hundred years. Aloe plants grow freely, but beware of the Manchineel with its poisonous apples and toxic sap. Another tree of interest is the Bursera, also called Gumbo Limbo, Naked Indian or Tourist Tree due to its peeling red bark.

The biggest attractions to the peninsula, with the exception of its outstanding beaches, are the playful green velvet monkeys who inhabit the island and are especially prolific in this area. You can see them throughout the mountain side and along the roadways. This area also features Friars Bay, Banana Bay, Sand Bank Bay and Turtle Beach, which are among the most beautiful beaches on the island.

Local plants and their uses in bush medicine:

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) - used as a starchy vegetable in many local dishes. Also cooked similar to potatoes.

Black Sage (Cordia curassavica) - The leaves are steeped to treat colds and cough.

Lantana camara - This is used in a tea to treat colds and chills.It also called "Bush Tea" and there are several varieties, many mildly toxic.

Flamboyant (Delonix regia) - This is the national flower of St.Kitts and Nevis, and is originally a native of Madagascar. It mainly blooms in late summer and has at least 9 different names on Nevis!

White Pine (Tabebuia heteropyhlla) - White pine is used chiefly for posts and poles, but it is also used in boat building.

Soursop (Annona muricata L.) - This is used to make sorbet , and also as a sedative for children. The bark can also be prepared to remove intestinal parasites.

Screw Pine (Pandanus utilis) - The leaves are used to make baskets, place mats and other woven crafts.

Blood Flower/Milky-Milky (Asclepias curassavica) - Can be used to treat guinea worm and ringworm. Caution is recommended as it can be a skin irritant.

Jumbie Beads (Abrus precatorius) - The seeds are used as decorations on handicrafts. The highly toxic seeds make it illegal to take the handicrafts back into the U.S. It is also used to make tranquilizers.

Seagrape (Cocoloba uvifera) - To relieve "presin" (diarrhoea) in children and also for the relief of headaches . The fruits are used for locally prepared jellies and wine-like beverages.

Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera) - The water is used for rehydration, especially for diarrhoea. It is also used for medicine, thatch, timber, fiber and copra as well as a cooking oil and for teething babies!

Golden Apple (Spondias dulcis) - The fruits are made into preserves, or eaten when ripe.

Beach Mahoe (Thespia populnea) - Stems were used for goat sticks and the bark as a rope substitute and dyes.

Joint Wood (Piper amalago) - This is used in a tea for colds and flu. Was called Joint Wood as it is a mild narcotic mixed with a high grade aspirin for joint pain in Arthritis and sometimes headaches.

Tree Fern (Cyathea arborea) - There are at least six species of Tree Ferns on Nevis. They are a great growth medium for exotic orchids.

Ficus Citrofolia - The roots unite to form a trunk; were used in making guitars.

Wild Coffee (Casearia guianensis) - Is easily identified by its distinct dark bark; used as fuel wood.

Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) - It is used in making furniture, pipes, fences and pole, scaffolding, cups, and musical instruments.

Warri Beads - The seeds are used to play the game Warri, a game descendant from African Mankala, the oldest family of games in the World. Also know as "hot nickels" and used by children to play tricks on each other.

Hog Plum (Spondias mombin) - This is used in a tea to stop diarrhoea or dysentery. Monkeys, birds and people eat the fruit, leaves are use as a tea.

Silk Cotton Tree/Kapok (Ceiba pentandra) - Used in baths to relieve fatigue and to counteract poisoning Was a sacred tree to the Carib Indians and resting place of their ancesters. Fiberous seeds used as stuffing for life vest and pillows.

Bee Bush (Coralita) - For coughs and throat restriction, as well as major source of nectar for bees.

Sweet Marjoram or Sweet "basil" (Origanium Marjorana) - Can be used as a treatment for indigestion, colds and flu and used for seasoning! Makes very nice tea.

Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensus) - This is used for the treatment of blood pressure. This is a Red Hibiscus and petals were used as a tea for teenage girls to prevent pregnancy. According to a Miss Butler too much results in infertility.

Marine Life

Owner Barbara Whitman, a marine biologist and educator, will fascinate you with tales about the world beneath the sea. She leads guided snorkel trips, rents out equipment and gives lessons at her colorful seaside aquarium on Oualie Beach Hotel, a great snorkeling site. She has a touch table set up so that kids (and adults) can see the animals and gives classes on marine life, with and without snorkeling. There's also a summer camp for kids.

Whales and Dolphins - Whales are often considered by fisherman to be harbingers of good fishing. When they appear, the mackerel, tuna, and other fish gather in abundance. But anyone familiar with the entertaining aquatic gymnastics of spinner dolphins and the unbelievable grace of breaching humpback whales also welcome their arrival. The year begins in January along the coast of Nevis with the haunting songs of the humpback whales. They begin their annual journey thousands of miles away near the Arctic and Canada to head for the warm waters of the Caribbean to mate and give birth. The males practice the newest version of their ancient love song in hopes of attracting a mate. These otherworldly melodies can be heard underwater from miles away. By April they move on.

While the humpbacks are migratory, several other types stay here year round. They include pilot, sperm, fin, sei and minke whales. The largest whale in the world, the blue whale, sometimes passes by and is truly an awesome sight. Spinner dolphins are just as entertaining as they spin gracefully, leaping through the air. Their streamlined bodies glide through the water as they ride boat bow waves and their chatter and chirps seem to be cries of joy and pure delight. To be surrounded by a playful pod is a memory beyond compare. Scuba divers often have the chance to see bottlenose, spinner, and other small dolphins during their dives off Nevis. Sightseeing boats take trips out to see the whales and dolphins between January and April. It's also possible to watch the whales from the top of Saddle Hill, where the environmental organization Greenpeace has installed a telescope. Call to use the telescope at 869-469-2856.

Sea Turtles - There are four species of sea turtles that venture to the beaches to lay eggs: the green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas; the leatherback, Dermochelys coricea, and the hawksbill, Eretmochelys imbricata, and the loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta. On land they lumber arduously past the high tide mark to painstakingly dig nests with flippers designed for swimming and lay 40-150 ping-pong ball sized eggs.In the water, however, they are agile and streamlined and can soar along at up to 35 miles per hour despite their massive bodies which can weigh up to 1500 pounds.

During their life span of about 100 years, they travel the oceans, sometimes hundreds of miles, and eat foods that range from jellyfish to sponges, grass and fish. Despite the large number of eggs per nest, which hatch in 50-60 days, all species of sea turtles are endangered. The young brave many dangers after they hatch and crawl awkwardly toward the sea drawn by the moonlight on the water. If they survive predators from the land, they must evade many dangers in the sea if they are to grow from the size of an EC dollar to approximately 40 inches. Only 1 in 10,000 survive to adulthood.

Land Animals

Monkeys - Monkey sightings are common on Nevis, and most visitors delight in seeing the energetic creatures run across the road (followed by a family of babies) or swing from tree to tree. These green vervet monkeys live only on St. Kitts, Barbados, and Nevis, brought to this island by British settlers. These cute animals, with expressive faces of white contrasting with their darker hair, chatter from the treetops, as if holding conversations between themselves or berating visitors from the ground. They are very safe, carry no human diseases, and are often seen stealing fruits (especially mangoes) and flowers.

Birds and Butterflies - Birds and Butterflies are of interest to many visitors to Nevis as they are disappearing in many of the more developed countries due to habitat destruction and use of pesticides. Not so on Nevis, where they are increasing! In the past 15 years we have gone from 72 identified Bird Species to over 149. There are no official counts on Butterfly Species, but total numbers seem to be increasing, with Sulphers being the most common.

Of major interest to most of our guests are the 8 different Birds of Prey found around Nevis. Sparrow hawks and Broad Winged Hawks are the most common, but we also have Merlons and Peregrine Falcons mixed with Black Hawks and Red-Tailed soaring overhead. They feed on our numerous lizards and smaller species of birds. There is also the occasional Sharpshin Hawk as well as Ospreys, which are found offshore, at certain times of year.

Bird watchers and Bird Lovers will also enjoy watching for the several types of hummingbirds found around the more colorful flowers. The Lesser Antillean Crested is the most common followed by the Green Throated Carib. Up the mountainside one can search for the elusive Purple Throated Carib, the largest species of hummingbird found in the Caribbean. Since males and female are different, this gives one six different birds to watch!

Sulphur Searches - This doesn't mean searching for sulphur, that yellow compound used for making gunpowder and skins creams, but rather looking at all those little yellow butterflies that seem so prominent on Nevis. And they are Sulphurs, Sulphur butterflies! Sulphurs are by far the most common butterflies found on Nevis and probably in the entire Caribbean Region. They are not just on species, but a whole family and, like families, have a wide range of sizes and colours. There are over 20 estimated types of Sulphurs found on Nevis. Most are yellow with some type of black markings. Orange-barred Sulphurs (three types) are generally larger in size and mostly yellow, but have orange spots or stripes.

The smaller yellows seem to mainly be Hall's Sulphur with a black lining around the outside of the wing. But then there are White Sulphurs, Great White Sulphurs, and Florida White Sulphurs! These again are often hard to sort out by a "nonspecialist", and should not be confused with "White Peacocks". Some Sulphurs are green! Sulphurs caterpillars are green with yellow stripes and feed on a wide range of plants. They like water and adults can actually drink salt water, so are sometimes found out at sea migrating from one island to the other!

So why not go search for some sulphur?

Bats - At least five species of bats have been identified on Nevis, an important part of the island's natural ecosystem. These lively creatures pollinate plants, disperse seeds, and eat insects, like mosquitoes. They are the only native mammals known to live on Nevis. Two types of bats eat insects, whilst two consume fruits and flowers. Also, two of the species live in rooftops. In recent years, many scientists have come here to study the fascinating bat population. They believe there is a sixth species here, the Caribbean fishing bat. Bats are mammals, bearing live young and suckling them on milk.

They belong to the Order Chiroptera, which contain 956 species worldwide, approximately one-quarter of all mammal species. They are the only mammals capable of true flight (as opposed to the gliding flight found in some mammals such as flying squirrels). There are some negative myths about bats. They do not build nests or lay eggs. They cannot chew holes in wood to gain access to buildings. They are not poisonous. And, they will not bite unless an attempt is made to catch them, which is true of most wild animals.

Donkeys -The donkeys were brought to the island as beasts of burden, but now are only used occasionally for transportation by farmers. Mothers are often seen with their babies - small donkeys with shaggy hair that look like dogs with long ears. People shouldn't approach a mother donkey with her young, as she will defend her young as any animal mother.

Mongooses - Originally brought to the island in 1870 to get rid of the rodent population, these small, brown, ferret-like animals are now quite common, and can often be seen skittering across roads.

Sheep and Goats - How do you tell the difference between them? Tails down-sheep. Tails up-goat (To remember, P goes down and T goes up). Other than that, it's often hard to differentiate between these two animals that roam the island, crossing roads, grazing in fields, often with small young ones struggling to keep up with the older herd.

There are no specific health concerns for St. Kitts & Nevis. The main health risks to travellers would be sunburn, diarrhoea and intestinal worms. Safe drinking water is piped in from the numerous volcanic springs. The emergency number for police, fire and ambulance services on St. Kitts is 911, and there are on-call doctors at all major hotels, as well as a 24 hour Casualty Department. Pharmaceutical services are also widely available.

Alexandra Hospital has doctors on call at hotels and a 24-hour Casualty Department. Recompression chambers are available by air ambulance at nearby Saba and in St. Thomas. (Tel: 869 469 5473/4).

St Kitts & Nevis have been a constitutional monarchy since 1983, when it gained independence from the UK. As such, the Head of State is Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally since 1996 by Governor General Sir Cuthbert Montroville Sebastian. The Head of Government since 1995 has been Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas and the Premier is Mr. Vance W. Amory.

Principal Exports are: Sugar, beer, lobster, electrical equipment, margarine.

Potential Growth Exports include: Electrical appliances and other electronic items, instrumentation, plastics, jewellery, apparel and footwear, sporting goods.

Principal Imports are Food, manufactured goods, machinery and transportation equipment, mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials.

Major Trading Partners for Exports are: U.K., U.S., & CARICOM. For Imports it is: U.K., U.S., Japan, & CARICOM.

Robert Ross International University of Nursing

International University of Nursing's St. Kitts campus is located on a beautiful oceanfront setting. The campus integrates audiovisual and computer technology in all the academic facilities including classrooms, laboratories, library, and the learning resource centre. Faculty members, recruited primarily from the U.S., dedicate 100% of their time to teaching. They are there for the students, who receive their full attention.

To receive more information visit:-

Tel:     869 466 1057
Fax:     869 466 1076
Email:  admissions@iunon.org
Website: Robert Ross International University of Nursing

Ross University - The School of Veterinary Medicine.

Ross University has a campus that is based in St. Kitts. They welcome one and all who are interested in pursuing veterinarian studies.

Tel:            869 465 4161
Fax:           869 465 1203
Website:   Ross University

Windsor University

Windsor University provides quality medical education with world class standards where the more students learn there's more to it than what they can earn. No discrimination on the basis of race, colour, nationality or religion, age, sexual preference, political affiliation or any other basis.

For more information:

Tel:         1 869 466 1220 / 6157
Fax:         1 869 465 0593
Email:     admin@windor.edu
Website: Windsor University