Things to do in Nevis: the peak, the hot springs and the history

Nevis is small, lush and steeped in history, a single cloud-topped volcano ringed by old sugar estates. It wears its past lightly but everywhere: this was once the "Queen of the Caribees," and much of what there is to do here is tied to that story.

What to do

Nevis Peak, the island’s dormant volcano, is the big climb, a steep, muddy rainforest scramble best done with a guide. Gentler is the island’s spa history: Nevis drew 18th-century visitors to its hot mineral springs near Charlestown, and you can still soak in them. In Charlestown, the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton houses the Museum of Nevis History, and the island keeps a strong Nelson connection, as the young naval officer married here in 1787. Pinney’s Beach, a long palm-lined strand on the west coast, is where the days end.