The Caribbean Island of St Kitts Is a Haven for Hiking, Eco-Tourism and Wellness, and It’s Becoming a Year-Round Hotspot
Mount Liamuiga is a nearly 4,000-foot-tall volcano that’s one of the highest points in the Caribbean. It’s been dormant for nearly two thousand years. But lately, the biggest peak on the Caribbean island of St Kitts been heating up for a different reason.
The mountain is lush and verdant, covered with rainforest, and is seeing a surge in popularity as an eco-tourism destination – both for world-class hiking and the island’s dynamic farm-to-table movement, thanks to tour operators like the excellent Liamuiga Natural Farms.
St Kitts is one of the region’s emerging hotspots: it’s home to the Caribbean’s only Park Hyatt resort, a host of charming small hotels, a robust food scene (and a burgeoning rum movement) (that includes a popular Restaurant Week) and a palpably different vibe that somehow, expertly, blends serenity and adventure.
After JetBlue launched its first-ever flights to the island at the end of 2023, St Kitts has never been easier to get to, with robust airlift from major markets (including from Miami on American) and a growing position on the radar of sophisticated travelers.
But most importantly, the island is quickly shedding its image as simply a spot for winter travel. St Kitts, you see, is becoming a year-round destination.
“We’re really trying to push that St Kitts is a year-round destination, not just for winter,” St Kitts Tourism Authority CEO Kelly Fontenelle told Caribbean Journal in an interview. “We want travelers to really know, hey, you can come in the summer — there’s things for the family to do, and things for couples. We’re showing that there’s no stop.”
The JetBlue service, for example, operates year round, and the United flights from Newark are also operating through the summer season.
This summer is set to sizzle, beginning with the island’s world-famous St Kitts Music Festival (John Legend is among the superstars on hand for this year’s event), along with the aforementioned Restaurant Week, which runs this year from July 17-27 (yes, it’s actually longer than a week) and includes special menus at restaurants all over the island and bigger events like the St Kitts Tasting Showcase and the beloved Grill Fest Competition (you don’t want to miss it, trust us).
St Kitts is also getting more and more buzz as a wellness destination, and not just for the Liamuiga Hot Stone Massage at the Park Hyatt. Whether it’s the famous cross-channel swimming race, the copious adventure options or the quality of the produce, the island is cultivating a well-deserved image as a place for holistic, authentic wellness — not just lip service.
Where to stay? Sure, there’s the Park Hyatt, which has a stunning infinity pool and a great location within the southeastern peninsula of St Kitts (rooms at $841 per night). The beachfront Koi resort, which is part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, has some very good rates in the late spring and summer, with prices around $135 per night.
If it’s something smaller you’re seeking, we love the Sunset Reef hotel, a boutique with just 11 rooms (all cooled with innovative geothermal technology), a private beach and one of the Caribbean island’s best restaurants, the Drop Anchor Grill. Rooms around $765 per night.
So what about flights? The JetBlue flights from New York start as low as $164 one-way. The AA service has fares for about $581 roundtrip in May, according to Google Flights data.
