On the dreamy Caribbean isle of Nevis, languid beach days are met with pursuits in history and studies in unfussy, barefoot luxury. This 99-square-mile volcanic island of the Lesser Antilles archipelago maintains the simplicity of a bygone era, splendidly removed from the rest of the modern world. And while it’s always been a good idea to vacation in Nevis for this very reason, it seems that now, it’s better than ever.
Luckily, the “Land of Beautiful Waters” is just a Tradewind charter flight away. Here’s what to see and do during an escape to Nevis.
The Reinvention of an Island Icon
Photo: Four Seasons Nevis
Following a multi-year, multi-million-dollar enhancement completed in December 2019, the reinvented Four Seasons Resort Nevis has successfully achieved what every iconic hotel covets: a perfect balance of old meets new. Each of the 189 guest rooms and suites has been playfully reimagined with a contemporary edge, including rich textured walls in 19th century-inspired botanical patterns and colorful desk chairs that pay homage to Nevis’s resident monkeys. New restaurant and bar concepts (including the Instagram-perfect Crowned Monkey Rum Bar) also await, as well as the “Limin’ Pool 2.0,” a high-design, lounger-lined infinity-edge pool, which creates the illusion of extending to the Caribbean Sea.
What hasn’t changed is the architectural and design integrity of the resort’s exteriors; though updated, the low-rise plantation-style cottages, West-Indian restaurant Mango’s, and 18-hole, par-71 Robert Trend Jones II-designed golf course remain.
Day Drink on the Beach and Over the Water
Strong cocktails and spectacular ocean views go hand-in-hand on Nevis. Start the afternoon with a rum-forward “Nevisian Spirit” at feet-in-the-sand Kastawey Beach Bar at the Four Seasons, then walk down the beach to the legendary Sunshine’s Bar Lounge & Grill, which expanded its beachfront seating area in October 2019. Expect a heady mix of catchy reggae music, chatty bar flies, and thirst-quenching “Killer Bees,” the bar’s famed — and highly potent — rum punch. Finally, head to the end of the pier off Pinney’s Beach for sunset Champagne or cocktails at the Four Season’s floating pop-up bar. During happy hour, enjoy two-for-one drinks and fresh ceviche while surrounded by 360 degrees of Caribbean Sea.
Swim from Nevis to St. Kitts — and Back
Photo: Cross Channel Swim
A trip to Nevis typically entails lots of beach and booze, but extreme sports have their place, too. Case in point: the annual Cross Channel Swim between Nevis and St. Kitts. Seventeen years strong, this annual event and competition welcomes professional open water swimmers, amateurs, and everyone in between to swim 2.5 miles from Nevis’s Oualie Beach to St Kitts’s Cockleshell Bay and back. This year’s Swim, which attracts hundreds of participants annually (and even more spectators), takes place on March 29, 2020.
Unearth Nevisian History
Archaeological links to the past live very much in the present all across Nevis. From a 200-year-old sugar mill converted into a romantic private cottage to the Caribbean’s oldest wooden home (c. 1670) transitioned into boutique hotel and restaurant The Hermitage, there are many sights where Nevis keeps history in style. Most recently, another restored relic has come on our radar. Off a dirt road north of Charlestown, discover the preserved ruins of Cottle Church, an Anglican church built in 1824 by John Cottle, former President of Nevis. This church played a crucial role in Nevis’ history as a secret place where slaves could pray during a time when slave worship was illegal.
Whether you want to be among the first to experience the reimagined Four Seasons, kick off the New Year with the ultimate “Killer Bee” buzz, or discover a lost-in-time land where luxury and history unite, place Nevis at the top of your travel plans for 2020.
Tradewind offers charter flights to Nevis year-round. To reserve a charter, call us at 1-800-376-7922 or click here to request a charter quote.
Featured Photo: Four Seasons Nevis