Although we’d been to Nevis several times, we saw vistas and places we had never seen before.
I have a special fondness for the island of Nevis. To me, it offers a bit of the best of everything I love about the Caribbean: lovely people, beautiful scenery, intriguing history and recreational opportunities.
And despite seven visits over the past 24 years, I knew there were places still to be seen, many not easily accessed by rental car nor on foot. Then I found out about Funky Monkey Tours and Rentals.
When I first saw the term “ATV” I panicked. I had visions of the ATV motorbikes-like vehicles I’d seen in cottage country back home, and I knew I could never command or be comfortable on such a thing, and that’s when my husband reassured me – I wouldn’t have to ride a quad bike.
In fact, Funky Monkey has a lot of options to keep things fun and safe. If one person is keen on driving (and has a valid driver’s licence), they can operate one of the company’s Polaris 2-seater, 4-seater or even 6-seater vehicles. Other less daring souls can ride with one of Funky Monkey’s terrific guides. In our case, Waz, our tour leader, let us ride with him in the lead vehicle. Four other brave guests followed us in their own two-person ATVs.
It was great to sit back and leave the driving to our capable, knowledgeable and entertaining guide, Waz.
We headed out on a clockwise tour of the island. Our start was quick and exhilarating, leaving the Funky Monkey’s base near Cades Bay and going off road up Round Hill to enjoy a gorgeous vista of the Caribbean Sea on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. The trails were bumpy, rough and brush filled, and it was ‘trial by fire’ for our companions who had never driven a 4 x 4 ATV before, but they quickly got the hang of it.
Waz was terrific about customizing the tour to fit the group’s interests, as he explained that his clients often have different experiences of Nevis, from first-time visitors to others, like us, who have seen the main points of interest but want to delve deeper into all Nevis has to offer.
If I am being honest, I am no longer physically up to hiking on Nevis so that means missing much of the island’s natural beauty. So how does a non-hiking, non-driving Nevis lover get around to off-the-beaten path gems? Thanks to Waz and Funky Monkey, our three-and-half-hour journey provided the answer, delivering some amazing moments. Highlights included following the historic Upper Round Road, which leads up through the rainforest. Now overgrown, the road follows the original colonial cart track constructed in the 1600s to reach plantations located in the interior.
We had a short tour of New River Estate, where we learned about the old rum distilling process among the ruins of a sugar plantation. We encountered monkeys, passed local rum shops with names like Poor Man’s Bar and Squeeze Up, and took time out for Waz’s ‘hydration’ breaks. The Funky Monkey team travels with a mobile bar. Drivers have their choice of non-alcoholic beverages, and passengers can enjoy more spirited selections, such as a cold Carib, rum punch or a ‘Ting with a Sting’ – the local grapefruit soda spiked with rum.
The tour covers the whole island from the highlands to the beach, offering thought-provoking insights into Nevis’ past and present.
Our tour took us to the beach where we saw the current sad state of the venerable Nisbet Plantation resort, before visiting another historic hotel, Hermitage Plantation (home of the Caribbean’s oldest existing rum punch recipe).
Waz seemed to have memorized every road, every dirt track, every bump on Nevis. He told us about his love of exploring, nature and purposely “getting lost” in his own home-made ATV.
It was a relief for me not to have to be the navigator, and my husband later confessed to being secretly relieved that he had decided not to drive on this tour – not to mention having the luxury of having a drink or two along the way. Instead, we took in everything we passed. A personal highlight for me was the portion of the tour that took us through the parish of Gingerland. Located on the slopes of Nevis Peak, Gingerland is a mysterious delight. Mystery is a big part of Nevis’ charm — one that some might say to be slightly haunted, tumbledown and, well, simply amazing.
It may be a cliché to say we were “shaken and stirred” on this tour, so let’s just say we enjoyed the adrenalin rushes, the step back in time and Nevis in all its natural glory.
Funky Monkey also operates tours out of St. Kitts. For more information, check out the website.
Nadine Hubert 2026
