Nevis Things To Do

Tiny Nevis contains a surprising number of hiking trails (more than 25), from leisurely strolls through the rainforest to vigorous hikes up and around the mountain. Among them: The Source (a strenuous hike to the water source of the island) and Devil’s Copper (a route locals believe to be haunted). True adventurers, however, should try for the four-hour-plus roundtrip trek to the peak of 3,232-foot Mount Nevis: a mud-soaked, sweat-dripping slog that requires scrambling over boulders and navigating tree roots up sheer cliffs with the help of affixed ropes. Husband-and-wife team Lynnell and Earla Liburd, both Nevis natives, are superb guides.

Some believe that Nevis’s monkey population outnumbers that of its humans, which is roughly 11,000. One of the best places to catch a glimpse of these furry friends (known as African Green, or Vervet, monkeys), is on this easily navigable nature trail, which runs along a scenic ridgeline and through a rainforest. The trail starts from the Golden Rock Plantation Inn property; plan on a 30-minute hike.

Winston Crooke, one of the island’s top athletes, recently added mountain biking to his repertoire of guided outdoor activities, which also include windsurfing and sea kayaking. Join him on one of his leisurely two-hour biking tours of sugar mills and island villages or challenge yourself to a guided trek over single-track terrain. Guests are furnished with bikes, helmets, and refreshments along the way.

At one time, Sephardic Jews from Brazil made up a quarter of Nevis’s population, and many believe they were responsible for introducing sugar production to the Leeward Islands. The Jewish Cemetery outside the center of Charlestown is the resting place of many of Nevis’s first shopkeepers and businessmen. Most of the tombstones date from 1690 to 1710 and are engraved in English, Hebrew, and Portuguese.

A short walk from downtown Charlestown you’ll find the house where Alexander Hamilton (the first secretary of the U.S. Treasury) was born in 1757. The ground floor of the house serves as a tiny, yet respectable, museum detailing Hamilton’s influence on Nevis via mounted plaques that explain his life.

Don’t let the nondescript white building fool you: This pint-sized museum, also known as the Museum of Nevis History, houses the New World’s largest collection of memorabilia of British naval war hero Horatio Nelson, who visited Nevis in the late 18th century. Artifacts include photos from Nelson’s 1787 wedding on the island to Nevis widower Fanny Nisbet, porcelain and glass items, enamels, wood carvings, and ship models, most of which came from the collection of a now-deceased Philadelphia lawyer who had a home in Nevis. Visitors to the museum have included Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the Royal family. Closed Saturdays from Mid-August through October.

Well-heeled guests come all the way from nearby St. Bart’s and Anguilla just to play this superb 6,766-yard, par-71 course, designed by Robert Trent Jones II. In addition to dramatic views of the Caribbean, St. Kitts, and Mount Nevis, Vervet monkeys make surprise appearances, swinging from the trees or scampering across fairways. Preferential tee times are reserved for guests, but outsiders can play as well, especially during the offseason (call at least 24 hours in advance).

This five-plus-acre garden is a must-do – among the brilliant rainforest flora, admire the 100 species of palms from as far as Madagascar and Hawaii and the 70 varieties of orchids. The Tropical Vine Garden holds treasures like the calico vine (a curious, fabric-like plant), and the stephanotis, which has an intoxicating perfume similar to that of Jasmine. Don’t miss the Rainforest Conservatory, with a recreation of a Mayan temple and thundering waterfalls. Closed from mid-September to mid-November.

The Nevis Equestrian Centre caters to horse-lovers with guided rides ranging from 1.5 to 5 hours. Choose a leisurely beach stroll or a more demanding route through the lush hills of Mount Nevis. Children over ten are welcome. While you’re here, pick up a timetable for the monthly horseracing events organized by the Nevis Turf and Jockey Club at the racetrack at Indian Castle.

This fascinating collection of thatched huts replicates the dwellings of the Carib Indians, the island’s original inhabitants. The structures are furnished with relics and antiques like clay pots and weapons. The village also contains later historical replicas of a rum store, a blacksmith's workshop, a cobbler’s shop, and slave quarters.