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St. Kitts Scenic Railway
Originally built to transport sugar cane, the St. Kitts Scenic Railway is a unique way to explore a Caribbean island. The train winds along the island’s coastline, past cane fields and abandoned plantations, providing visitors with panoramic views along the way.
The Basics
Completed in the 1920s, St. Kitts Scenic Railway is known as the "last railway in the West Indies." The narrow-gauge track was laid so that large quantities of raw sugar cane could be transported from the fields to a processing factory near Basseterre (the island’s capital). This modern innovation allowed sugar production to continue on St. Kitts for much longer than on neighboring islands—the last crop was processed as recently as 2005.
Now, instead, visitors to St. Kitts can take their seats on the sugar train to explore the island’s scenery. The double-decker train cars were specially built for the railway. On the upper deck the carriage is open-sided for uninterrupted views, while on the lower deck there’s an air-conditioned carpeted "parlor" carriage equipped with comfortable rattan chairs where visitors can enjoy complimentary cocktails and a narrated live audio tour.
Things to Know Before You Go
Access to the railway is only possible as part of a pre-booked tour.
The railway tour makes a complete circuit of the island—18 miles (30 kilometers) by train followed by 12 miles (19 kilometers) by tour bus.
The whole experience lasts around 2 hours and 45 minutes.
How to Get There
The Sugar Train departs from a special dedicated station near St. Kitt’s capital city, Basseterre. Pre-booked tours include round-trip transfers to and from the station. Visitors must book a tour in advance to ride the train.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
The train only operates when there is sufficient demand from visitors. Call ahead to arrange tickets.
Visit Romney Manor
For a closer look at the 350-year history of sugar production on St. Kitts, make a visit to Romney Manor near Basseterre, a sugar plantation that was once the home of Thomas Jefferson’s great-great-great-grandfather. In the 1830s, the plantation’s then-owner, the Earl of Romney, was the first man on the island to set his enslaved workers free. Since the 1970s, the estate has had a new focus—producing some of the most sought-after batik fabrics in the Caribbean.