To read our reviews of popular tours and excursions in Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bonaire, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe (coming soon), Jamaica, Martinique, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and more… just click HERE
Now that the weather is showing signs of winter in many parts of the world, you might be starting to think about a nice warm Caribbean vacation. Nothing beats the winter blues like feeling the warmth of the sun above you and the sand beneath your feet. That said, it’s also great to get the muscles moving, the heart pumping and the mind blown by experiencing the natural wonders that the Caribbean has to offer. Take a peek at the underwater world below the surface of the Caribbean Sea or hike through a lush green rainforest to awaken the senses – This is nature’s best medicine. Of course, a round of golf or a warm relaxing day at sea would also fill the prescription for what the travel doctor ordered! If you’re thinking of heading south to escape the cold and dark of winter for a week or two, here are our thoughts on the best of the less busy/touristy Caribbean adventure destinations to visit in early 2024.
For this article, we’re highlighting the Caribbean Islands that provide the best opportunities for getting out in nature by enjoying snorkeling (and diving), hiking, fishing, watersports, and golf, highlighting a few of the more ‘unspoiled’ Caribbean Islands where you can truly immerse yourself in the culture and activities of the land.
Located just north of South America’s Venezuelan coast, Bonaire is a special municipality of the Netherlands. Famous for its pink flamingos and salt mounds, the small Dutch island is more than just a “diver’s paradise”. This Caribbean Island is also a great place to experience snorkeling, watersports, cycling and surprisingly good hiking as well!
With healthy coral reefs and rich marine life, Bonaire is one of the best islands in the Caribbean for snorkeling and diving! Bonaire and its small offshore island Klein Bonaire are encircled by reefs providing homes for an amazing biodiversity of colourful fish, corals, sponges, and more. You can slip into the warm Caribbean Sea from shore and swim out to a nearby reef, or take a short boat ride to Bonaire’s Marine Park to experience some of the best snorkel & dive spots in the Caribbean. Explore shallow coral reefs, steep underwater cliffs as well as underwater caves. Bonaire also happens to be one of the best Freediving locations in the world.
For more details on the dozens of snorkel sites or diving at any of the over eighty dive sites in Bonaire, as well as contact info for local dive shops and boat operators who can get you outfitted and in the water, check out our Bonaire Snorkeling and/or our Bonaire Scuba Diving pages.
With its near-constant trade winds, year-round warm air and water temperatures, Bonaire is one of the best places in the Caribbean to enjoy water sports as well. The flat southwest coast of the island seems to be made for kiteboarding and kitesurfing, while the mangroves and waterways of Lac Bay on the southeast side of the island are ideal for kayaking and windsurfing. Spending an adventurous day on the sea is a great way to experience the Caribbean, and Bonaire definitely ticks all the boxes when it comes to watersports options that satisfy everyone’s needs!
For more tips on watersports options in Bonaire, including contact info for local tour operators, surf shops and places to rent gear, check out our Bonaire Water Sports page.
With over a hundred kilometres of cycling trails, Bonaire is also one of the best Caribbean destinations for bicycle riding. Explore Bonaire by bike to experience jaw-dropping views of the island and picturesque views of the Caribbean Sea. The island has road courses that include amazing scenic coastline routes, as well as off-road trails in desert-like terrain. If you’re looking to travel at a slower pace, the hiking trails of Bonaire offer surprisingly good opportunities for some easy relaxing walks as well as a couple of intermediate–difficult outings. Perhaps the best Bonaire hiking can be found in Washington-Slagbaai National Park at the north end of the island.
For more details on biking and hiking in Bonaire, including contact info for local tour operators, hiking guides, and places to rent bikes, check out our Bonaire Cycling and/or our Bonaire Hiking pages.
For a complete listing of things to do in Bonaire, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our Bonaire Vacation Ideas and Things to Do in Bonaire pages.
The Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis Islands, commonly referred to as “St. Kitts & Nevis”, is a two-island nation in the northern Caribbean, located southeast of Puerto Rico and just west of Antigua & Barbuda. The island of St. Kitts and its smaller sister island of Nevis are only 2 miles (3km) apart, conveniently connected via ferries and water taxis. Among many awesome attractions, Saint Kitts is home to Brimstone Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the last railway in the Caribbean. Nevis may be best known for its sandy beaches and Georgian-style buildings in the charming capital of Charlestown. That said, a St Kitts & Nevis vacation has plenty to offer travelers seeking action on land and sea.
As the tops of a submerged volcanic mountain range, St. Kitts & Nevis are covered with rolling green folds of volcanic peaks separated by lush valleys. With more than a quarter of the islands being conserved via National Parklands, such as the Central Forest Reserve, St. Kitts & Nevis are a great place for Caribbean hiking! The islands offer a variety of easy relaxing nature walks, some decent intermediate hikes as well as some very challenging climbs – No adventurous trip to Saint Kitts is complete without hiking up the island’s highest peak Mount Liamuiga, or the shorter but steeper Nevis Peak. Combined, the sister islands have about a dozen trails to explore.
For more information and tips on hiking in St. Kitts & Nevis, including contact info for local tour operators and hiking guides, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Hiking pages.
Bicycling is another great way to explore St. Kitts & Nevis while getting some fresh air and exercise at the same time. Both islands offer mountain biking as well as some cane field and scenic road routes. For avid cyclists, you can compete against the island’s best, in an around-the-island cycle in Nevis. Alternatively, take your time to better enjoy the gorgeous views of the island, Caribbean Sea, and neighbouring islands, while being challenged by the mountainous terrain encountered on portions of the route.
For more details on cycling and MTBing in St. Kitts & Nevis, including contact info for local tour operators and places to rent bikes, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Cycling page.
Meanwhile, just offshore from St. Kitts & Nevis, you can find some good snorkeling and diving spots to explore an underwater world of rocky reefs and wrecks. St. Kitts offers more than half a dozen locations to snorkel along the west coast of the island, with perhaps the best being the oddly named Shitten Bay, typically accessed via boat. The shallow turquoise water is crystal clear, and the sandy seagrass-covered bottom and rocky shoreline are home to a wide variety of tropical fish, corals and other marine life. Several others can be accessed directly from the beach. For the more adventurous scuba divers, there are over two dozen dive sites with reefs, wrecks and walls to explore around the sister islands – Something for divers of all skills to enjoy.
For more tips and details on snorkeling or diving in St. Kitts & Nevis, as well as contact info for local dive shops and boat operators who can get you outfitted and in the water, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Snorkeling and/or our St. Kitts & Nevis Scuba Diving pages.
For a relaxing day on the links, St. Kitts has a couple of gorgeous 18-hole / par 71 golf courses, and Nevis has one as well. The Royal St. Kitts Golf Club is home to a course with several holes overlooking the Caribbean Sea or Atlantic Ocean. Kittitian Hill – Irie Fields is a unique course set among Belle Mont farm’s crops and fruit trees with spectacular ocean views featuring St. Barth’s in the background. The Four Seasons Golf Club on Nevis features a Robert Trent Jones II designed course. For more information, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Golf page.
For those looking for the ‘salt life’, you can experience fishing in the turquoise blue waters of St. Kitts & Nevis with the mountainous island featuring Mount Liamuiga shrouded in mist as a picturesque backdrop. Out at sea, you could catch barracuda, kingfish, marlin, sailfish, mahi mahi, wahoo, while the reefs offer snapper, grouper, grunt and more! There’s plenty of deep sea and sport fishing as well as reef fishing to be found around the sister islands.
For more details on fishing in St. Kitts & Nevis, including contact info for local boat operators who can get a reel in your hands, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Fishing page.
Surrounded by a diversity of wind conditions and shorelines, there’s also plenty of water sports to enjoy while visiting St. Kitts & Nevis. On the windier Atlantic Ocean side of St. Kitts, the southeast coastline may be the best place for surfing, windsurfing, kite-surfing and even fly-boarding and parasailing, while the southwest coastlines of both islands are ideal for kayaking and SUP while taking in the breathtaking views of the sister islands. Also, on the Caribbean side of St. Kitts, the popular Timothy Bay and South Friar’s Bay are hotspots for jet skiing, banana boat rides and much, much more!
For more information on watersports options in St. Kitts & Nevis, including contact info for local tour operators, surf shops, and places to rent gear, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Water Sports page.
For more ideas for things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Vacation Ideas and Things to Do in St. Kitts & Nevis pages.
Not to be confused with the touristy Dominican Republic, the Commonwealth of Dominica is located north of Saint Lucia, between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Dominica is the youngest island in the region with geothermal activity you can experience for yourself by hiking to the second-largest hot spring in the world, aptly named Boiling Lake. Besides being one of, if not the best, Caribbean Island destinations for hiking, the “Nature Island” also offers incredible canyoning, snorkeling, diving, and fishing adventures… All just waiting for you to discover!
Dominica is famous for its wild mountainous landscape and plentiful rivers and waterfalls. The tallest peak on the island is Morne Diablotins, which at 4,747 feet (1,447 m) above sea level, makes it the ninth tallest in the Caribbean. For unique hiking adventures, Dominica has a challenging trail to the aforementioned Boiling Lake, which is literally ‘bubbling’, as well as an untamed river trail to the gorgeous Victoria Falls. There are literally dozens of hiking trails on the island throughout an extensive natural park system including Cabrits National Park, the Northern Forest Reserve, the Central Forest Reserve, as well as Morne Trois Pitons National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dominica is also home to the Waitukubuli National Trail – 115 miles (184 km) of trails weaving back and forth across the length of the island. For the more adventurous, Dominica is also home to a burgeoning canyoning scene with several natural waterfall playgrounds just begging to be climbed and rappeled – You just need to know which canyons and gorges they’re in!
For more information and tips on hiking in Dominica, including contact info for local tour operators and hiking guides, check out our Dominica Hiking pages.
Dominica is also protecting its natural underwater world with the Soufriere-Scott’s Head Marine Reserve and the Cabrits Marine Reserve. Several sheltered bays along the Caribbean coast with close-to-shore reefs make Dominica a great Caribbean Island for snorkeling – An ideal destination for spotting tropical fish, large fish as well as rays and turtles. There’s also the unique snorkeling spot known as Champagne Reef, where Dominica’s volcanic activity can be experienced underwater as you swim through air bubbles seeping through volcanic fumaroles on the seabed while you explore the corals and fish in the area – A snorkeling spot not to be missed!
The island is also a nearly undiscovered mecca for scuba diving with shallow coral reefs, pinnacles, and steep drop-off cliffs with incredible caves and pass-throughs. There are dozens of dive sites to choose from along the west coast of Dominica, with a variety of options appropriate for divers with various skill levels. The reefs and walls are covered with colourful corals, tubes, fans, sponges and a wide assortment of marine life including fish, eels, seahorses, shrimp, and more. Free-divers looking for a new place to explore will love the underwater crater in Soufriere Bay, which can be easily accessed via the fixed freediving platform.
Unsurprisingly, Dominica’s healthy reef systems and deep waters also make it a great destination for Caribbean fishing. Sports fishermen dream about the big marlin, sailfish, yellowfin skipjack, tarpon, wahoo, dorado, and mackerel you can catch in the waters of Dominica. As an added bonus, you might be fortunate enough to see dolphins and whales swimming alongside your boat as you journey to and from the island’s fishing hot spots!
For more details and ideas for things to do in Dominica, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our Dominica Vacation Ideas page.
Well, that’s Part I of our list of some of the ‘lesser known’ Caribbean Islands to visit in 2024 for some of the best snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, watersports, and golf. For more of our unspoiled top picks for 2024, check out our Experience a Different Kind of Caribbean Island in 2024 – Part II blog post!
ACT Staff
FYI (Full Disclosure): We are not being compensated in any way by the islands listed above. These islands were chosen as our top destinations based on the criteria outlined in the opening paragraphs.
We hope you liked our assessment, and it has motivated you to enjoy some quality time in the Caribbean!
Located just north of St. Lucia, the French island of Martinique is a relatively large Caribbean Island, perhaps best known for its many unique rhum distilleries as well as its fusion of Caribbean and French culture and cuisine. Martinique has a diverse landscape with rugged green mountains dominating the north end of the beautiful island, with a dryer and flatter south end, all connected with one of the best road systems in the West Indies! The “flower Island of the Caribbean” is home to many beautiful plantations, gardens and historical sites as well as a fascinating assortment of natural wonders to enjoy. Martinique has plenty to offer sight-seeing travelers if you know where to look – Our personal favourite “things to do” while visiting this French Caribbean gem include:
While many islands produce Rum, Martinique just might be the rum, or shall I say Rhum, capital of the Caribbean. The island is home to over a dozen rhum distilleries, most of which are open to the public, and offer free or reasonably priced plantation/distillery tours where you can see historical memorabilia including old rhum-making equipment along with tons of information on Martinique, sugar cane, as well as the French Agricole rhum-making process. Martinique distillers take their rum-making seriously – From growing their own sugar cane on the “terroir” of their region to producing ‘vintage’ rhums and classifications such as VO, VSOP, and XO, similar to brandies or wines. Of course, many rhum estates/distilleries offer rhum tasting and have stores to purchase the rhum(s) of your choice. Some of the more notable distilleries in Martinique include:
Other rhum distilleries in Martinique, from north to south, include: Rhum JM; Distillerie Hardy; La Sucrerie du Galion; Neisson; Rhum HSE; Distillerie La Favorite; Maison La Mauny; Rhum Dillon; A-1710 (at Habitation du Simon); and Braud & Quennesson
Please note that many of the actual distilleries are not in operation outside of ‘harvest season’, although the plantations, gardens, museums and storefronts are always open!
For more detailed information on Martinique’s rhum distilleries along with a list of tour operators who will get you there, click on our Rhums of Martinique page. For a more colourful review of the many rhums of Martinique, including first-hand accounts of distilleries visits, check out our Martinique Rhum Tour blog post.
History buffs and the curious alike will enjoy looking through ‘a window to the past’ by visiting one of many historical sites in Martinique.
Anyone interested in the history of Martinique must visit the ruins of Saint-Pierre, a stark reminder of the powerful volcanic eruption of Mount Pelee in 1902 that buried most of the island’s then-capital city under lava or ash.
For an example of 18th-century life on Martinique, check out the remains of several plantation buildings at the remarkable Château Dubuc, located on the Caravelle Peninsula, or experience the Creole history and architecture of the Pécoul Habitation/Greathouse located at the northeast end of Martinique. Of course, the Habitation la Sucrerie and House of Sugar Cane (Maison de la Canne), both located just south of Les Trois-Îlets will also transport you back to life in the sugar cane (and rhum) industry.
Also located south of Les Trois-Îlets is the Musee de la Pagerie, the birthplace-turned-museum of the Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais, the first wife of Emperor Napolean. We would be remiss to not also highlight La Savane des Esclaves, a reconstruction of a large 17th-century slave village, also in the area.
For information on available tours in Martinique, check out our Martinique Land Excursions page.
It should be no surprise that the “flower Island of the Caribbean” is home to some spectacular gardens and arboretums. Jardin de Balata (Botanical Gardens), located just north of Fort-de-France, showcases a lovely Creole-style house surrounded by incredible flora along with incredible views of the island. Habitation Anse Latouche, located just south of Saint Pierre is home to the remains of a 17th-century plantation as well as a fantastic garden and much more (including the Zoo Martinique).
To enjoy more of Martinique’s rich plant diversity and amazing scenery, visit St. Pierre’s Domaine d’Emeraude, a large 25-hectare arboretum featuring a pavilion, many greenhouses, and several walking paths, or the relaxing garden and walking trails of Céron Habitation, located just north of Le Precheur.
If you’re looking for a more natural experience in Martinique’s wilderness beauty, take a drive on the Route de la Trace (highway N3) through the tropical rainforest between Fort-de-France and L’Ajoupa-Bouillon, filled with incredible scenic stops along the way. Along the southeast coastline of the island, take a walk through the unique Savane des Petrifications, a desert-like rocky landscape one wouldn’t expect to see on an otherwise lush Caribbean Island.
If you’re visiting in the February/March timeframe, you must visit the Tombolo of Sainte-Marie to experience an amazing natural phenomenon – The seawater between Martinique and the island of Sainte-Marie (almost) disappears, making it possible to walk the 200 meters across a large sandbar.
For more information on Martinique’s attractions along with a list of tour operators who will show you around, click on our Things to Do in Martinique page
For more information related to the monumental event in Martinique’s history, there are a couple of museums to explore. Learn more about the 1902 volcano eruption that wiped out St. Pierre at the Centre de Découverte des Sciences de la Terre (the earth-science museum), which includes an exhibit and film, or the Franck Perret Volcanological Museum (Musée Volcanologique), which is dedicated to explaining the Mount Pelee eruption. Both are located in Saint Pierre.
There are plenty of other interesting attractions on the island, depending on what you’re looking for.
For all things bananas, you have to visit the enjoyable Banana Museum, located near Sainte Marie. The museum displays tell the story of the history of one of the original crops of the island. There’s also a short walking path showcasing a large variety of banana species. For more of Martinique’s rich history of the sugar and rhum trades, be sure to make a stop just south of La Trinité at the Habitation le Galion, the last sugar factory operating in Martinique, now replete with a touristic village and factory tours.
If you’re into architecture, check out the Sacré-Coeur de Balata Cathedral (Sacred Heart Church) just north of Fort-de-France. You’ll quickly realize that the building was inspired by Montmartre’s Basilica of the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Paris. If you enjoy old fortresses, wander around Fort Royal (Fort Saint Louis) in Fort-de-France. Although now an active naval base, they still offer tours of the remains of the 17th-century defensive structure.
If you love the Caribbean Sea, browse through Le Musée de la Mer, located just southeast of Les Trois-Îlets. As you can guess, the museum is dedicated to the ocean and features a large collection of shells and marine life artifacts. A little further south, the Diamond Rock makes for a favourite photo stop along the southern coastline – The stunning view is punctuated by the rock jutting out of the Caribbean Sea. While you’re in the area, be sure to pay your respects at the Memorial de l’Anse Caffard (Mémorial Cap 110), a sculpture-based art display preserving the memory and history of slavery, specifically a boating accident in 1830 that resulted in the death of dozens of slaves just of the coast.
For more information on Martinique’s attractions along with a list of tour operators who will show you around, click on our Things to Do in Martinique page
There is also a wide variety of things to do on the seas surrounding Martinique. Enjoy a day of boating and sightseeing along the coast, or perhaps a romantic sunset cruise – Savour the unique perspective of the island from the sea. Take in Martinique’s ruggedly beautiful mountainous north end, the popular inlets and bays on the southwest coast, and of course the famous landmark of Josephine’s Bath and the islets of Le Robert and Le Francois on the Atlantic side of the island.
For more information on Martinique’s ocean excursions along with a list of boat/tour operators who will get you on the water, click on our Martinique Ocean-Based Excursions page
Of course, there’s always the cuisine and beaches of Martinique. As a long-time French colony, Martinique offers a unique gastronomic experience with a wide selection of Caribbean-Creole-French fusion foods served in restaurants across the island. After a tasty gastronomical experience, you can relax on one of Martinique’s beautiful soft white sand beaches along the southwest and southern coasts, or explore an intriguing black sand beach along the northwest and southwest coasts. Some of the more popular beaches include the Plage de l’Anse Mitan, Grande Anse d’Arlet, Sainte Luce / Sainte-Anne, and of course the Plage des Salines.
La Martinique est Magnifique! – Enjoy!
ACT Staff
If you’re looking for a more active vacation, check out our Martinique Adventures blog post for some great ideas (coming soon)
For more information on this amazingly diverse island, take a look at our Martinique Vacations page
I’ve been wanting to ride the “Last Railway in the West Indies” for several years now, so when we finally decided to vacation in St. Kitts & Nevis, the first thing I did was get tickets for this tour. I’m glad I did – It may be the most enjoyable way to see the island.
To catch the train, we arrived early at the Needsmust Train Station, located right next to the airport on the outskirts of the island’s capital, Basseterre. I stood on the railway line, first looking at the colourful double-decker train behind me, then I gazed ahead at the narrow tracks that disappear into a carpet of green that is St. Kitts. As we were visiting during the interesting times of covid-19 restrictions, we were unable to choose which railway car we would travel in. If I had my choice, I would have gone to the last car, looking forward (pun intended) to awesome views of the locomotive and train cars in front as we traveled around corners. However, there were 3 different cruise ships in port the day of our tour, with each cruise line being assigned its own railcar. A good precaution that makes sense during the pandemic. So, along with residents of St. Kitts and other folks staying on the island, we were assigned to the first car, immediately behind the engine. It’s all good – We still managed to get cool shots of the train cars trailing behind us.
Once we boarded the train, we went up the tight spiral staircase to the open-air upper deck so we could enjoy the Caribbean breeze and take advantage of the height. From this vantage point, we could see over tall vegetation and fully appreciate the amazing panoramic views of the island and sea. As we slowly pulled out of the train station, I noticed the locomotive graveyard off to the side which appeared to include some old 20th century power plants. For you train buffs out there, I believe they are of the PKP class Lyd2 variety. It’s incredible to think that this unique “narrow gauge railway” system was originally built between 1912 and 1926 – I can’t say I’ve ever been on a 100-year-old railroad before.
Leaving the station we headed north through Canada, a surprisingly named district of St. Peter Basseterre Parish – That got a good chuckle from the North American Canadians on board. Running along the north-eastern coast of St. Kitts provided spectacular views of the island’s coastal region. Near the town of Cayon, the train tracks hugged the coastline while the main road we had run parallel to, veered inland. This stretch presented us with a beautiful view of the shoreline of St. Kitts, flanked by the endless blue of the Atlantic Ocean. I was pleasantly surprised to see the friendly people of St. Kitts waving to us as we passed by their villages. A very welcoming experience.
Throughout the tour, a wonderful guide narrated our journey. She enthusiastically provided passengers with insight as to the regions we were passing through, sprinkling in bits of island history as we advanced northward. I recall her telling us about how the railway system was originally built to collect sugar cane from the island’s plantations, delivering the sweet bounty into Basseterre for processing and export to markets overseas. That the “sugar train” was still running up until 2005 is a testament to the success of Saint Kitt’s sugar industry! Our guide also talked about life on the island prior to the railway, typically recounting stories of the English and French rulers of the time. She successfully painted a mental picture of Caribbean rural island life in the 18th and 19th centuries.
As we rumbled along the tracks, the train wobbled a bit from side to side – All part of the experience of riding on this historic railway. For the most part, the train line ran along a fairly straight path, although I felt us taking a few horseshoe-shaped turns inland once in a while, likely to get around some of the more dramatic landscape features of the island. Speaking of which, a highlight of the train ride occurred every time we traversed a gulley, or what they call “ghut” in St. Kitts. Crossing over tall steel bridges amplifies the engineering wonder of how this tall wide train safely traverses the narrow tracks.
Did I mention that the tour included an open bar? Well ya, it does! While I hesitated for a second, I couldn’t help myself from ordering a mango daiquiri, even if it is only 9:30 in the morning. There were servers on each car, offering a variety of rum-based or virgin fruit juices, as well as soda/pop and water. We wanted for nothing on this full-service tour.
Just past the town of Belle Vue, famous for the island’s outcrop of volcanic ‘black rocks’, the train tracks crossed over the main road and headed slightly inland. I appreciated our tour guide pointing out a couple of large bat caves in the cliffs we passed, as I would have otherwise missed them. Meanwhile, the train continued to clackity-clack along the track. As should be expected from a train cruising through the rustic Caribbean countryside, the locomotive driver also blew the horn from time to time. What I didn’t anticipate was that it was not warning people of our approach, but it was signalling the sheep, goats and the occasional cow to get off the tracks – Now that’s not something you see every day. What a hoot!
Not that we needed an interruption from the scenic beauty of St. Kitts, but the tour also included a unique entertainment experience as well. For an interesting change of pace, a couple of costumed characters suddenly appeared in the train car, dancing to the beat of festive music. For anyone who has attended the annual St. Kitts & Nevis’ Sugar Mas Carnival, you would instantly recognize the traditional costume of the Moko Jumbie – ‘ghosts’ of folklore.
While we had already enjoyed great views of the island, perhaps the most scenic part of the journey was at the north end of St. Kitts. I thought it was really cool to see pairs of windmill and smokestack ruins, revealing the remains of old sugar plantations in an expanse of lush vegetation. Of course, the majestic Mount Liamuiga towering in the background really added to the scenery! That said, looking away from St. Kitts was just as nice, first with St. Barts and St. Maarten on the distant horizon, then followed by the sublime close-up views of Sint Eustatius with Saba in the background.
Rounding the northeast corner of St. Kitts, our guide spent some time explaining how, due to reduced tourism thanks to the covid pandemic, the residents of the island have once again turned to agriculture for income and self-sufficiency. St. Kitts & Nevis have such fertile land, it’s easy to understand that fruits and vegetables would grow well, where tobacco, cotton and sugar cane once flourished. Just past the St. Kitts Eco-Park near the village of Fig Tree, the train portion of our tour sadly came to an end. A loop in the tracks mark the end of the line, where we were met with buses filled with folks anxious to enjoy their tour back to the train station.
So we swapped rides, transferring to a bus for the journey down the west coast. We journeyed through quaint little villages before passing Basseterre’s waterfront and eventually heading back to the train station. The bus tour took us past several old churches as well as the iconic St. Kitts tourist attractions of Brimstone Fortress and Romney Manor. The bus driver pointed out areas of interest along the way – I was especially keen to see Bloody Point, near the town of Challengers. I had been unable to find the exact location of this infamous historical spot on any map. On a brighter note, I liked seeing the Carib distillery, as we’ve been enjoying the refreshing beverage while vacationing on the island.
All in all, the tour lasted just under 3 hours, although it seemed that we learned and experienced so much in such little time! Apparently, we had travelled 18 miles by train and a further 12 miles by bus. For those visiting St. Kitts for the first time and wanting to see the island without the stress of renting a car, there’s probably no better option than the St. Kitts Scenic Railway. By the way… If you’re looking for increased comfort and protection from the elements the upper deck may not provide, you might prefer the plush, well-appointed lower cabins of the train. They have air conditioning, carpeted floors and spacious cushioned chairs enabling you to enjoy the view out the large windows in luxury.
For more information on the St. Kitts Scenic Railway Tour, including the ability to book your own Caribbean railway experience of a lifetime, check out their website at StKittsScenicRailway.
For an overview of the beautiful Sister Islands, take a look at our St. Kitts & Nevis Vacations page.
For some other great Tourist Attractions and tours on the islands, check out our Things to Do in St. Kitts & Nevis blog post.
If you’re looking for some exciting and physically challenging things to do while vacationing on the islands, click on our St. Kitts & Nevis Adventures blog post for some great ideas!
ACT Staff
Rum is such a big part of Caribbean history that whenever I’m in the Caribbean I just have to visit a local distillery or two. However, in the French Caribbean Island of Martinique, the choice is almost overwhelming. While plenty of Caribbean islands produce Rum, Martinique could be considered the rum, or should I say rhum (en Francais), capital of the world. With over 10 distilleries and likely hundreds of rhums produced on the island, the folks in Martinique take their rum-making seriously. This is evident with the formalization of the liquid gold with an AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) certification. Similar to French-made wines, cheeses and other spirits, the designation certifies the authenticity of Martinique rhums, characterized by their unique geographical origin and production techniques. The terminology used to describe Martinique rhums are also akin to brandies or wines – This includes rhum classifications such as VO, VSOP and XO, and some rhums from a particularly good batch are even sold as ‘vintages’
Oh… One other thing I should also mention is that French “Rhum Agricole” (agricultural rum) is made directly from sugar cane juice, not the molasses by-product of producing sugar, which is the case for most other Caribbean rums. As a result, Martinique rhum production includes a few different steps than other Caribbean distilleries and some of their rhums can be much more expensive than molasses-based rums – We’re talking hundreds of euros per bottle expensive. That said, a great thing about Martinique’s distilleries is that most of them are open to the public, offering free or reasonably priced plantation/distillery tours and rhum tasting along with storefronts providing the opportunity to purchase the rhum(s) of your choice.
So… on our recent trip to Martinique, I had to check out a couple of the rhum industry heavyweights, along with a couple of lesser-known distilleries.
Our first stop had to be the world-renowned Saint James Distillery and Museum of Rhum located in Sainte-Marie on the northeast coast of the island. We parked right next to the large distillery building which unfortunately was not in operation or open to tour when we visited in January, as it is “not in harvest season”. Instead, we wandered around on a self-guided tour of the Museum of Rhum / Maison de la Distillation. The old two-story building is filled with historical St. James memorabilia including old rhum-making equipment such as distillation columns, stills and steam-powered machinery. The building also contains tons of information on Martinique, sugar cane, as well as the French Agricole rhum-making process. For me, it was a thrill to see the incredible stash they have in their basement – Display cases stocked with very old rhums, some dating back as far as the 19th century!
I understand the rhums of St. James began in the 18th century when the Reverend Father in charge of a local hospital built a sugar refinery nearby, which eventually also produced alcohol. The rhum is named after one of the regions providing sugar cane to the refinery. However as France had banned alcohol sales other than wine at the time, the rhum produced was named Saint James, not Saint Jacques, making it easier to sell in the English colonies. Later in the 19th century, the St. James distillery parted ways with the typical round fat bottle of the time, becoming famous for its square bottle. While this move was likely developed to increase shipping efficiency, it presented a modern clean look, that is still attractive today.
After our enjoyable museum visit we went to their little train station out back. It wasn’t long before we boarded an old narrow-gauge train consisting of a small locomotive and three open-air passenger cars. Our train ride took us through fields of sugar cane and other crops in various stages of growth, as well as remarkably close to some residences – Not something we would ever see in North America. A young St. James tour guide entertained the passengers with an interactive and humorous presentation, most of which I, unfortunately, didn’t understand as my conversational French was not up to the task.
Our guide also did double duty as a crossing guard and switchman, hopping off the train at one point to manually sound an alarm and perform flag-man duties as the train crossed a rural road. The train traveled about a mile (< 2km) or so before stopping and reversing course, where at one point our tour guide once again jumped off, this time to switch our track, which took us to the impressive Habitation La Salle.
At the Habitation La Salle train station we disembarked and walked a short distance along a river before crossing a bridge and entering a wonderfully restored collection of 17th-century buildings. Formerly a sugar refinery, now the buildings house a coffee museum, a display of mill equipment used to crush sugar cane into juice, a fascinating “guildiverie” where evaporators and stills were used to produce tafia (a predecessor to rum), as well as aging/storage warehouses. There’s also a special tasting area and shop selling top-shelf artisan bottles of La Salle and St. James branded rhum. After meandering around the grounds of the habitation and exploring the banks of the river, the train returned to pick us up and return us back to the grounds of the St. James Distillery.
On the way to the St. James rhum shop, I noticed a small workshop where a craftsman was demonstrating how the rhum barrels are charred, instilling flavour into the rhum as they age – that was pretty cool. The building that houses the store, with its collection of old distillery and other centuries-old local artifacts, is a museum in its own right, almost distracting from the long bar at the back. Staffed with plenty of friendly and informative patrons, the tasting bar was a happening place. St. James’ latest offerings include a number of white and amber rhums, a variety of aged rhums along with some incredible vintage rhums as well as some interesting premixed concoctions.
While it was great to be immersed in Martinique’s rhum-making history and tradition, we eventually decided that our St. James Rhum experience had to come to an end… After a visit to the nearby Banana Museum and Habitation, we headed back to where we were staying on the other side of the island.
The next afternoon it was overcast and threatening to rain – An excellent opportunity to explore another Martinique rhum distillery! Located in the foothills of Mount Pelee on the northwest side of Martinique just outside the former capital city of Saint-Pierre, reside the impressive grounds of the Depaz plantation and distillery. Back in the 17th century, this was home to the island’s first French Governor and his large farm known as La Montagne.
As soon as we arrived at the Depaz property, we were immediately drawn to the magnificent, what the English would call a Greathouse, on the nearby hillside. Chateau Depaz, also known as Depaz Castle, was built in the early 20th century as a replica of the childhood home of Victor Depaz. The original building was destroyed, along with the city of Saint-Pierre and the surrounding area, in 1902 when the Mount Pelee volcano erupted. Situated between colourful gardens with Mount Pelee in the background and manicured lawns and fields of sugar cane, the chateau enjoys spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea.
After wandering around the grounds for a while, we passed a large 19th-century water wheel before heading towards the distillery and a number of other buildings, situated in a beautiful park setting complete with magnificent centuries-old trees. Once again, we were ‘out of season’ when we visited in January so the distillery was not in operation nor open to the public. I understand that the buildings still operate with power from an old steam engine, fuelled by the remains of crushed sugar cane. It is unfortunate that we were not able to witness the crushing of the cane, the fermentation or the distillation of the precious juice. We did however stroll into the small Depaz Museum displaying some old farm and distillation equipment, as well as some other buildings. The highlight for me had to be peering into the warehouses used to store and age the delicious outputs from the distillery.
Eventually we made our way into their welcoming and informative storefront, where I learned about Depaz’s environmentally friendly farming and production practices as well as more about the sugar cane used to make their rhum, they emphasized the unique blue cane sugar, spring water and the volcanic ground, or “terroir”, local to the Mount Pelée region. Depaz Rhum’s latest offerings include a wide variety of white rhums, and aged rhums along with some special edition rhums that include specific vintages as well as exceptional barrel-finished rhums.
Well, all that walking around and learning had whet my appetite, so I was really looking forward to trying some of their rhums. After not so patiently waiting, a spot finally opened at the small tasting room bar. The friendly Depaz hostess was extremely helpful in explaining the differences between the rhums I wanted to sample. She generously gave me a sample of three whites and the same number of aged rhums. She wisely and professionally gave me enough to sample the elixir, without giving me too much to impair my ability to drive. I am not really a white rum drinker, however, their white rhums were incredibly unique to my palate. The aroma of one of them was pungent yet inviting, with a strong scent of wet green vegetation. The dominant tasting characteristic of the white rhums was a funky burn in the mouth and throat, however, it was kind of a good burn – much better than other white rums I have tasted. That said, I preferred the more flavourful aged rhums, especially the mellow and diverse taste of the reasonably priced ‘Cuvee Victor Depaz’, apparently a blend of bourbon-barrel-aged rhums between 3 and 6 years. I’m no connoisseur, however it tasted a little woody, fruity and herbal to me. When I open the bottle at home, I will try to imagine flavours of chocolate and prunes as suggested on the label. As I am very limited as to what I can bring home with me, I believe this was a solid choice!
After being amazed by the large colourfully labelled vats of rhum off the side of their shop, we called it a day – and it never did rain, or if it did, we didn’t notice it 🙂
A few days later we headed out to the illustrious Habitation Clement, located a little inland just south of Le Francois on the east side of Martinique. FYI – We visited the Habitation from the southeast region of the island and got lost trying to follow a Google maps shortcut. I suggest you just drive all the way into Le Francois and follow the ‘Habitation Clement’ signs at the main roundabout.
Anyways, once we found the place, we parked and paid a nominal fee to enter the property. The grounds are absolutely spectacular! Even if you’re not into rum, this is a great place to just stroll around and relaxingly take in the sights. Following the path from the entrance took us through a well-manicured landscape, including a couple of nice ponds. Fields of sugar cane and bananas surround the grounds – Crops we saw a lot of while exploring the island. Habitation Clement also highlights the work of many local artists, with their creative and imaginative creations displayed throughout the property. While I found some of the art pieces interesting, I was just as happy to feel the warmth of the sun, breath the fresh air and appreciate our gorgeous surroundings.
After a short sit on a bench soaking up the lush green Caribbean environment, we continued to follow the trail up a small hill to a small wooden structure with a grinding stone. The sugar cane crushing machinery would have been powered by a donkey walking around and around in circles. From this vantage point we had a great view of the palm grove and buildings below. At the bottom of the hill, the path took us through a wonderful variety of palm trees of different colours, shapes and sizes. We also passed another small pond, this one the canvass for another art display. From there we walked through a small patch of sugar cane and then things started to get more exciting, or at least more rhum themed.
We approached a building that just oozing with the strong but appealing smell of wood and aging rum. The scent was emanating of course from a warehouse full of rhum barrels – An overload to the nasal senses for sure. A little further along the trail and we came across a couple more warehouses filled with more Clement-stamped barrels of assorted shapes and sizes. After admiring the vast quantity of barrels in storage we went up the Clement Creole village consisting of a few old buildings that included a stable, a separate kitchen-house as well as the iconic Clement Greathouse, a graphic of which is used as their logo on every bottle of rhum and other products they sell. There is also a building that houses their renowned art exhibits. I was also enamored with the amazing old trees in the area, my favourites being a figuier, a red mahogany and a tamarind tree.
The path then took us into the old distillery for more things to see. It is no longer operating, however there are several old stills and various distillery machinery to look at. Upstairs the building houses an amazingly set of displays and presentations providing a detailed record of the history of sugar cane, rhum making, Martinique and Habitation Clement – Extremely informative and fascinating. By the way, an audio guide is available on your smartphone if you are interested in hearing all the details of the art displays and buildings encountered on the self-guided tour.
Eventually, our self-guided tour spilled us out into a small shop and sampling bar where some of Clément’s finest can be tasted. Latest offerings from Clement include a variety of white and aged rhums, as well as several rhum liqueurs and pre-mixed concoctions. I tried a white rhum and a young-age rhum as well as some rhum liqueurs and pre-mixed concoctions, with the highlight having to be a taste of a very well-aged cuvee – Extremely smooth and complex. That said, we ended up purchasing their Antilles (Planters) Punch to savour while we continued to vacation on the island.
It was a very enjoyable couple of hours, walking the well-manicured lawns, soaking up the warmth of the sun, appreciating the art, smelling the aromas of the barrel warehouses, and of course sampling Clement’s fine rhums and rhum liqueurs.
After one of our other Martinique adventures, we accidentally came across a distillery located on the western side of Martinique, just south of Le Carbet. Invited by the ‘Neisson Rhum’ signs along the N2 road, we thought we venture in for a look. We didn’t have time for a tour of the facility, however I understand that it consists of a stroll through a number of buildings that house a mill, a boiler, fermentation tanks, a column still, warehouses used for aging their rhums, as well as a bottling facility. After a brief look around, we visited their shop to sample a couple of aged rhums, and I ended up picking up one of their bottles of VO rhum, something I would never be able to find at home. I’ve never tasted a rhum so light and floral in my entire life – Very interesting. We enjoyed our brief visit to Rhum Neisson, and left with the impression of a small boutique rhum producer.
Ahhh – So many Martinique rhums, so little time… Other distilleries that I would have liked to have visited while we were on the island include La Mauny, Trois Rivieres, Habitation Saint Etienne (HSE), Dillon, La Favorite, J.M. and A1710 (Habitation Simon). Maybe next time 😊
If you’re interested in reading more about rum, check out our Caribbean Rum page and our Martinique Rhum page, which includes a list of Tour Operators who will get you sampling the island’s finest.
For an overview of beautiful and rugged Martinique, take a look at our Martinique Vacations page
For other great Tourist Attractions on the island, check out our Things to Do in Martinique page
ACT Staff
