Author: freem32@cogeco.ca

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Ride a Train & Tour a Fortress and Gardens in St. Kitts & Nevis

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There’s Plenty of Things to Do on the Sister Islands of St. Kitts & Nevis


The Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis Islands, commonly referred to as “St. Kitts” or “SKN”, is a two island nation in the Caribbean’s Lesser Antilles’ Leeward Islands.  The St. Kitts and Nevis islands are actually the tops of a submerged volcanic mountain range.  The green islands are covered with rolling folds of volcanic peaks and lush valleys. Regular ferry service connects the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis, which are approximately 2 miles (3 km) apart.  St. Kitts is only a few miles from its closest neighbours, Sint Eustatius to the north-west, Barbuda and Antigua to the East and Montserrat to the south.

Things to do in St. Kitts and Nevis - Major Tourist Attractions include Timothy Hill

While no trip to St. Kitts is complete without seeing Brimstone Hill Fortress, the picturesque south-east peninsula or visiting the capital Basseterre, there are plenty of other amazing and fun things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis – If you know where to look.  Our personal favourites include:

Experience Unique and Historical Attractions in Saint Kitts

Sit back and relax while you see the island from the “last railway in the West Indies” – A train, built in the early 1900s for the sugar industry, now operates a unique scenic railway tour.  The train ride takes you around the rugged north-east coastline, then bus transportation takes you along the west side of the island, giving you a great all-round island experience.

Things to do in St. Kitts and Nevis - Major Tourist Attractions include Brimstone Fortress and a Scenic Railway Tour


For the history buff, Brimstone Hill Fortress – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a must see.  With it’s formidable structure and spectacular views of the Caribbean sea, this well preserved fortification makes for an imposing sight.  Located on the west side of the island, the fortress is an excellent example of British military architecture of a bygone era. Covering almost 40 acres (150k sq. m), the main features of the multi-leveled fortification include it’s massive stone wall, with it’s commanding view (and cannon range) of the surrounding coastline and Caribbean Sea, along with it’s main building the Citadel, also know as Fort George.

Things to do in St. Kitts and Nevis - Major Tourist Attractions include the Black Rocks and Wingfield Estate


Another structure of historical significance is the Wingfield Estate Sugar Plantation.  The Ruins are located in the Central Forest Reserve National Park on the west side of the island, adjacent to the more popular Romney Manor.  Old stone structures outline the remains of a once majestic set of buildings – Imagine the ancient sugar mill, rum distillery and more.  While you’re in the area, one of the more interesting things to do in St. Kitts is to find the 17th century petroglyphs.  

For a unique and interesting geological site, check out the “Black Rocks” on the rugged north-east coast near the village of Bellevue.  These ancient lava formations on the edge of the sea, provide a reminder of the island’s volcanic past.

OK, so you’re looking for some rum…  Local tour operators can take you to the Fairview Great House for some tasting, or on a Rum Runner’s Tour of the capital Basseterre, along with south-east peninsula sightseeing and 5 Rum / Bar Stops.

For more information, including tour operators who will take good care of you, click on our Things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis – Land Excursions page

Revel in the Natural Beauty of Saint Kitts

Things to do in St. Kitts and Nevis - Major Tourist Attractions include Romney Manor and Fairview Great-house

Romney Manor, on the west side of the island is one of the most popular things to do in St. Kitts and is well worth a visit – Their botanical gardens showcase a variety of local flora, including a 400-year-old SAMAN tree as well as colourful ‘lipstick’ palm trees.  A Bar and the Caribelle Batik are also on the grounds – You can even watch a local artist make the famous Batik clothing.

Fairview Great House & Botanical Gardens is a restored 18th century home and grounds.  Your tour there includes the great-house and gardens, which feature local flora.  Located on the west side of the island, you’ll also enjoy great views of the south-western shoreline and Caribbean Sea.

One of the more relaxing things to do in St. Kitts, is to take-in the best views of the islands, without having the climb a volcano or mountain. Journey to a place called Timothy Hill, approximately 3.5 miles (5km) south-east of the capital Bassettere.  From this vantage point you can see all the way down the lush and hilly south-east peninsula of the island, along with Nevis peak in the background.

Things to do in St. Kitts and Nevis - Major Tourist Attractions

For those looking for a nice nature walk, you can take a leisurely stroll in the Central Forest Reserve National Park on the west side of St. Kitts. Also visit the St. Kitts Eco-Park in the north-west corner of the island – Stretch your legs while you enjoy a variety of greenhouses, gardens, and orchards, before grabbing some shade at the tea house.

A variety of tours available in St. Kitts will take you sight-seeing through the mountainous interior of the island by jeep, Land Rover or open air safari bus.  This is a great way to really appreciate the natural beauty of the tropical island and one of the more popular things to do in St. Kitts.  Many tours provide a picnic lunch and include a visit to an old Estate and/or Plantation.

For more information, including tour operators who provide island tours, check out our Things to Do in St. Kitts & Nevis page

Visit the Capital, Basseterre

Things to do in St. Kitts and Nevis - Major Tourist Attractions includes Independence Square in Basseterre

Sometimes, there’s nothing more relaxing than simply taking a break in a park accompanied by a leisurely walk around town.  Basseterre is a great place in the Caribbean where you can wander around safely.  

Independence Square is a short walk from the port. This former slave market location is now a beautiful and tranquil park setting – Sit on a bench and soak-up the Caribbean sun while enjoying the water fountain, the park’s centre-piece.  In the background you can  see the magnificent Church of Immaculate Conception.  The equally impressive St. Georges Anglican church is also just a five-minute walk away.

Looking for more things to do in St. Kitts? On the outskirts of town, yet just a 15 minute walk from Independence Square, is the Government House – A large 19th century dwelling, now home to the island’s Governor General.

For more information, including tour operators who will take good care of you, click on our Things to Do in St. Kitts & Nevis page

Go Zip-lining and Off-Roading in St. Kitts

Want to feel the rush of flying over cane-fields or jungle foliage?  There’s a zip-line operator on the west side of the island, just next to the Wingfield Estate Sugar Plantation.  They have 5 zip-lines to experience and trying multiple rides involve 4×4 transport to get you from line to line.

ATV and Dune Buggy tours are also available on St. Kitts – Ride off-road country tracks, deserted beaches, up scenic mountain slopes and through cane-fields…  Then enjoy some beach time and maybe a refreshing swim.

For more information, including tour operators who will get you on the move, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Land Excursions page

Cruise St. Kitts & Nevis by Sea

Things to do in St. Kitts and Nevis include Catamaran, Motorboat or Pontoon Boating for a Dinner at Sea or Sunset Cruise

Get a unique perspective of St. Kitts and Nevis by sight-seeing from sea.  At the sister islands, that means it’s west coast features, including Mount Liamuiga and Brimstone Fortress, the south-east peninsula as well as Mount Nevis.

There are a variety of sea-faring options available to you, including catamaran sailboats, power-boats and pontoon boats. Sight-seeing the western shores of the islands is spectacular and boat tours often include a beach visit and/or a BBQ lunch.  Of course, Party Cruises and Sunset Cruises – featuring the chance to see the famous St. Kitts and Nevis ‘green flash’, are also available!


For the more adventurous, how would you like to rip around in a Mini Speedboat?  A local boat operator offers guided tours with these ‘motorized dinghies for two’ – It’s a great way to explore the blue waters of St Kitts and Nevis.

For more information, including boat operators who will get you on the waves, check out our Things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis – Ocean Excursions page

Visit the Natural Beauty of Nevis

Things to do in St. Kitts and Nevis - Major Tourist Attractions include Botanical Gardens, Plantations and Museums

A short ferry ride will take you from St. Kitts to the island of Nevis, where you can enjoy peaceful natural beauty, all in the shadow of majestic Nevis Peak.  

You can enjoy the local flora at the Botanical Gardens of Nevis on the south side of the island.  Visit to the quaint village of Charlestown, the island’s capital, on the west side of Nevis – There you can learn about the island’s history at the Horatio Nelson or Alexander Hamilton Museums, or simply unwind as you bathe in the local hot-springs.  On the north end of the island you can visit the Nisbet Plantation and kick-back with great views of St. Kitts from Oualie beach.

For a little more activity, you’ll appreciate a nature walk through the rain-forest,  bird watching or looking for the Vervet or “green” monkeys that inhabit the islands.  There’s even an Amerindian Site to explore. These are all great things to do in Nevis.

For the more intrepid, there’s exciting 4×4 off-road adventure tours as well as an equestrian centre where you can enjoy trail rides or even a beach tour.

For more information, including tour operators who will take good care of you, click on our Things to Do in St. Kitts & Nevis page

Enjoy!

ACT Staff

Want to see a quick overview? Check out our Sampling of the Sights in Saint Kitts video on YouTube!

If you’re looking for more of a physical adventure, check out our Adventure Activities in St. Kitts & Nevis blog

For an overview of the amazing sister islands, take a look at our St. Kitts & Nevis Vacations page

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The Caribbean Islands’ Tallest Peaks

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Caribbean Mountains – Hike the Highest Peaks the Islands Have To Offer


Sure…  It’s easy to think of the Caribbean as a place to relax on the beach with a cool tropical rum drink in hand, and while that’s a great idea, when I think of the Caribbean, I paint a mental picture of hiking through a lush rain-forest, heading up-hill a green Caribbean mountain or volcano, enjoying the eye-popping views of the Caribbean Sea along the way!

Caribbean Mountains - Hike to the tallest peaks. Check out Puerto Rico

The Caribbean Islands, also known as “the West Indies”, are located in the Caribbean Sea / Atlantic ocean, forming a sort of right hand arc between Florida and South America. The largest Caribbean islands are in the north-west and include Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic), Jamaica and Puerto Rico. These islands also have the largest mountain ranges and the tallest peaks in the Caribbean.

Caribbean Mountains - Hike to the tallest peaks. Check out Dominica

That said, I would suggest that some of the best Caribbean Islands for ‘up-hill’ hiking are further south-east and include Dominica, Martinique‎, Saint Lucia‎, Guadeloupe‎, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Vincent and Grenada. Caribbean volcanoes on some of these southern islands are relatively young, which always make for a fascinating hiking experience.

Caribbean Mountains - Hike to the tallest peaks. Check out St. Lucia


Some great mountainous rain-forest hiking is available on these wild and beautiful islands, with some trails taking just a couple of hours, while others require a full day or two. Weather permitting, most of these hikes allow you stunning views of the island and/or Caribbean sea and all of the hikes will provide you with a gratifying sense of physical, mental and spiritual accomplishment.



If you’re looking for the biggest and baddest the Caribbean has to offer, here are the 15 highest Caribbean mountains/Peaks in the West Indies (Based on vertical height above sea level):

Island Rank Height Mountain 
Dominican Republic110,164 feet (3,098m)Pico Duarte
29,324 feet (2,842m)Loma Alto de la Bandera
57,477 feet (2,279m)Loma Gajo en Medio
Haiti38,773 feet (2,674m)Pic la Selle
47,700 feet (2,347m)Pic Macaya
Jamaica67,402 feet (2,256m)Blue Mountain Peak
Cuba76,476 feet (1,974m)Pico Turquino
124,098 feet (1,249m)Gran Piedra
153,740 feet (1,140m)Pico San Juan
Guadeloupe84,813 feet (1,467m)La Grande Soufrière
Dominica94,747 feet (1,447m)Morne Diablotins
Martinique104,577 feet (1,395m)Montagne Pelée
Puerto Rico114,389 feet (1,338m)Cerro de Punta
St. Vincent134,049 feet (1,234m)La Soufrière
St. Kitts143,793 feet (1,156m)Mount Liamuiga

Please note that the above list only covers the Caribbean Islands, and does not include the Central American, Mexican, Colombian, and Venezuelan Caribbean, which have incredible mountain peaks of their own.

For a more detailed review of hiking a couple of these mountains, click on our Jamaica’s Blue mountain Hike and St. Kitts ‘ Mount Liamuiga Hike pages. They are both awesome hikes for sure!

Caribbean Mountains - Hike to the tallest peaks. Check out Dominica

For more of an overview of all hiking in the Caribbean, click on our The Best Caribbean Islands for Hiking page

Caribbean Mountains - Hike to the tallest peaks. Check out Jamaica

For more information on what the Caribbean has to offer intrepid vacationers, take a look at our Active Caribbean Travel home page

ACT Staff

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360° Views from Antigua’s Highest Peak

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Antigua hiking at it's best - Mount Obama / Boggy Peak hike with Trek Tours

Antigua Hiking – On a Caribbean Mountain/Trail Named After a US President!


Antigua & Barbuda is a multi-island Caribbean nation east of St. Kitts & Nevis, just north of Guadeloupe. Known for it’s numerous soft white beaches, sailing and snorkeling – The island also has a number of really nice hiking trails to explore! Antigua hiking was a pleasant surprise. If It’s not too daunting, I always like to hike the tallest peak of the Caribbean island I’m visiting and at just over 1,330 feet (450m) tall, Antigua’s Mount Obama is definitely in my ‘do-able’ range, so it was the must-do hike of our trip.

While we like to be active and explore the Caribbean, we prefer to relax and enjoy our vacation experiences without having to worry about all the detailed logistics, so we connected with a local hiking / tour operator who knows the island and our target trail really well. For our Mount Obama adventure, we chose Antigua’s Trek Tours to show us the way…

Antigua hiking at it's best - Mount Obama / Boggy Peak hike with Trek Tours

The friendly folks from Trek Tours picked us up at our east coast hotel around 8:30am, then took us on a pleasant scenic drive on our way to Antigua’s south west, an area known as the “Green Corridor”. It’s good to get off the resort and see what each Caribbean island is really all about. In Antigua, there’s little vehicle traffic (outside of St. John’s) – Our drive was only interrupted by the occasional goat herd wandering across the road. On our cross country joyride we observed that Antigua is noticeably dryer than other parts of the Caribbean. More importantly, the island also appears to be less impoverished than most of the other islands we’ve visited. In general, the locals seem to be very friendly and relatively happy.

While mostly flat coral and limestone, Antigua’s hilly south-west has some interesting volcanic features along with more/taller vegetation than the rest of the island. This area is home to Mount Obama National Park and the island’s tallest peak, Mount Obama. Formerly known as Boggy Peak, the area was renamed in 2009 in honour of the historic presidential election of Barack Obama in the USA.

Antigua hiking at it's best - Mount Obama / Boggy Peak hike with Trek Tours

Eventually we made our way down a dirt road to the Christian Valley Agricultural Station – an area known for it’s delicious fruits, like mangoes, pineapples and papayas. While we were curiously looking at the various fruit trees, we also noticed a number of furry little critters darting around everywhere. I’ve never seen so many mongooses in such a short time-frame – If you’ve never seen one before, they kind of look like elongated squirrels. Very reminiscent of being back home (in North America).

Antigua hiking at it's best - Mount Obama / Boggy Peak hike with Trek Tours



We were dropped off with our guide on the north side of the mountain. Next to the trail-head was a monument and plaque dedicating the area to President Obama. After a short warm-up on a dirt road lined with papaya trees and more of our hungry mongoose friends, the trail narrows then disappears into the forest. With our guide leading the way, our Antigua hiking journey was underway. We headed into the wilderness for a 4 mile (6.6km) jaunt up and over the mountain.


The forest is heavily wooded, although it felt kind of different to me than hiking through the tropical rain-forests of say, Dominica, St. Kitts or Saint Lucia. I suspect that there are more ‘sub’tropical ferns and trees in this Park than what I’m used to. Anyways…. The natural trail twists and turns through the woods, all the while constantly taking us up to our objective. Our path also took us across a couple of dry river beds, which again, we don’t see very often in the Caribbean. Apparently, during an exceptional rainy season, water does flow here and there’s even a small waterfall.

Antigua hiking at it's best - Mount Obama / Boggy Peak hike with Trek Tours





Antigua hiking at it's best - Mount Obama / Boggy Peak hike with Trek Tours
Antigua hiking at it's best - Mount Obama / Boggy Peak hike with Trek Tours


Our unassuming guide was friendly and knowledgeable, constantly informing us of the local flora (and lack of poisonous fauna 🙂 ) that we were encountering along the way. He explained that they’re growing dwarf papaya trees back at the Agricultural Station, that can be picked without a tall ladder. One amazing tree he pointed out to us, really stood out to me – I believe its called a Ceiba tree – It has dangerous inch long spikes all along it’s trunk surface. I wouldn’t want to slip on the trail and face-plant into one of these fellas!


Antigua hiking at it's best - Mount Obama / Boggy Peak hike with Trek Tours



The narrow path was littered with hundreds of leaves from the surrounding trees, including really cool large foliage from the bamboo stands that grow in clumps along the trail. Even though it had rained a little the night before and the ground was fairly wet everywhere, the trail was not slippery at all.




I really enjoyed the gradual steepness of the trail, along with a couple of short steeper sections that tested our cardio a bit more. It was quite hot and humid and we were definitely working up a sweat – Quite normal for Caribbean hiking! I’ll also mention that there were no bugs pestering us at all – We were thankful for this. We really enjoy a good forest hike and that’s exactly what this was. We were on this comfortable trail for just over half an hour before it suddenly ended and we spilled out onto a concrete road. The road was pretty steep for the next 15 minutes or so, winding around the mountain all the way to the peak.

We reached a fenced-in property at the end of the road. At the top of the mountain there are buildings and antennas owned by the telecom giant, Cable & Wireless. Thankfully, our hiking guide had the key to the gate, so we were able to enter the facility and get a peek, from the peak. It would have been more than a little frustrating, to have come this far and not be able to receive our full reward – Dramatic 360° views of the island was about to be experienced!

Antigua hiking at it's best - Mount Obama / Boggy Peak hike with Trek Tours

It was real nice and breezy at the top – Perfectly comfortable! We wandered around to take-in the spectacular views. First there was the southern coastline of Antigua and the Caribbean Sea, which included two of the island’s most famous icons. At the bottom of a gentle sloping area of Mount Obama near the coast, we could see a large field growing the island’s famous ‘black pineapple’ (pictured above). Not too far from shore, from our vantage point anyways, we could also clearly see the island’s top snorkeling spot, Cades Reef (pictured below).

Antigua hiking at it's best - Mount Obama / Boggy Peak hike with Trek Tours

Our guide told us that on a clear day we would be able to see Montserrat off in the distance to the south-west. Unfortunately, it was humid and hazy the day we hiked, so we could just barely make out it’s outline, although I may just have been looking at a low lying cloud, I dunno. Just to the east and the west of Mount Obama’s slopes however, we had amazing views of the nearby rolling hills that hints at the island’s volcanic past.

Although the views to the north-west and north are obstructed by C&W’s radio towers and antennas, we could easily see the Caribbean coastline, including Darkwood Beach and Jolly Harbour. We could even see St. John’s way off in the distance, including a cruise ship that was in port that day.

Antigua hiking at it's best - Mount Obama / Boggy Peak hike with Trek Tours


It takes another 45 minutes to an hour for the descent. This time we went down the south side of the mountain, following the concrete road all the way to the agricultural land at the bottom. Going downhill on cement is never fun, and today was no exception – It’s a bit hard on the toes, feet and knees for sure. Fortunately the road wasn’t that long or steep most of the way, and it kind of switch-backed most of the way down.


Antigua hiking at it's best - Mount Obama / Boggy Peak hike with Trek Tours

I found that time went by fairly fast on the way down, partly because we had interesting views of the coastline as well as some nearby pineapples growing, but mostly because I was chatting with our guide the whole way down – Not only was he knowledgeable and friendly, but more importantly, I felt at ease talking with him. It was if we had known each other all our lives.

Antigua hiking at it's best - Mount Obama / Boggy Peak hike with Trek Tours


The cement road ends near the bottom of the mountain where it turns into a nice dirt road that continues to the main coastal road. It was a nice place for a leisurely warm-down and there was more to see along the roadside, as it was lined with coconut and other fruit trees. What a fun Antigua hiking experience! We were picked-up here for the drive home.


Our return route took us along scenic Fig Tree Drive, passing by Wallings Nature Reserve (another areas for good hiking) and through small towns with names like Swetes (thankfully pronounced sweets, not sweats). We really enjoyed spending our morning with Trek Tours! They are a small dedicated team, focusing on immersive Antiguan natural experiences. Trek Tours offers a large variety of hikes, ranging from easy through challenging. They also offer combo tours that include the island’s major attractions. Custom tours are also available.

ACT Staff

Want to see more? Check out our Hiking Antigua’s Mount Obama Trail video on YouTube!

For a more ‘technical’ Trail Report as well as much more information on hiking in Antigua & Barbuda, please reference the following links (to pages on our website):

For more information about Trek Tours, including material to help plan your own Antiguan adventure, you can contact the good folks by visiting their website or facebook page (just click on a link below):

For an overview of the “land of sun and sea”, take a look at our Antigua & Barbuda Vacations page

If you’re looking for more active things to do while vacationing on the island, click on our Antigua Adventures blog for more great ideas!

For a more relaxed vacation itinerary, you can find great Tourist Attractions on the island, by checking out our Things to Do in Antigua and Barbuda blog

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It’s True – There are Crocodiles in the Caribbean

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Things to do in Jamaica include a fun journey down the Black River

Looking for Things to do in Jamaica? Discover the Black River Safari


It was an exciting day! We were headed to Jamaica’s south-west coast to enjoy three amazing excursions – The Black River ‘Boat Safari’, YS Falls and the Appleton Estate Rum tour. All great things to do in Jamaica! We booked this 3-in-1 smorgasbord of adventures through Jamaica’s Amstar DMC.

This is part one of three blog posts from the day’s adventures – This one Focuses on the Black River Safari.

I’ll start by saying that it’s a fair distance from Montego Bay down to the Black River, just over 42 miles (70km). Lucky for us the bus was comfortable and our guide from Tropical Tours kept us busy by providing insight into the points of interest we passed along the way.

We left the concrete and noise of Montego Bay behind us and ventured into the mountains of St. James Parish. We had some great views of Jamaica’s beautiful interior as we winded our way through the mountains. We passed the quaint villages of Mount Carey, Montpelier and Shettlewood, getting a first hand view of how the locals live. From New Market to Middle Quarters the road traveled through an impressive valley before spilling out into the flatter rural areas of St. Elizabeth Parish.

Things to do in Jamaica include a fun journey down the Black River
A cluster of Egrets in the bush



When we finally reached the Riverside Dock, it was great to be able to stretch our legs. After checking out some souvenirs offered by local vendors, we boarded our pontoon boat and were ready for our Black River boat cruise – One of the many fun things to do in Jamaica. Just before we got under way, we noticed that it looked more like a green river than a black one, although that would change as we ventured further upstream. Although we had been listening to the enjoyable rhythms of Reggae music the last couple of days, I couldn’t help think about CCRs ‘Green River’ tune.

Things to do in Jamaica include a fun journey down the Black River


We pushed off from the dock and our pontoon boat took us out into the murky waters. Our boat operator ‘slash’ guide, immediately started telling us about the various vegetation and birds in the area. It didn’t take long for the view from the boat to get much more wild looking, and we settled in for a nice nature tour. The guide was informative and friendly, pointing out and describing the various flora and fauna that we encountered. He first mentioned that large portions of the river bottom was peat moss, and that is what gave the water it’s dark greenish hue.


Things to do in Jamaica include a fun journey down the Black River


Our boat guide also explained how the clumps of long vine-like branches bring water from the river up to the higher parts of the tree – Pretty fascinating. He also showed us Indigo plants growing at the sides of the river and explained that in the past, blue dye was extracted from these plants by European settlers and used for making ‘blue jeans’.

Things to do in Jamaica include a fun journey down the Black River



The banks of the river were mostly covered with a couple different species of mangroves along with various bushes and long shoots. There was really no ‘shore’ to speak of the entire boat trip. With the exception of the large ever-present mountains in the background, I again couldn’t help to think I was traveling through some southern bayou.

Things to do in Jamaica include a fun journey down the Black River
Things to do in Jamaica include a fun journey down the Black River

At a broad bend in the river, we came across a large patch of green lily pads floating on the water. In the background a local fisherman canoed by with his crab traps – apparently they’re quite the delicacy in the area. It was amazing to see him paddling the river in a traditional dugout style canoe – a real blast from the past!

Things to do in Jamaica include a fun journey down the Black River


As we journeyed up river, we saw plenty of birds near the water and in the trees along the river banks. There were a couple types of egret along with a variety of other birds, and we also saw a couple of ospreys! That’s all good, however we were really out there to see a Jamaican Crocodile…

Things to do in Jamaica include a fun journey down the Black River
Things to do in Jamaica include a fun journey down the Black River


Eventually the river narrowed and the water got much darker, OK it was black… This was my favourite area for sure – Again reminiscent of a southern US swamp, although the water here always appeared to be fairly deep. Here’s where we saw a couple of crocodiles. I have to say I’m not a big fan of feeding wild animals, however it did get them out of their hiding spots along the river banks and bring them out onto the water for everyone to see. The American Crocodiles that live in Jamaica’s Black River are relatively small as compared to their African and Australian cousins. Apparently they are also quite mellow, perhaps a reflection of the local people themselves 🙂

Things to do in Jamaica include a fun journey down the Black River

After spotting a few of the ancient reptiles, we turned around and moved considerably faster on the way downriver, back to the dock. Once there, we enjoyed a local lunch of beef stew, jerk chicken along with rice & peas (although I think they were beans) and fruit punch (sans rum). Tasty – That hit the spot.

Things to do in Jamaica include a fun journey down the Black River

In summary, this enjoyable boat cruise is just one of the many incredible things to do in Jamaica. The tour lasted just under an hour and a half. While there were a number of other boats on the river, I didn’t find it crowded or touristy. Admittedly, we had set out to see a crocodile, although we ended up really appreciating the boat cruise itself. It was a beautiful warm sunny day and there was lots of nature to see with plenty of opportunities for photos to capture and bring home memories.

Want to see more? Check out our Jamaica’s Black River & the Crocs of the Caribbean video on YouTube!


If this river cruise appeals to you, you can contact the friendly folks at Amstar by visiting the Amstar DMC website or their Facebook page .

For an overview of the land of wood and water, take a look at our Jamaica Vacations page

For other great Tourist Attractions on the island, check out our Things to Do in Jamaica blog

If you’re looking for more active things to do while vacationing on the island, click on our Jamaica Adventures blog for some other great ideas!

Stay tuned for next week’s write-up on YS Falls – A gorgeous 7 tier waterfalls in the remote Jamaican bush

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Barbados’ St. Nicholas Abbey – More than just a Plantation

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Active Caribbean Travel visits a Barbados Plantation - St. Nicholas Abbey Great House and the St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway

A Great House, Heritage Railway, Rum Distillery and more…

Barbados is a unique coral island in the south-eastern Caribbean famous for its white-sand beaches, consistently warm weather as well as generally being considered the birthplace of rum. It was on a(nother) quest for rum that motivated me to leave the beaches and touristy south-west area and travel across the island to the rural north-east of Barbados – I’m sure glad we decided to visit St. Nicholas Abbey! This excursion really helped us get to know some of the history and culture of the island, as well as see some of its natural beauty.

Active Caribbean Travel visits a Barbados Plantation - St. Nicholas Abbey Great House and the St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway

St. Nicholas Abbey is comfortably nestled in the beautiful “Scottish highlands” of Barbados – A region full of natural beauty which we witnessed first hand as we drove up the hilly east coast and up/across a ridge that took us past the amazingly preserved Morgan Lewis Windmill and the fabulous Cherry Tree Hill look-out (more on that later).  I really enjoyed the last bit of the drive along an extraordinary road lined with massive Mahogany trees whose branches seemed to touch each other above us across the road. 

Active Caribbean Travel visits a Barbados Plantation - St. Nicholas Abbey Great House and the St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway


We arrived at the grand old plantation just in time!  The St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway was preparing to leave the station.  We boarded the train and were off…  The ride started in a gentle arc around a pond and past some sugar cane fields before chugging up a bit of a hill.   After another wide turn, we entered a mature stand of mahogany which gave way to a section of track flanked by a cliffside which was remarkably close to the train. I understand this train and its track was completed in late 2018, with tours having just started in early 2019. This rail system is an authentic representation of the 19th Century transportation system used in Barbados to transport sugar, then later commuters, around the island.  The train cars were stunningly beautiful and I could just feel the craftsmanship that went into their construction. We enjoyed our ride, which was narrated by a tour guide who helped us understand what we were seeing along the journey.



Active Caribbean Travel visits a Barbados Plantation - St. Nicholas Abbey Great House and the St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway

Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before we reached the end of the line at Cherry Tree Hill. At this point, we were pleasantly surprised to be volunteered into assisting the train crew turn the train engine around on a manual carousal/turn-table in preparation for the return journey.  It’s not every day that you can participate in such an event! Our work done, we wandered across the street to visit some local vendors who had set up tables and were selling a variety of souvenirs.  That didn’t hold our attention for long, as we noticed the amazing views of the island just a few steps away.


Active Caribbean Travel visits a Barbados Plantation - St. Nicholas Abbey Great House and the St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway

This is the second-highest point on Barbados and we savoured the breathtaking views of the island’s hills and ridges as well as the rugged boulder-strewn shoreline of the east coast. Before reboarding the train, we took the opportunity to get our picture taken with the spectacular ‘period correct’ engine and listen to the train conductor as he told stories about the history of trains and their cargo/passengers on the island. This experience really transported us back in time to the days before Barbados had roads.  We imagined trains commuting people from Bridgetown around the south end of the island and heading up the east coast, which at that time was the destination of choice for wealthy travelers – It’s still a great place to spend time in the beautiful Bajan countryside away from the hustle and bustle of the west coast.

Active Caribbean Travel visits a Barbados Plantation - St. Nicholas Abbey Great House and the St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway

After our railway adventure was complete, we exited the train to tour St. Nicholas Abbey’s great house. After a short walk across a manicured field lined with gardens and giant palm trees, we were welcomed into one of only two surviving 17th-century Jacobian homes in the Caribbean. English Jacobian architecture is characterized by its combination of Tudor, Elizabethan and Renaissance styles influenced by Flemish, Dutch and French architecture of the time. A tour guide walked us through the main floor pointing out some of the house’s antiques and artifacts while providing a brief history of some of the owners who had lived there.


Active Caribbean Travel visits a Barbados Plantation - St. Nicholas Abbey Great House and the St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway



I immediately gazed upon the Drawing Room’s chandelier, which was decorated with shells. Along with an English tea set from the 1800s, I enjoyed inspecting the “sailors valentines” – mosaics, ornately assembled from tiny shells. The Dining Room looked inviting, with the table fully set with fine china.




Active Caribbean Travel visits a Barbados Plantation - St. Nicholas Abbey Great House and the St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway plus Rum




We then passed through the Study, which featured a vintage 1930s “Gentleman’s Chair” complete with a backrest, footrest, wheels, table attachments and a reading lamp. There was also a much older mahogany “judge chair” that looked very much at home in the storied great house.




Active Caribbean Travel visits a Barbados Plantation - St. Nicholas Abbey Great House and the St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway

It was interesting listening to the long line of families and sordid tales of the some of the inhabitants.  Some of the more revered owners of the property included Sir John Gay Allyne, a long time local government official and Mount Gay rum fame, as well as the more recent Cave family, who lived at the house from the early 1800s all the way up to 2006.

Active Caribbean Travel visits a Barbados Plantation - St. Nicholas Abbey Great House and the St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway plus Rum

After the great house tour, we headed outside where we enjoyed a complimentary rum punch in a courtyard under the shadow of a massive 400 year old Sandbox tree.  We then took a short walk down a gentle slope past some cockatoos and colourful macaws to see the rum producing parts of the plantation.  I understand that a few days a week, staff demonstrate how the plantation’s sugar cane is crushed for juice which is then reduced to a sweet syrup – The day we visited, the old Steam Mill was not in operation.  St. Nicholas Abbey uses cane sugar syrup and a modern hybrid (pot/column) still, to produce their rum which is aged in used bourbon barrels. 



Active Caribbean Travel visits a Barbados Plantation - St. Nicholas Abbey Great House and the St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway plus Rum

We then went back into their main building and watched a short film, which is essentially ‘home movies’ from the 1930s taken by a Cave family member.  The filmed covered their Atlantic crossing, scenes of a bustling Bridgetown, clearly centred around the sugar industry, as well as scenes of the plantation including traditional sugar and rum-making utilizing windmills.  The video was followed by a short discussion about their rum, along with a sampling of their 5 year old spirit.  St. Nicholas Abbey rekindled the old plantation’s rum making in the early 2000s, and now produce small-batch, single cask artisan rums that also include an 8 year old, 15 year old as well as a rare 22 year old.  They also produce a white rum along with interestingly flavoured rums (Banana, Passion Fruit, Sorrel and Coffee) as well as Rum Punch. 

Active Caribbean Travel visits a Barbados Plantation - St. Nicholas Abbey Great House and the St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway plus Rum

The tour formally ended at this point, however guests were welcome to roam the plantation or enjoy lunch on a fantastic terrace situated above a lush ravine.  We wandered back into the great house and also visited their rum bottling building, where a woman was hand bottling some ‘special occasion’ rums.  After having a light lunch in their snack bar we visited their gift shop where a nice assortment of souvenirs was available – I thought their coffee beans, flavoured by being stored in empty rum barrels, was interesting – Nice!

Active Caribbean Travel visits a Barbados Plantation - St. Nicholas Abbey Great House and the St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway plus Rum
Active Caribbean Travel visits a Barbados Plantation - St. Nicholas Abbey Great House and the St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway plus Rum

What a great way to spend an afternoon.  St. Nicholas Abbey, which by the way is/was not an abbey at all… has plenty to offer visitors… from a Train ride and Great house to assorted Rum related attractions. The plantation also conveniently has a restaurant, snack bar and gift shops. That said, the place really provides a historical perspective of Barbados that you just can’t get on the beach. St. Nicholas Abbey does a good job in preserving the heritage of Barbados. The property and facilities all have a ‘new’ feel to it, clearly well managed and professionally run, although its staff is still nice and friendly, which we have come to expect from Bajans – Casual and laid back…

ACT Staff

Active Caribbean Travel visits a Barbados Plantation - St. Nicholas Abbey Great House and the St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway

For more information about the plantation and its tours, check out their website at St. Nicholas Abbey

For Tour Operators who can get you there as well as other great Tourist Attractions on the island, check out our Things to Do in Barbados page

If you’re interested in reading more about rum, check out our Caribbean Rum page as well as our Barbados Rum page, which includes a list of Tour Operators who will get you sampling Barbados’ finest.

For an overview of beautiful Barbados, take a look at our Barbados Vacations page

If you’re looking for more ‘active’ things to do while vacationing on the island, click on our Barbados Adventures blog post for some great ideas!