Ivan

If you want to get to know St Kitts and Nevis, the very best first step is to get to know Basseterre ATV Guide Ivan Rogers!

Did you have any jobs or a career before becoming a tour guide? If so, how did you make the transition to becoming a tour guide?

Before I joined Spectrum ATV Tours, I was employed as a laborer with a construction company. However, I would often work as a backup guide on weekends with my father and when he left the company I was employed as the lead tour guide.

If you could only take a visitor to one place in St. Kitts and Nevis, where would you go?

That’s easy, Dos D’Anse Pond, Old Road because from what I have experienced working with many people, on average a lot of us love adventure and that particular hike offers a very good adventurous experience.

How would you describe your style as a guide?

I am a very accommodating guide who strives to give my guests a wonderful and enjoyable experience. I work to make sure I keep my guests happy and smiling.

What is the best part of your job?

Meeting new people, every day it is someone different, especially those who are very hearty and just full of life.

What’s the most bizarre experience or odd request from a client you’ve had on a guided tour?

It has to be when a marriage proposal was done in the middle of a Private ATV Tour I was leading, I was completely amazed and shocked. I then volunteered to take pictures of the happy couple.

Every job has its ups and downs. Are there any aspects of your job that you don’t like or aren’t that keen on?

Honestly, no, I basically get paid to have fun. So that’s pretty awesome!

When you’re not busy guiding tours – what’s your favorite thing you do?

I’m an explorer so when I’m not working, I’m usually exploring new trails and finding new adventures to visit.

As an experienced guide yourself, can you explain to our readers what the benefits of hiring a guide are?

Well, there are things guides know that they can advise or educate you on and the guides are there to answer any questions guests may have. Most guides are locals and they would have that expert knowledge of the island that one would find beneficial.

You have a lot of experience with great food and drinks from your region – What is the most awesome local specialty that all visitors must try?

I would definitely recommend our local dish, Stewed Saltfish, Coconut Dumplings, Spicy Plantains and Seasoned Breadfruit, it’s very delicious and it’s also a “full belly” dish – that is, it is satisfying.

Tell us something about St. Kitts and Nevis that only a guide would know.

St. Kitts has a lot of hidden sites and most are up in the hills and mountains, way off from the villages. Take for instance our Mt. Liamigua, on a clear day, you can see a lot of the landscape and villages and even some the nearby islands.

In your view, what makes a good tour guide?

One that is friendly and knowledgeable, has good communications skills and can be flexible enough to meet their guests’ individual needs.

And finally, have you got any tips for people who are interested in booking a guide like yourself, but aren’t too sure what to look for?

You would want a guide who is experienced and familiar with the area, but most importantly one that would go over and beyond to make your experience more worthwhile.