Both St Lucia and St Kitts & Nevis are part of the Eastern Caribbean and as such share many things in common.
English is the language spoken by locals as well as the Eastern Caribbean Dollar is the official currency of St Lucia and St Kitts & Nevis.
Nevertheless, despite these similarities there are several differences.
In this article, we compare and contrast these two amazing Caribbean islands to help you choose which one is better for your next Caribbean vacation.
As a general rule, St Lucia is ideal for a visitor with interest in activities such as the hiking the famous Piton and visiting a drive in volcano. Alternatively, St Kitts & Nevis is an exceptional choice for a traveler who loves forts and wants to ride on the last railway in the West Indies.
Read on for further details and explanations on how these two beautiful Caribbean islands compare. This article is written by a Caribbean National who knows both islands extensively.
St Lucia Vs St Kitts & Nevis: Which Island Is Bigger
St Lucia is the larger of the two islands being 238 square miles. The highest point is Mount Gimie which stands at 3,120 feet.
According to Worldometer, the population of St Lucia at the time of writing was 184,711. St Lucia is a single island state meaning that it has no dependencies.
Alternatively, the twin island nation of St Kitts and Nevis is 69 square miles and 36 square miles respectively.
According to Worldpopulationreview.com, the population at the time of writing was 53,544.
The highest point in St Kitts & Nevis is Mount Liamiuga which stands at 3,792 feet .
Both islands are part of the Commonwealth of England and therefore the head of state is His Majesty King Charles III.
St Lucia Vs St Kitts & Nevis: Which Island Gets More Tourists
Both islands are popular tourism destinations especially for cruise passengers.
In 2019, St Kitts & Nevis welcomed 1,177, 755 visitors to its shores. Approximately 90% of these visitors were cruise ship passengers.
On the other hand, St Lucia had a slightly higher tourism arrival figure being 1,276,751 for the same period. Cruise visitors accounted for 62% of the arrivals in St Lucia.
St Lucia Vs St Kitts & Nevis: Does The Language Differ?
While the official language of both islands is English, Patois which is a broken form of creole is the language that St Lucians speak among themselves.
Patois is a distinct part of St Lucia’s history being a French colony in the 17th century.
This language form was also spoken in other French colony islands such as Grenada in the Eastern Caribbean.
Nonetheless, this language died as patois was not passed on from generation to generation.
If you travel to St Lucia and you are among locals, they will more than likely speak Patois.
St Lucia Vs St Kitts & Nevis: Can You Hop To Other Islands
Both islands offers excellent opportunities to visit neighboring destinations.
From St Lucia, there are ferry services available to the French Caribbean Islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe.
Also, there is access via ferry to Dominica which is another Eastern Caribbean Island from St Lucia. The official currency of Dominica is also the Eastern Caribbean Dollar.
Likewise, there are also a ferry service available from St Kitts to St Maarten via Makana Ferry Service.
This company also offers onward connections to Saba and St Eustatius. There are other transportation providers on the island if you are also interested in exploring Anguilla and St Barths.
Therefore if you will like to experience multiple destinations you can arrive in St Kitts and take ferry services to explore five other Caribbean islands.
St Lucia Vs St Kitts & Nevis: Which Island Has Better Beaches
Honestly, beaches are not the strong points of both St Lucia and St Kitts when compared to their other Eastern Caribbean counterparts.
Nevertheless, there are beautiful beaches to explore on both islands.
Sugar beach is one of the best beaches in St Lucia where you can get a view of the famous twin peaks called The Pitons.
This beach is loved by divers and individuals who enjoy snorkeling.
Pinney beach is a one of the most popular beaches on the island of Nevis and Cockleshell bay and Banana Bay are some of the must visit beaches in St Kitts.
St Lucia Vs St Kitts & Nevis: Which Island Is Safer
Both Caribbean islands are safe and are suitable for solo female travelers. Visitors can safely explore the cities and towns as well as take public transportation.
Nevertheless, according to the US Department State, Overseas Advisory Council based on a 2018 crime report per 100,000 citizens, St Kitts had the higher rate of murders and residential burglaries being 42 and 580 respectively.
Contrastingly, St Lucia had 21 murders and 503 residential burglaries for the same period.
However, all necessary precautions should be maintained as travel to higher risks destinations.
Avoid lonely and secluded areas at night and do not leave valuables such as cell phones and other electronic gadgets unattended.
St Lucia Vs St Kitts & Nevis: Which Island Has Better Natural Scenery
St Lucia has the better natural scenery of the two islands. If you priority is visiting lakes, waterfalls and rainforests then St Lucia is the better destination.
Some of the waterfalls to explore during your visit to St Lucia include Diamond Falls and Piton Falls. More than 70% of the island is forested which supports a variety of flower, fauna and wildlife.
Contrastingly, St Kitts & Nevis alternatively has no waterfalls and lakes. Nevertheless, the panhandle area of St Kitts is breathtaking.
Therefore, you can see the Atlantic and Caribbean Sea at the same time. That view is stunning and unforgettable and a must visit spot on the island.
St Lucia Vs St Kitts & Nevis: Which Island Has Better Nightlife
Both islands are two of the more vibrant ones in the Eastern Caribbean. Rodney Bay Village usually comes alive at nights in St Lucia.
There are several restaurants with a variety of cuisine that you can choose from such as Mexican, Indian and Chinese foods.
Each and every Friday with the exception of Good Fridays, Gros Islet in St Lucia is the place to be.
Vendors sell barbecues and other local dishes and there is a live band featuring music from the island.
Vendors also sell souvenirs and other arts and craft items.
St Kitts & Nevis also has great options when it comes to nightlife. At nights the Frigate Bay part of the island is bustling.
There are a various range of restaurants and bars in this area of the island.
Three of the most common restaurants in this area are The Shiggidy Shack Beach Bar, Rock Lobster and Cathy’s Ocean View Bar and Grill.
There are also casinos on the island as well as several golf courses.
Robert Trent Jones course at Pinney Beach in Nevis and Royal St Kitts Club located between Half Moon Bay and North Frigate Bay in St Kitts are two of the popular courses.
St Lucia Vs St Kitts & Nevis: What Are The Unique Things To Do
Unique Things To Do St Kitts & Nevis
Visit A UNESCO Heritage Site– St Kitts is the only island of the two that has a UNESCO world Heritage site. Visit the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park for panoramic views of the island.
The Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park is a 17th and 18th century military fort that is of historical, cultural and architectural importance on the island.
The fort officially became a UNECO World Heritage site in 1999 and was built by African slaves to protect the island from attacks.
Take A Scenic Train Tour- Get an opportunity to experience to last railway in the West Indies via a 3 hour tour in St Kitts.
This adventure makes a 30 mile circle around the island. 18 miles of the tour is by a narrow gauge train and the remaining 12 miles on a bus.
The rail was built between 1912 and 1926 to bring sugar cane from the plantations to sugar factories on the island.
Explore Nevis– Nevis has its own unique culture and history and this enriches the culture of the twin island nation.
Therefore is you want to unwind and get a slower pace of life, Nevis provides a great option for a retreat.
Unique Things To Do In St Lucia
Climb The Piton Mountains- the piton is an incredible twin peaks that are designated as UNESCO World Heritage site since 2004 located at the south of the island.
The Gros Piton is 2462 feet while the Petit Piton is 2619 feet. The Gros Piton is the designated hiking trail while the Petit Piton is rarely climbed.
Visit The Drive In Volcano- The sulphur springs is one of the most visited attractions on the island located in Soufriere which is the world’s only drive in volcano.
Visitors are able to enter at certain points and give themselves a mud bath. It is widely believed that these mud baths have medical benefits.
Final Thoughts
On a whole, St Lucia is an ideal choice for a traveler who loves beautiful natural scenery with an interest in island hopping to the French Caribbean. Alternatively, St Kitts & Nevis is the destination of choice for visitors interested in forts, Caribbean history and a great night life experience.
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