St. Helena: It no longer takes five nights to get to the world’s most remote island open to tourists

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One of the world’s most remote islands, famous as the place where Napoleon was exiled, is about to open to tourists.

St. Helena, a small, rocky island in the South Atlantic Ocean, hasn’t seen many people, for good reason: it’s one of the most uninhabited places in the world. However, British pounds can still be used.

Until 2017, it took five nights by boat to reach the British Overseas Territory, located about halfway between southern Africa and Brazil. Now, with weekly commercial flights and the recent arrival of high-speed internet, the government hopes to breathe new life into the emerging tourism industry, which will welcome around 2,100 leisure travelers in 2023.

The island has just over 4,000 inhabitants (a people known as Saints) and may attract certain types of visitors.

“These are people who really want to travel and learn, rather than ‘Let’s go somewhere to get some sunshine and eat some good food,'” said Emma Phillips, whose husband Nigel is governor of St. Helena. To tell.

After all, 2000 miles from the nearest continent, the weather is unpredictable and supplies can be scarce.

“You have to be ready to take it all in,” says Phillips, praising the island’s welcoming locals, rich history and natural wonders. “Please come with an open mind.”

Perhaps best known as the exile site of Napoleon Bonaparte from 1815 until his death in 1821, St. Helena is home to several heritage sites honoring the exiled French emperor. Visitors can tour his home and original cemetery. His remains were returned to France in 1840.

The capital, Jamestown, is an eclectic mix of new and old. The British Georgian colonial building houses a small retail and grocery store. His two DVD rental shops are a holdover from the days before high-speed internet was available on the island.

If you’re looking for a scenic workout, try climbing the 699-step Jacob’s Ladder on the outskirts of town. The 600-foot-tall outdoor staircase was originally a donkey-powered cartway used to transport supplies between the city and the clifftop fortress.

Plantation House, three miles south of the capital, is a grand Georgian mansion built in 1792 by the British East India Company, which controlled St. Helena until 1834. Now the official residence of the Governor General, the house displays a collection of royal portraits and original furniture. Also included are antique pottery and a chandelier from Bonaparte’s final home.

The Plantation House’s well-kept gardens are home to one of the island’s most famous residents, a venerable tortoise named Jonathan. Jonathan holds the Guinness World Record for being the oldest living land animal, at approximately 192 years old. He has met several members of the royal family, including Queen Elizabeth II, who visited St. Helena in 1947, and Prince Edward, who visited St. Helena in January.

“Jonathan is a mysterious turtle,” says Teenie Lucy, who has cared for him for more than 10 years. “When people come to St. Helena, they usually know two things about her: Jonathan the turtle and Napoleon Bonaparte.” She doesn’t know who the biggest celebrity is.

Although Jonathan lost his sight and sense of smell, he remains a big attraction for tourists like Gilly Hill, who came from England to take a selfie with him.

“I think he’s the most wonderful creature,” she said.

Other activities you might want to do include swimming with Chilean devil rays and whale sharks, which are common from December to March. Humpback whale watching is also held from June to December. Visit in January to see peak nesting season for wirebirds (also known as St. Helena plovers), found only on St. Helena Island.

Around a third of the British territory’s unique biodiversity is within the 47 square mile island. More than 500 species are found nowhere else on Earth, including 45 species of flowering plants and ferns.

Experience a variety of microclimates, from cool tropical forests to sunny rolling grasslands to windswept volcanic cliffs, all within an hour’s drive.

St. Helena is home to 24 scenic trails that can satisfy even the most avid hiker’s wanderlust. Serious trekkers may choose Diana’s Peak, the highest point. The 3.3-mile hike takes you into Britain’s last remaining natural cloud forest, 890 feet above sea level.

Casual hikers can stroll along the Blue Point Trail for stunning views of Sandy Bay, Sperry Island, and Castle Rock. For a moderate challenge, try a shady hike to St. Helena’s famous heart-shaped waterfall, which only flows in winter and early spring. Be sure to get the best view of the falls from the main road leading out of Jamestown.

Perched at 1,700 feet in the greenest and most remote part of the island, this historic mansion overlooks the cloud forest and offers a truly delicious pint of beer.

Langhams is a small coffee farm run by Neil and Debbie Phantom that offers tours and homestays.

Coffee lovers seek out St. Helena beans, which are often touted as one of the world’s rarest and most expensive varieties due to their export costs and single origin. It sells online for $150 per half pound. Extreme isolation ensures that coffee plants imported from Yemen in the 18th century are never cross-fertilized.

“Is it the best in the world? I couldn’t say. Is it coffee that we enjoy making and drinking? 100 percent,” says Neil. “We have the perfect environment for it and we will do it ourselves.”

“With love,” Debbie added.

Other delicious local dishes include Pro, a cross between curry and Spanish paella, fresh fishcakes and sponge cakes with bright pink icing known as coconut fingers.