Guana Island and St Kitts & Nevis and Antigua

Guana Island

Luxurious but extremely understated, this private island resort feels like the highly enviable retreat of a wealthy friend with impeccable taste. It's the kind of place you can unwind in exceptional privacy yet have every comfort on hand.

You'll never see more than a handful of people on any of the seven pristine white-sand beaches on Guana Island, a small and exclusive hideaway in the British Virgin Islands where no one is ever in a hurry and nothing is too much trouble. It's a place with a profound sense of tranquillity and a strong sustainability policy. Mangoes, papayas, coconuts and bananas grow along the 19 kilometres of pathways that criss-cross the island, the menus rely heavily on seasonal, local produce and guests often eat communally as if part of a large extended family. You can laze on the powder-soft sands, hike along the walking trails, picnic on a deserted beach or choose from a huge range of water sports including kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, fishing and sailing. Brightly coloured fish teem in the turquoise waters making it a great place to snorkel or dive too. Whatever way you look at it, it's simply idyllic.

Chic, cosy and very homely, the 14 individually styled rooms and four villas are simple and elegant in the most refined way. Rooms have no keys, phones or televisions but each has a private terrace with sea views and the villas have private pools.

Nevis and Antigua

See more of the Caribbean’s diversity and discover the individuality of its islands with an island-hopping trip before you head to the beach. Start on the friendly, laid-back and largely undeveloped island of Nevis. The volcanic peak of Mount Nevis is the dramatic centrepoint of the island with lush rainforest lining its slopes. In contrast to Nevis’ silver sand, volcanic beaches, nearby Antigua is renowned for its golden sand beaches, one for every day of the year. Sailing is an important part of life here with many international races and gleaming yachts moored at a harbour that used to be home to the navy in the 18th century. Explore the island’s beautiful coastline, historic sugar mills and the Georgian dockyard at Nelson’s Dockyard.

18 rooms, 1 restaurant, 1 pool

Description

Guana Island Resort lies on one of the few remaining private islands in the British Virgin Islands. Once home to a Quaker colony who ran a sugar plantation on the island in the 18^th century, it’s now owned by the Jarecki family who bought the island with the intention of creating a luxury resort, whilst preserving the island’s untouched beauty. There’s a small museum in the resort documenting the island’s history.

Set on a hilltop overlooking both the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean, the resort has a typically Caribbean, laid-back ambience. There’s plenty of possibilities for exploration and activity but equally it’s also the ideal spot to relax and do nothing.

The feel of Guana Island is more one of a beautiful family holiday home than a resort, with many guests dining communally and a very sociable atmosphere especially at the evening canapes. The private cottages and villas are dotted along a hillside looking towards the ocean and are decorated with a rustic, yet stylish finish.

A protected wildlife sanctuary, four giant tortoises live on the island as well as flamingos, iguanas and lizards. Many species once indigenous to the island have now been re-introduced and a research team stays in the resort once a year to conduct extensive research on the island’s unique and flourishing ecosystem.

For families

Although mostly favoured by couples, Guana Island does welcome families at certain times of the year – outside of this time, children are welcome, but numbers are kept to a minimum. There is a designated family beach area with showers and babysitters are available.

Location: Saint Kitts and Antigua

Saint Kitts

Saint Kitts is the larger island of the two-island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Made up of three converging volcanic peaks. The highest peak, Mount Liamuigia lies in the centre with lush jungle leading down to the beaches below. A single road circumnavigates the island, with the turbulent Atlantic ocean to the north and the calmer Caribbean sea to the south.

The capital, Basseterre, in the southeast of the island, was originally the capital of the entire French West Indies colony, before the British took control in 1660. In this compact city, you’ll be able to appreciate the variety of cultures that have influenced the island, from Georgian-era architecture, Chinese street stalls, a Jewish cemetery and locals speaking African-influenced Creole. 

The beaches around Frigate Bay are long swathes of silver sand, trimmed with chic beach bars and local beach bars very popular with cruise ship passengers visiting for the day. Snorkeling trips are possible here into the islands clear tropical waters where you might spot barracuda, rare sea snails, tiny sea horses and the island’s favourite dish: the spiny lobster. Turtles also nest on some of the secluded areas of the beach.

The rest of the island is relatively sedate with sleepy villages and rural smallholdings dotted along the rest of the coast. Secluded coves are scattered round the island’s coast, some with exotic black volcanic sand. The southwest of the island is dominated by the imposing Brimstone Hill  Fortress National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Inland, the island is littered with remnants of the sugar industry. One of the largest producers in the Caribbean, Saint Kitts was once home to thriving sugar cane plantations and factories. Some of the plantations still exist, having been carefully converted into boutique hotels or restaurants. The Saint Kitts railway, built to transport sugar cane across the island, has been restored and is an unusual way to explore the island.

As Saint Kitts no longer produces sugar cane, many of the fields are gradually being reclaimed by the rainforest and Saint Kitts bears the rare accolade of having one of the only increasing areas of rainforest in the world. An extensive network of hiking routes meander through the rainforest, leading into the untouched forests of the interior. The paths can be tricky to navigate so it’s worth taking a guide, especially if you want to summit Mount Liamuiga. On reaching the top, you’re rewarded with views into the extinct volcano’s crater which has grown its own lush microclimate inside and has been nicknamed by the locals as the ‘giant’s salad bowl’.

Antigua

Antigua is said to have 365 beaches, one for every day of the year, but the island also boasts an impressive historical pedigree. No less a sailor than Admiral Nelson based his fleet here, and the easygoing Caribbean ambience of the island is complemented by a tangible British influence. The historic Nelson’s Dockyard is testament to this colonial history, though the luxury yachts bobbing in the water hint at a more glamorous side to modern day Antigua.

The people are incredibly friendly, and the island comes together to party every Sunday night as the sun sets at Shirley Heights, an old naval garrison overlooking the majestic English Harbour. The brightly coloured buildings and duty free shopping of the capital, St John’s, make for an interesting half day excursion, while the south west of the island is home to a picturesque landscape of rainforest, ruined forts and old sugar mills.

The beaches range from bustling stretches lined with lively bars to little visited bays and secluded coves. Escape the crowds by taking a trip over to sister island Barbuda, blessed with miles of unspoilt pink sands, or tread the road less travelled and explore Antigua’s rugged east coast, where conditions are ideal for a whole host of watersports. The more tranquil waters of the Caribbean Sea, meanwhile, offer ample opportunities for diving and snorkelling.

Accommodation: Montpelier Plantation & South Point

The charming, boutique resort of Montpelier Plantation & Beach, set in the shadow of Nevis peak, is an important part of the island’s history and the 19 rooms are individually designed with stone walls and wooden shutters. In contrast, South Point offers contemporary accommodation in the heart of Antigua’s English Harbour with enviable views across the marina. The 23 condo-style apartments are smart and spacious with fully-equipped, modern kitchens.