How to Get from St. Kitts to Nevis: Ferry vs Water Taxi vs Private Transfer
Updated: 26 September 2026
The short answer
The fastest way from St. Kitts to Nevis is a water taxi from Reggae Beach to Oualie Beach Pier — around 6–10 minutes on the water on a private crossing, and roughly 7–10 minutes on the scheduled service. Scheduled water taxis run that route for EC$40 (about US$15) one way, EC$60 return, plus an EC$5 pier tax. The public ferry between Basseterre and Charlestown takes around 25–45 minutes. An adult one-way ticket is typically EC$35–EC$40 (about US$13–15), depending on the vessel, plus an EC$1 pier tax.
If you are arriving by air, a Book Nevis private door-to-door transfer from SKB Airport to Oualie Pier is from $270. Total journey time depends on your Nevis destination and the transfer route used; Book Nevis confirms the route and timing for each booking. Which option suits you comes down to where you start on St. Kitts, where you are staying on Nevis, how much luggage you are moving, and whether you are on a flight. If you are still planning the journey from home, see how to get to Nevis from overseas.
Compare your options
| Option | Route | Typical time | Indicative cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private water taxi | Reggae Beach → Oualie Beach Pier | ~6–10 min on the water | Booked as part of a transfer, from $270 | Luggage, families, late arrivals |
| Scheduled water taxi | Reggae Beach ⇄ Oualie Beach | ~7–10 min on the water | EC$40 (~US$15) one way; EC$60 return + EC$5 pier tax | Independent travellers, day trips |
| Public ferry | Basseterre ⇄ Charlestown | 25–45 min | EC$35–EC$40 (~US$13–15) adult one way + EC$1 pier tax | Budget travel, Charlestown stays |
| Private door-to-door transfer | SKB Airport → your Nevis hotel | Varies by destination and route; confirmed at booking | From $270 | Arriving by air, no bag handling |
| iConnect (car ferry) | Majors Bay ⇄ Charlestown | Check with operator | Check with operator | Travelling with a vehicle |
Fares last checked 26 September 2026 against current operator information (SKN Transit) and published port information (Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority). Fares are set by the individual operators, not by Book Nevis, and can change — confirm before travelling. US$ figures are converted at the fixed rate of EC$2.70 to US$1.
Private water taxi — Reggae Beach to Oualie Beach Pier
Reggae Beach sits at Cockleshell Bay on the south-east tip of St. Kitts, the closest mainland point to Nevis. From the pier there it is around 6–10 minutes across The Narrows to Oualie Beach Pier. Four Seasons Resort Nevis guests are routed differently: Book Nevis can arrange a direct private water-taxi transfer from Majors Bay to the Four Seasons Nevis pier using an authorised operator permitted to dock there, around 15–20 minutes on the water. There is no queue and no waiting room — you walk a short stretch of sand to the boat.
Book Nevis’s Reggae Beach crossing is a private, pre-booked service. We do not run a walk-up boat from the beach, and we time your pickup so you arrive when the boat is ready rather than waiting in the sun — Reggae Beach has very little shade. Luggage is handled for you from the vehicle to the boat and off again on the Nevis side. In normal conditions the crossing is calm; we monitor the weather and reschedule if the seas are unsafe.
Full details of the route, including the day-trip return service for cruise passengers, are on our Reggae Beach water taxi page.
Scheduled water taxi — Reggae Beach to Oualie Beach
Independent operators run a scheduled crossing on the same stretch of water. NASPA lists Blu Waves and Islander Watersports at the Oualie Water Taxi Facility with a published fare of EC$40 one way and EC$60 round trip (roughly US$15 and US$22), and puts the crossing at about 7–10 minutes. Current operator information also lists an EC$5 pier tax on top of the fare. These are operator-set fares, not Book Nevis prices.
There is no single official timetable. Islander Water Taxi’s own booking page lists departures roughly every 30 to 60 minutes, with the first boat leaving Reggae Beach at 6:15 AM and the last at 10:30 PM — extended to 11:30 PM from Friday to Sunday. Sailings from Oualie Beach run from 6:00 AM to 10:15 PM, and to 11:15 PM at weekends. Times were checked on 8 August 2026 and are set by the operator, so confirm directly before you rely on the last boat.
The catch is the land leg. Reggae Beach is a 25–30 minute drive from Basseterre or SKB Airport across the Southeast Peninsula, and you arrange that yourself. This option suits independent travellers with flexible timing and light bags, and day trippers crossing in both directions.
Public ferry — Basseterre to Charlestown
The cheapest crossing and the one locals use. The ferry takes 25–45 minutes between the main port in Basseterre and Charlestown on Nevis, depending on the vessel and the sea state. An adult one-way ticket is typically EC$35–EC$40 (about US$13–15), depending on the vessel, plus an EC$1 pier tax. At the time of checking, Lady B charged EC$35 and Apple Syder, Next Edition and Passion EC$40 for adults. Child fares vary by vessel, from EC$20 to EC$35. A return is normally two one-way fares. The iConnect car ferry is a separate service on a different route, Majors Bay ⇄ Charlestown, and is not part of the Basseterre–Charlestown passenger ferry.
Several vessels sail each day, but the timetable is not the same all week: NASPA publishes separate Sunday, Monday–Thursday, Friday and Saturday schedules, and different boats run on different days. Tickets are sold in person at the terminal on the day you travel, not in advance, so arrive 20–30 minutes early at peak times. Luggage handlers are usually available at both ports if you have more than a carry-on.
Once you reach Charlestown, taxis wait at the pier. Four Seasons is one of the closest major resorts by road from Charlestown, while Montpelier Nevis and Hermitage are also generally quicker to reach from Charlestown than from Oualie. Golden Rock is roughly similar from either arrival point. The longer onward drives from Charlestown are to places such as Oualie, Hamilton Beach and Mount Nevis. Best for budget travellers, day trippers from St. Kitts, and anyone staying in or near Charlestown.
For current sailing times and how the crossing works, see our St. Kitts to Nevis ferry schedule guide.
Private door-to-door transfer with Book Nevis
For travellers who want the whole journey handled, a private transfer covers the airport meet, the cross-island drive, the water crossing and the Nevis-side taxi to your hotel. SKB Airport to Oualie Pier is $270; transfers routed all the way through to a Nevis hotel or villa are listed by destination.
We meet you after customs at SKB with a Book Nevis sign, load your luggage, and drive 25–30 minutes across St. Kitts to Reggae Beach. From there it is a private water-taxi crossing of around 6–10 minutes to Oualie Beach Pier, and a second driver meets you on the Nevis side and takes you to your hotel. For Four Seasons Resort Nevis guests, Book Nevis can arrange a direct private water-taxi transfer from Majors Bay to the Four Seasons Nevis pier using an authorised operator permitted to dock there (around 15–20 minutes on the water). You do not touch your bags between SKB and check-in.
We track your flight, so a delay or a next-day arrival does not add a cost. Child seats are available at $20 per ground leg. There is no after-hours fee — we run the route at night as well, which matters on the later US connections into SKB.
Browse St. Kitts to Nevis private transfers
Park Hyatt and Christophe Harbour pier — Southeast Peninsula guests
If you are staying at the Park Hyatt St. Kitts or one of the villas around Christophe Harbour, you can skip the cross-island drive entirely. Private water taxis run from the resort pier to Oualie Beach Pier on Nevis — and for Four Seasons guests, directly to the Four Seasons pier on Nevis’ western coast.
This is the shortest land leg of any cross-island option and the simplest if you are already on the Southeast Peninsula. Best for Park Hyatt and Christophe Harbour guests heading to Nevis for a day or a multi-night stay. Park Hyatt pier to Four Seasons Nevis is $330, and other hotel-to-hotel pairs are listed under inter-island transfers.
iConnect car ferry — travelling with a vehicle
If you are bringing a car, the iConnect car ferry runs between Majors Bay on the St. Kitts Southeast Peninsula and Charlestown on Nevis. It is a separate service from the Basseterre–Charlestown passenger ferry and is only worth it if the vehicle has to come with you — check current sailing times and fares with the operator before you plan around it.
Flying into SKB Airport?
If you have just landed at Robert L. Bradshaw International, the decision is slightly different: you are choosing between a taxi to the ferry terminal, a taxi to Reggae Beach for a water taxi, or a transfer that covers the whole route. Our SKB Airport to Nevis arrivals guide walks through that decision step by step, including customs timing and what happens if your flight is late.
Book Nevis airport transfers to Nevis are priced by destination and start at $270 for SKB to Oualie Pier — the full list is under airport arrival transfers. Four Seasons guests should read the Four Seasons Nevis airport transfers guide, which covers the direct pier-to-pier water-taxi route.
Charlestown or Oualie Beach Pier?
The two arrival points on Nevis sit on different sides of the island, and the difference matters more than people expect.
- Charlestown: capital town, ferry terminal, banks, supermarkets. Best placed for Charlestown itself, Four Seasons, Montpelier Nevis and Hermitage, with Golden Rock roughly comparable from either side of the island.
- Oualie Beach Pier: on Nevis’ western coast, where most water taxis land. Best placed for Oualie, Hamilton Beach and Mount Nevis, and for guests whose transfer is already routed through the north-west side of Nevis.
The better arrival point depends on your final accommodation rather than simply whether the hotel is on Nevis’ west or north coast.
Which option should you choose?
- Budget travellers and Charlestown stays: public ferry from Basseterre. Cheapest, fixed schedule, you handle your own bags.
- Independent travellers with flexible timing: scheduled water taxi from Reggae Beach to Oualie Beach, arranging your own ride to the beach.
- Park Hyatt and Christophe Harbour guests: private water taxi from the resort pier — shortest land leg.
- Four Seasons guests: private transfer routed to the Four Seasons pier on the western coast, with no onward Nevis taxi.
- Families, honeymooners and late arrivals: private door-to-door transfer via Reggae Beach. Luggage handled end to end, child seats at $20 per ground leg, flight tracking, no after-hours fee.
- Anyone bringing a vehicle: iConnect car ferry between Majors Bay and Charlestown.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the water taxi from St. Kitts to Nevis?
Around 6–10 minutes on the water from Reggae Beach to Oualie Beach Pier on a private crossing, and around 7–10 minutes on the scheduled service; add 25–30 minutes for the drive from Basseterre or SKB Airport down to Reggae Beach. Four Seasons guests using a direct private transfer cross from Majors Bay to the resort pier in around 15–20 minutes.
How much is the water taxi from St. Kitts to Nevis?
NASPA publishes EC$40 (about US$15) one way and EC$60 (about US$22) round trip, plus an EC$5 pier tax, for the scheduled Reggae Beach to Oualie Beach service run by Blu Waves and Islander Watersports. A private Book Nevis water taxi is booked as part of a transfer — SKB Airport to Oualie Pier is $270 for the whole door-to-door journey. Fares checked 26 September 2026.
How long is the ferry from St. Kitts to Nevis?
25–45 minutes between Basseterre and Charlestown, depending on which vessel is running and the sea conditions.
How much is the ferry from St. Kitts to Nevis?
Typically EC$35 to EC$40 for an adult one way — about US$13–15 — depending on the vessel, plus an EC$1 pier tax. Child fares vary by vessel (EC$20–EC$35). A return is normally two one-way fares. Tickets are bought in person at the terminal on the day you travel. For departure times, see the current Nevis ferry schedule.
How do I get from St. Kitts to Nevis?
There are five practical ways: a private water taxi from Reggae Beach to Oualie Beach Pier, a scheduled water taxi on the same route, the public ferry from Basseterre to Charlestown, a private door-to-door transfer from SKB Airport or your hotel, and the iConnect car ferry between Majors Bay and Charlestown if you are bringing a car.
Is it easy to get from St. Kitts to Nevis?
Yes. The crossing itself is short and runs many times a day. The part people underestimate is the land leg — getting to Basseterre’s ferry terminal or down to Reggae Beach — and matching that to a boat departure. A door-to-door transfer removes both problems.
Can you take a boat from St. Kitts to Nevis?
Yes — there is no bridge or road link between the islands, so every crossing is by boat. Your choice is the passenger ferry, a water taxi, or the vehicle ferry.
Plan your St. Kitts to Nevis crossing
Book Nevis runs the St. Kitts to Nevis crossing every day, including at night. If you know your flight or your hotel, we can price the whole journey door to door — see airport arrival transfers from $270, or read more about the Reggae Beach water taxi crossing.
