Practical · Nevis

Getting between St. Kitts and Nevis

The passenger ferry, the car ferry, a water taxi across The Narrows, or a short flight. How each one works, and which to choose.

17.16° N · 62.58° W3 min read

The Charlestown ferry pier on Nevis, with a "Welcome to Nevis" sign over the waterfront and small boats in the clear water

By CaribHubs team

Product & operations

24 September 20263 min read

St. Kitts and Nevis are two islands separated by The Narrows, a channel only 2 to 3 km wide at its narrowest. There are four ways across, and which is best depends on where you're staying and whether you're bringing a car.

Coming from abroad? Apply through the Saint Kitts and Nevis Electronic Border Management System at knatravelform.kn before you travel. See arriving in St. Kitts and Nevis.

The passenger ferry: Basseterre to Charlestown

The regular ferries run between the ferry terminal in Basseterre, next to Port Zante, and the pier in Charlestown. The crossing takes 25 to 45 minutes, depending on the boat and the sea.

Several boats work the route, and the timetable changes by day of the week: Sunday, Monday to Thursday, Friday and Saturday each have their own. The Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority (NASPA) publishes the current times and fares.

A white ferry tied up at the Charlestown pier, with Nevis Peak in cloud behind the town

The car ferry: Major's Bay to Cades Bay

The Sea Bridge has carried cars across The Narrows since 2007. It sails from Major's Bay, at the tip of St. Kitts' Southeast Peninsula, to Cades Bay on Nevis. The crossing takes about 25 minutes, the ferry holds up to 35 vehicles, and it takes foot passengers too. It makes several trips a day in each direction. A second car ferry, iConnect, runs between Major's Bay and the Charlestown pier.

Major's Bay has no shops or facilities, so bring water if you might wait. If you're driving a hire car, ask the rental company first whether you're allowed to take it across.

The water taxi: from the beaches across The Narrows

Water taxis run from Cockleshell Bay and Reggae Beach, on St. Kitts' Southeast Peninsula, to Oualie Beach on Nevis. It's the shortest crossing, just a few minutes on the water, and handy if you're staying near either end. Water taxis are booked privately, so arrange your pickup and agree the price in advance.

Flying

Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB) on St. Kitts and Vance W. Amory International Airport (NEV) on Nevis are a very short hop apart. Flying is mostly worth it when you're connecting to or from a flight elsewhere.