How much great recreation, colonial history and glorious natural wonders can be packed into 31 square miles (93 square kilometres)? Plenty when it’s the unspoiled Caribbean island of Nevis. Although just hours from the US and with direct flights from the UK, Nevis is a world away – an island of 12,000 friendly people, dozens of historic sites, lush flora and fauna, unlimited opportunities for fun and adventure on land and sea, and one of the world’s best holiday destinations, Four Seasons Resort Nevis.

Here is just a sampling of the opportunities that await on Nevis:

1. Get oriented with a two hour hike to Saddle Hill . From 1250 feet (380 metres), views include neighbouring islands of St Kitts, Antigua, Montserrat’s active volcano, and the uninhabited (other than seabirds and a herd of feral goats) Redonda. Rising up another 2000 feet (600 metres) is the cloud-cloaked and presently dormant Nevis Peak volcano. Along the way, explorers will learn about traditional ways of life on the island, and be introduced to the medicinal plants used by locals. At Saddle Hill, modern-day captains can walk the ruins of the Battery where Horatio Nelson was stationed in the 1780s, overlooking the old British Port of St. George, once a hub of sugar, molasses, run and cotton trade.
2. For a different perspective, take a kayak tour along the coastline. An expert guide tailors the route to any age or level of experience, revealing hidden snorkelling spots along the way. The trip includes a picnic of fresh local fruit, island pastries and other refreshments on a quiet beach.
3. Nevis figures significantly in the histories of the United States and Britain, being the 1755 birthplace of one of America’s founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton (instantly recognisable as the face of a ten dollar bill), and where Lord Nelson met and married his bride, Fannie Nisbet, widow of a local plantation owner. Visit the ruins of her childhood home at Montpelier Estate , which includes a 1794 sugar mill and the spectacular Botanical Garden featuring palms, orchids, cacti and flowering trees and shrubs. In Charlestown, the Horatio Nelson Museum and Hamilton House are must-sees for history buffs.
4. It’s no surprise the Amerindians called the island Oualie, or Land of Beautiful Waters. More than 40 dive sites include gently sloping reefs, caverns, ledges, drop-offs and wrecks. The Thermal Vents reef features overhangs and small canyons housing many different crabs and giant lobsters, and a fizzing 100 F (38 C) hot vent. Monkey Shoals offers at least 100 feet (30 metres) visibility, revealing a world of angelfish, nurse and reef sharks, snapper and more, plus majestic pillar, brain and elkhorn coral formations. Others to explore include Devil’s Cave, Fish Bowl and Turtle Bar off nearby St Kitts. Seafood lovers will want to join a Four Seasons chef and dive master in the unique Dive and Dine program, where gourmands catch their own lobsters to be barbecued on the beach that evening.
5. Nevis is home to an annual triathlon, but if that’s too daunting, how about a leisurely bike tour? The island’s own Reggie Douglas, two-time Sportsman of the Year, four-time triathlete and four-time national cycling champion, takes adventurers of all ages and experience levels through old cane trails and village paths, visiting historic plantations along the way. The Resort also rents bikes for self-guided exploration.
6. Fancy spectator sports instead? Enjoy the island’s favourite sport of cricket at Grove Park in Charlestown, where matches are played from January to June. Or, join in the fun at Indian Castle Race Track, where the Nevis Turf and Jockey Club hosts horse racing on selected holiday weekends. Hugely popular in Nevis, races are full afternoon events with music, barbecue and a carnival-like atmosphere.
7. Charming Charlestown is a place where strangers still say hello as one wander among art galleries, shops and restaurants in colonial-era gingerbread building. Serious stamp collectors will want to head straight to the Philatelic Bureau, while photographers won’t want to miss the stately 1825 Nevis Courthouse and Public Library. To really get a feel for island life, stop at one of many rum shops, the local version of a pub.
8. One of the island’s most famous bars is right next to the Resort on Pinney’s Beach. Sunshine’s is a favourite of international sports stars, musicians and other celebrities as well as locals who come for fresh grilled seafood, potent rum drinks, music and a relaxed island vibe. Sunshine himself – who started his business feeding hungry workers when Four Seasons was being built – hosts nightly bonfires and monthly full moon parties.
9. Get to know another of the island’s inhabitants, the fun-loving vervet monkeys. Easily recognisable by their silver bodies and black faces (and the male’s bright red and turquoise genitalia!), vervets can be spotted on a guided tour of their natural forest habitat, and often munching on mangos around the Resort’s golf course. Living in packs of about 40, vervets are social, with a complex language ranging from greetings to warning calls. Different sounds signal different predators, and researchers have observed mothers giving positive reinforcements when youngsters make the right call.
10. Hawksbill turtles also call Nevis home, laying eggs on its quiet beaches before heading back out to see. Four Seasons works closely with the Sea Turtle Conservancy to ensure beaches are safe for nests and hatchlings, and offers a fun and educational program at Kids for All Seasons. Children learn about sea turtles, and can “adopt” one during their stay. Back home, through GPS tagging, kids can follow their new friends online.