Nevis...a hidden Caribbean paradise

I just got back from the most incredible trip to Nevis. Nevis, you ask? Where is that? It is the smaller, lesser known sister of St Kitts. This little island in the Caribbean is often overshadowed by its more famous neighbours, but it’s a hidden gem you won’t want to miss. Getting here is easy – fly to St Kitts and take a water taxi or private speedboat across the water. When you arrive, you’ll be greeted with lush green landscapes as well as stunning beaches, with wild monkeys everywhere. And one of the first things you’ll notice is Nevis Peak. This dormant volcano is the island’s crowning glory, and you can see it from almost anywhere. If you are feeling adventurous, it presents a challenging climb, but it didn’t tempt me! The first part of our stay was at the Four Seasons Resort. Right on the infamous Pinney’s Beach, this luxury hotel catered to our every need. Beautiful rooms, attentive staff and incredible food. The guests were a mixture of couples and families, and lots of golfers – the Four Seasons is the home of one of the finest courses in the Caribbean. The highlight of the Four Seasons has to be the direct access to Pinney’s Beach…golden sand, clear turquoise water and palm trees for shelter from the hot sun. Just at the end of the beach, leaving the resort, we found the famous Sunshine’s Beach Bar. We met Sunshine himself, a legend on the island. Here we ate, hands down, the best chicken wings I have ever eaten. So good, we ordered a second serving…we needed the food, as the other reason to head to Sunshine’s Bar is to try the legendary Killer Bee Cocktail (google it!). The friendly locals suggested we try just the one…but we had two, or maybe three, of these potent drinks, and their secret recipe meant that we were soon feeling the island vibes! After a few days at the Four Seasons we changed hotels and moved inland to the Golden Rock Inn. This incredible hotel is set on the slopes of the Nevis Peak and is in a beautifully restored sugar plantation. This hotel offers a unique blend of history, luxury, and tranquillity. Staying in these beautifully restored buildings makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time, but with all the modern comforts. The Golden Rock has only 11 rooms - little cottages set in the grounds and each is decorated in a unique and quirky way. The hotel is surrounded by acres of stunning tropical gardens and we spent time with one of the gardeners who was proud to show us his work. The restaurant there is known as The Rocks – and the food was plentiful, fresh and so so tasty. This resort surprised me – if you head to the Caribbean, you would naturally think ‘beach’ so I wasn’t sure how I would feel about being a few miles from the coast. But during my stay here I felt like I found the true Caribbean – it was so traditional and relaxing, I was a complete convert! While we were on Nevis, we also took some time to explore this beautiful island. Alexander Hamilton was born here, and his birthplace is now the Museum of Nevis History. We were shown around an historical sugar plantation, and our guide was so full of fascinating info that it was a shame when our tour ended. And of course, there were boat trips, and lots of restaurant visits to be done too! Nevis is the perfect holiday destination for someone that is looking for the ‘real’ Caribbean. It’s a mix of relaxation with a touch of adventure thrown in – it’s easy to hike through the rainforests, or to just lie on the pristine white beaches and enjoy the sea. Eat at some incredible restaurants, try the crazy local cocktails and just watch the sun go down. But for me – probably my number one take away, was the people. No matter where we went we were welcomed with a wide smile and lots of chatter. I think I have fallen a little bit in love with Nevis!