The Nevis to St Kitts Cross Channel Swim will celebrate its 25th anniversary on 28 March 2026, with Team GB Olympic open water swimmer Alice Dearing joining the field for the first time, the St. Kitts Tourism Authority has announced.
For UK business travellers looking to bolt a memorable challenge onto a Caribbean trip, the timing is convenient. British Airways flies direct from London Gatwick to St Kitts twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and a packaged option covering entry, accommodation and transfers means the event can be organised with minimal planning.
An Olympian joins the field
The 2.5-mile (4.1 km) open water crossing between the sister islands starts at Oualie Beach on Nevis and finishes at Spice Mill Restaurant in Cockleshell Bay, St Kitts. Swimmers can race competitively or opt for a more leisurely crossing using fins, an approach that opens the event to everyone from elite athletes to recreational swimmers.
Dearing competed in open water swimming at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and was the first Black woman to represent Great Britain in Olympic swimming. A multiple British champion and European medallist, she is widely recognised for her work promoting diversity, accessibility and inclusion in swimming and outdoor sport.
“We are proud to support the Nevis to St. Kitts Cross Channel Swim—a thrilling event with a heart for conservation and community, that showcases our islands’ natural beauty,” said Marsha Henderson, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Urban Development. “Now in its 25th year, the swim has become a symbol of our vibrant tourism scene, drawing visitors and athletes from around the world, and firmly positioning St. Kitts as a destination whose visitor experiences are immersive, memorable and rooted in nature. Having Alice Dearing participate will make this year’s event even more special.”
What the package includes
Tour operator SwimTrek is offering a four-day, three-night package from 26 to 29 March 2026, priced from £1,430 per person excluding flights. It covers race entry, airport transfers, three nights at either the Royal St. Kitts or the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, breakfast on days two and four, a pre-race welcome lunch, an acclimatisation swim with a boat tour of the route, a race day transfer, a post-race celebration dinner, a finisher’s medal and event merchandise including a tow-float.
Those who cannot make the March date can arrange a private crossing through the event’s organiser, St. Kitts and Nevis Swim Events Ltd, which includes a full briefing, boat and in-water support, and refreshments. Full event details are available on the official Cross Channel Swim website.
Making a bleisure trip of it
St Kitts has been steadily building its appeal beyond the beach, from a new wreck dive attraction at Potato Bay to the Wedge Boutique Hotel now under construction. Visitors extending a stay can hike rainforest trails, explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, or try zip-lining and ATV excursions.
UK travellers should note that St Kitts and Nevis requires an Electronic Travel Authorisation before arrival, applied for online, and passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry. Current guidance is on the Foreign Office travel advice page.
