RAIL & SAIL PANORAMIC TOUR OF ST. KITTS

Description

An unmissable opportunity for a unique experience in the heart of the Caribbean: a panoramic Rail & Sail tour with the opportunity to see all the beauty of the island of St. Kitts by train and by catamaran to make the most of the Caribbean atmosphere and vitality.

What we will see

• Needsmust Station: St. Kitts Scenic Railway
• La Valle: railway station
• Village of New Guinea, scenic views from aboard the catamaran: south-western coast of St. Kitts, Brimstone Hill fortress, sugar plantations, Mount Liamuiga , Old Road Town, Bloody Point, arrival at Port Zante Marina
• Refreshments on board the catamaran

What we will do

• We transfer from the quay where the ship is moored to Needsmust Station where our memorable journey starts. The narrow gauge St. Kitts Scenic Railway is one of the most picturesque in the world. It was built almost a century ago to transport sugar cane from the sugar plantations to the sugar mill in the capital city of Basseterre. This railway is quite unique in its genre. It runs along the north-eastern coast making it possible to admire some of the island's beauty spots in the comfort of double-decker carriages purposely built for tourists. Each passenger has a seat reserved on both the upper and the lower decks of the carriage. We can fully appreciate the splendid panorama of the surrounding countryside from the upper open air deck. In the lower deck on the other hand, we can relax in the comfort of air-conditioning surrounded by wide vaulted windows. The comfortable rattan furnishings, a selection of free drinks, traditional background music and a lively commentary on the history of the Caribbean all contribute to evoke the island atmosphere. The island panorama that opens up before us is dominated by sugar cane plantations and a chain of volcanoes that reach an altitude of 1,200 metres above sea level covered by luxuriant tropical forests. The scenic train also goes across tall steel bridges over the very deep canyons called ghuts, and through villages and farms. During the journey our guide points out old sugar plantations, abandoned sugar cane mills and the islands around St. Kitts, elaborating on the history of the island.
• We then arrive at La Valle railway station, and from there we proceed to the nearby village of New Guinea to board a very modern catamaran.
• We sail along the south western coast of St. Kitts, which is one of the most picturesque stretches of coastline in the Caribbean. From here we have a wonderful view of the British Brimstone Hill fortress, also known as 'The Gibraltar of the West Indies' which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, and numerous sugar plantations dotting the coastline.
• Fishing villages nestle amid sugar cane fields at the foot of Mount Liamuiga (an inactive volcano which boasts an altitude of 1156 metres).
• We pass through Old Road Town, the first British colony founded by Sir Thomas Warner on 28 January 1624, and we sail around Bloody Point, the spot where the French and the English joined forces in 1626 to defeat the Carib Indians in a blood bath.
• When we sail back to Basseterre, there will be refreshments and an open bar on board the catamaran which will take us directly to Port Zante Marina, near where our ship is moored.

What you need to know

• We recommend that you book early because only a limited number of places are available.
• This excursion includes an English speaking guide. During the catamaran journey, information will be provided by a local guide in English.
• There will be no guide during the coach trip. The driver will provide information in English.
• There are no toilets on the boat.
• The itinerary may be subject to change.