Island of Nevis
Just 36 square miles in size, Nevis (pronounced Nee-vis)
is part of the federation known as St. Kitts and Nevis. St. Kitts is covered in a different section.
Tiny Nevis didn't seriously become interested in tourism until late,
so most of its natural environment remains untapped.
After entering the tourism race, Nevis quickly landed a coveted Four Seasons
Resort, joining the Nisbet Plantation as one of the island's most
upscale beachfront properties.
Many Nevis hotels, including The Hermitage, Golden Rock Inn and Mount Nevis
Inn, are located in the cooler mountain interior.
The island's hallmark is brooding Nevis Peak, a lush green,
square-shaped volcanic mountain emerging from the water
in an almost perfect cone shape. A sombrero of ever-present
clouds usually obscures the 3,232-foot summit.
Seen from the water, Nevis Peak's white puffy shroud has
a very primeval aspect, the kind of place where you
wouldn't be too surprised to find a living species of dinosaur or even
King Kong, himself.
The strong clouds that cover the Nevis Peak rain forest and the excellent
hiking trails there are typically
so dense that from a distance they could be mistaken for snow.
In fact, such a spectacle prompted Columbus in 1493 to christen the landfall
"Nuestra Senora de las Nieves," Our Lady of the Snows,
because it reminded him of the snow-covered Spanish Pyrenees.
That Mount Nevis can appear moody, even threatening, from
a distance is more than just a fanciful impression. Nevis has experienced
several memorable earthquakes, including one as recently as 1950 that
caused considerable damage. But that one was insignificant compared
to the earthquake and tidal wave that destroyed the
capital, Jamestown, in 1660.
Although small, Nevis is unusually well endowed with beaches. The best is 4-mile long Pinney's Beach, truly the archetypal
tropical beach; a wide ribbon of smooth, soft sand skirted by a thick
coconut palm forest.
The combination of soft powdery sand, tall swaying palms
and the striking view of mountainous St. Kitts sprawling on the horizon
just two miles distant make this one of the Caribbean's finest.
Hiking in the rain forest is one of the most popular land activities. The climb
up Nevis Peak is one of the region's most challenging.
The Essentials
Detailed
Background Facts & Map
Courtesy of the CIA
Nevis
Arrival Briefing
What You Need to Know If You Go
Nevis History in a Capsule
Some surprisingly famous people have links to Nevis
Nevis Road Map
From our Skyviews links partner
Montpelier
Plantation Inn
Ranked one of the Caribbean's top historic inns
Major Attractions
Exploring Charlestown
Afoot!
Including the birthplace of statesman Alexander Hamilton
Circular
Island Walk
See Nevis in a day--a long day!
Mount Nevis Hike
A very tough climb
Pinney's
Beach
Looks more like the South Seas
Saddle
Hill Trail
Where Admiral Nelson hung out
The Source Trail
A climb into monkey country
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