A major cruise ship docked offshore within St. Kitts Harbor; (c) Soul Of America
St. Kitts Transportation
Airport
Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB) accommodates direct flights from North America and Europe to St. Kitts.
There are frequent flights from NYC JFK, Newark, Atlanta, Miami, Charlotte, Toronto, Minneapolis, London, and Paris airports to SKB Airport. Among commercial airlines, United, American, Delta, Air Canada, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Liat, Condor and Sun Country fly here.
SKB Airport features these passenger amenities:
– Free Wi-Fi access
– ATMs
– Currency Exchange
– Post Office
– Car Rentals
– Airport Lounge
– Duty Free Shops
– Restaurants & cafes
A small number of guests arriving at SKB Airport but headed to Nevis are met by staff from their hotels and escorted to a water taxi for the 6-minute, 2.5-mile transfer to Nevis.
Ground Transport
Taxis
Most guests from Europe, mainland America, Puerto Rico, Antigua, Anguilla, St. Thomas USVI, Tortola BVI, St. Barths and St. Maarten arrive at SKB Airport, then take taxi rides directly to their hotels.
Fares are available from the airport dispatchers, the Circus in Basseterre and from your hotel front desk. There is a 50% surcharge between 10 PM and 6 AM. Taxi fares are the same for 1-4 riders, with prices that range from $8 to $80, depending on distance traveled around the island of St. Kitts.
Aside from being a great way to tour the island, taxis offer insight to the island’s culture. The comfortable vans are each uniquely decorated and themed to express the driver’s personality.
Taxi drivers are enthusiastic and well versed to inform vacationers, including tips on their favorite local foods and restaurants. They also tell you where to spot some of St. Kitts’ amusing Green Vervet monkeys. Ask to visit Black Rocks, the volcanic rock formations on the Northern coast. Better yet, ask any taxi operator to show you the best of his island.
Nevis is a smaller island so taxi fares are lower there.
Car Rentals
These brands rent automobiles on St. Kitts.
Avis – 869-465-6507
Hertz – 869-465-7822
Thrifty – 869-465-2991
ABC Car Hire – 869-466-9284
Bullseye – 869-465-5656
Jeep rentals are popular in St. Kitts, so reserve them shortly after booking your flight.
Safari Jeep traversing a suggest hillside of St. Kitts island; credit SKTA
Public Buses
Local transportation is also available and inexpensive via mini-buses. Ask your hotel about bus routes.
Cruise Port
From St. Kitts, the ferries operate from Reggae Beach Pier at Cockleshell Bay and at Christophe Harbour’s Marina. The ferry ride between St. Kitts and Nevis takes about 45 minutes and provides beautiful views of both islands.
There are six ferries operating between between Basseterre, St. Kitts and Charlestown, Nevis:
• MV Caribe Queen
• MV Carib Breeze
• MV Carib Surf
• MV Mark Twain
• MV Sea Hustler
• Sea Bridge
One-way fares are roughly $15 for adults and $15 for children under 12 years old. To book your water taxi, contact:
Islander Water Sports
Oualie Beach, Nevis
Cell: 869-662-7081
Water taxis can also be hired as charters to fit your schedule. Normal Fees is $20 per person when booking for 2-4 patrons. A chartered water taxi between St. Kitts to Fort Seasons Pier and Oualie Beach on Nevis lasts 10-15 minutes.
St. Kitts is a frequent port of call for major cruise lines operating in the Eastern Caribbean. In the capital city of Basseterre, you’ll arrive at Porte Zante, in the center of the harbor.
Port Zante offers a duty-free shopping district with more than 60 shops offering deals on watches, jewelry, diamonds, and colored gemstones.
You can also sign up for an Nevis excursion with one of the many ground operators here, or ask questions at St. Kitts Tourism Authority office, located on the ground floor of Pelican Mall.