There aren’t many places in the world where you can ride a railway built to carry sugarcane and instead sip rum punch while rolling past volcanoes, rainforests, and dramatic Caribbean coastlines. But that’s exactly what you’ll find on the St. Kitts Scenic Railway—the island’s famous “sugar train” turned tourist attraction.
This was the last excursion of our cruise, following a submarine ride in Aruba and exploring a cave in Curaçao. Since we hadn’t booked anything in advance, we decided to go with one of the excursions offered directly through our cruise line: a ride on the St. Kitts Scenic Railway.
The railway is one of the island’s more unique attractions, offering a mix of history, coastal views, and (of course) plenty of rum.
Boarding the Train
The excursion began early in the morning, with a bus transfer to the railway station. Once aboard, we climbed to the open-air upper deck. Our guide gave a brief introduction and immediately began offering the included drink menu: rum punch, rum and Coke, rum and Sprite, or—our favorite—rum and rum.
Yes, it was only 10 AM, but when you’re on a cruise, day drinking isn’t exactly unusual. Most passengers ordered a drink, if only to be polite.
The Journey Along the Coastline
The St. Kitts Scenic Railway traces a narrow-gauge track originally built to haul sugar cane from plantations to the island’s processing plant. Today, it runs as a sightseeing excursion, hugging the northeastern coastline for about 18 miles.
The ride took roughly two hours, passing by dramatic cliffs, sweeping ocean views, and stretches of lush vegetation. We crossed tall steel bridges spanning deep ravines (known locally as ghuts), rolled past small villages, and skirted the base of the volcanic peak Mt. Liamuiga.
While some stretches were breathtaking, others were less eventful, consisting of long runs through abandoned sugarcane fields. By about the 90-minute mark, the ride started to feel a little long—even with the steady stream of rum drinks.
The Railway Choir
One of the unexpected highlights was the performance by the three–voice a cappella St. Kitts Railway Choir. The group sang a mix of Caribbean folk songs, children’s songs, and familiar hymns. What stood out wasn’t just their harmonies, but the fact that they were also dancing on a moving train—something that definitely takes both talent and dedication.
What to Expect on the Train
Since the railway wasn’t designed for passenger service, the ride can be a bit rough. The narrow-gauge track makes the cars sway from side to side, and crossing the bridges might be unnerving for anyone afraid of heights—especially since there are no railings along the track.
That said, the open-air views and gentle breeze made the experience enjoyable.
The Return by Van
The train ride itself covers only part of the island. For the final 45 minutes, we transferred into vans that circled back to the cruise port. This leg provided a different perspective, taking us through towns and everyday neighborhoods. The driver provided commentary on the island’s history, culture, and notable points of interest.
It wasn’t as scenic as the coastal views, but it rounded out the experience with a look at daily life in St. Kitts.
Final Thoughts
The St. Kitts Scenic Railway is unlike anything else we did on our cruise. While other options included a beach day, rum distillery tours, or a ferry to Nevis, the train gave us a unique way to see the island.
The highlights were the stunning coastal views, the novelty of riding a sugarcane railway, and the energy of the St. Kitts Railway Choir. The downsides? A bumpy ride, a few long stretches with not much to see, and a tour that felt about 30 minutes too long.
Still, it was a memorable way to cap off our cruise excursions—and maybe next time we’ll pace ourselves with the rum and rum.
For more info, you can check out the official site: St. Kitts Scenic Railway.
Want to comment on this post? Great! Read this first to help ensure it gets approved.
Want to sponsor a post, write something for Your Mileage May Vary, or put ads on our site? Click here for more info.
Like this post? Please share it! We have plenty more just like it and would love it if you decided to hang around and sign up to get emailed notifications of when we post.
Whether you’ve read our articles before or this is the first time you’re stopping by, we’re really glad you’re here and hope you come back to visit again!
This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
