A trace of plantation history
The Spring was an 18th-century sugar plantation in Saint Mary Cayon Parish. It included an enslaved people’s village. In July 2008, a two-day archaeological survey was conducted to confirm the location of this village. The plantation’s history therefore sits alongside a specific archaeological question: the survey aimed to determine more precisely where the associated village was located. For travelers interested in history, The Spring offers a concrete point of reference in Saint Mary Cayon.
Further perspectives within the wider destination
Within the wider destination of St. Kitts and Nevis, the St. Mary’s Biosphere Reserve includes northern and southern reefs. Seagrass is harvested from these reefs, which also serve as natural spawning grounds for marine life. The reserve’s beach is also an important nesting site for the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), an endangered species. Protecting it is one of the biosphere reserve’s priority goals. The reefs and beach represent different habitats: spawning grounds in the sea and a nesting site on the coast.
Another historical perspective can be found on the island of St. Kitts. There stands Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, an outstanding, well-preserved example of 17th- and 18th-century Caribbean military architecture. Designed by the British and built by enslaved Africans, the fortress bears witness to European colonial expansion, the African slave trade, and the emergence of new societies in the Caribbean. In contrast to the history of The Spring, it broadens the view of the wider destination’s past to include military architecture and colonial power relations.
Nevis: Craft, Coast, and Nature
On Nevis, which is also part of the wider destination of St. Kitts and Nevis, kite-making is a craft practiced across generations. At Easter, families fly kites together and exchange techniques. On the island’s west side, Pinney’s Beach stretches for four miles. Nevis thus brings together a recurring cultural tradition and an expansive coastal landscape as distinct discoveries.
At Oualie Bay, visitors can snorkel among reefs and tropical fish; Dive Nevis rents out equipment. Check before your trip whether the equipment is currently available. Those more interested in nature on land can choose a guided hike through the rainforest around Nevis Peak. It offers insights into the area’s flora, fauna, and wildlife. Allow about four to five hours to climb to the summit of Nevis Peak; the duration depends on conditions and pace. The guided rainforest hike focuses on nature-related knowledge, while the time estimate applies to the climb to the summit.
Ferry connections between the islands
In the wider destination, passenger ferries connect Basseterre Pier on St. Kitts with Charlestown Pier on Nevis. The crossing takes 25 to 45 minutes; journey times and schedules may vary. Travelers with a vehicle can also take the Sea Bridge Car Ferry between Major’s Bay on St. Kitts and Cades Bay on Nevis. The iConnect connects Charlestown Pier on Nevis with Major’s Bay on St. Kitts. Check current service and schedules for these ferry connections before your trip. When choosing a connection, the key factor is whether you plan to take the passenger ferry or one of the services that transports vehicles.
When searching for a vacation rental, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on: should the history of The Spring in Saint Mary Cayon take center stage, or would you like to include other cultural and nature-related themes from the wider destination of St. Kitts and Nevis in your plans? This can help you define the focus of your trip before choosing accommodation.
Discover more destinations: Saint George Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint George Gingerland, Saint John Capisterre, Saint George Basseterre and Saint James Windward.
View the wider travel overview: St. Kitts and Nevis.
