How to Get from St. Kitts Airport (SKB) to Nevis – Private Transfers, Water Taxi, Timing
St. Kitts airport (SKB) is the international gateway for both islands. Once you’ve cleared customs there are three real ways onward to Nevis — a private transfer via Reggae Beach, the public ferry from Basseterre, or a direct flight to Nevis on a regional carrier. Each suits a different kind of trip.
| Option | Best for | Typical journey | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer via Reggae Beach | Families, honeymooners, hotel guests, late arrivals | Typically 45–60 minutes door-to-door | Higher cost |
| Independent scheduled water taxi | Travellers with flexible timing | Depends on taxi + boat timing | Not a Book Nevis service; limited seats and possible waiting time |
| Public ferry via Basseterre | Budget travellers, Charlestown arrivals | Longer door-to-door | More steps, you handle your own bags |
The crossing itself — sailing times, fares and how often each boat runs — is covered in more depth in our guide to the ferry, water taxi and private transfer options.
Private transfer via Reggae Beach
Staying at Four Seasons Resort Nevis? See our Four Seasons Nevis airport transfers guide for the SKB pier route.
We meet you after customs at SKB with a Book Nevis sign and walk you to the vehicle. From there it’s a 25–30 minute private drive across St. Kitts to Reggae Beach pier, then around 6–8 minutes by private water taxi to Oualie Beach Pier on Nevis (10–15 minutes if you’re staying at Four Seasons and using their private pier). A second driver meets you on the Nevis side and takes you to your hotel. Total door-to-door: typically around 45–60 minutes, with longer transfers for properties farther from Oualie. Luggage handled end-to-end. We track your flight, so delays and next-day arrivals don’t cost you anything.
Book your SKB → Nevis private transfer
The public ferry from Basseterre to Charlestown
The locals’ option, and the cheapest. From SKB you’d take a taxi 20 minutes to the Basseterre ferry terminal, then the ferry itself runs about 25–30 minutes across The Narrows to Charlestown. Several services a day, fixed schedule. You manage your own luggage and you’ll need to arrange onward transport from Charlestown to your hotel. Worth it if budget matters more than door-to-door speed.
For ferry times and where to check them, see our Charlestown ferry schedule guide.
A direct flight to Nevis (NEV)
Vance W. Amory International on Nevis takes regional flights from San Juan (SJU), Antigua (ANU), and Sint Maarten (SXM) on smaller aircraft. Limited frequency and usually only worth it if your inbound long-haul connects through one of those hubs. Most international travellers still find it faster overall to fly to SKB and cross to Nevis from there.
Which option should you choose?
Most travellers fall into one of these brackets:
- Families, honeymooners and hotel guests — the private transfer via Reggae Beach is the most practical. Luggage is handled end-to-end, your driver waits if customs runs long, and child seats can be added for $20 per ground leg.
- Late arrivals and overnight connections — we operate at night with no after-hours fee, and we track your flight, so a delayed inbound doesn’t cost you anything.
- Four Seasons guests — your private transfer routes straight to the resort’s own pier, so you skip the onward Nevis taxi entirely.
- Travellers with flexible timing — independent water-taxi services may operate between St. Kitts and Nevis, but Book Nevis does not provide walk-up collection from Reggae Beach. Arrange the crossing in advance and confirm the operator, landing point and fare before travelling.
- Budget travellers and Charlestown arrivals — the public ferry from Basseterre is the cheapest crossing. You’ll handle your own bags and the schedule is fixed, but it’s a fair option if cost matters more than door-to-door speed.
Either way — apply for your St. Kitts and Nevis eTA before you fly. If you’d like to see prices by route, our airport arrival transfers are listed by pickup-to-destination pair.
