Amazing St. Vincent and the Grenadines

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a southern Caribbean nation that consists of the main island, St. Vincent, and a chain of smaller islands.

Bequia (pronounced “Beck-way”) is the second largest of the Grenadines. This is a popular yachting destination and has a rich whaling history. There are lush hillsides with bougainvillea that tumble down to the beaches and bays.

Port Elizabeth on Admiralty Bay is the main commercial center. On the south side of town, you’ll find a walkway stretching along the waterfront with stores and restaurants.

Petit St. Vincent is also known as PSV, a privately owned island. It is home to the Petit St. Vincent Resort, one of the top all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean. Guests stay in secluded ocean-view villas with no phones or TV. The island belongs to the portfolio of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

Palm Island is home to the Palm Island Resort & Spa. There are holiday villas available. The island was named for its many coconut palms. There are white-sand beaches with great snorkeling. The island has a small airport and is a short boat ride from Union Island.

The tiny island of Mayreau can only be accessed by boat. It has one of the Caribbean’s loveliest bays, Salt Whistle Bay. This is a popular place for yachts. There are beautiful palm-fringed beaches. Along the shore, you’ll find local vendors selling souvenirs and snacks. The only road on the island leads uphill to a small village offering fantastic views of the ocean and the Tobago Cays.

On St. Vincent’s one of the popular things to do is to take a guided hike to the crater of La Soufriere Volcano. It rises 1, 234 meters above sea level and is the highest peak. The volcano is still active last erupting in 1979. To reach the crater, visitors hike the leeward trail or the easier windward trail. Along the way, you can learn about the plants and animals, see the rainforest, and get fantastic views of the surrounding countryside. At the top, you can explore the crater.

Another privately owned island is Mustique. This is a playground for celebrities, rock stars, and the uber-rich. It has its own airport and general store. The five-kilometer island has private villas and two luxury hotels – Firefly Mustique and The Cotton House.

The beaches are great for swimming and snorkeling with the favorite one being Macaroni Beach.

Kingstown is the capital and main commercial center of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It is a charming town with cobblestone streets and colonial buildings and is known for its churches:

St. George’s Anglican Cathedral was built in 1820 in the Georgian style and is adorned with stained glass windows.

Nature lovers enjoy hiking on the popular Vermont Nature Trail about 14 kilometers from Kingstown.

Another popular attraction in Kingstown is the St. Vincent Botanical Gardens established in 1765 and the oldest in the West Indies. The gardens have Indigenous and exotic tropical plants and trees like hibiscus, cinnamon, nutmeg, mahogany, palms, and a breadfruit tree.

Bird lovers can see the endemic St. Vincent parrot in a little aviary.

Leeward Highway stretches along cliff tops and offers scenic coastal stretches. This 40-kilometer road runs from Kingstown to Richmond Beach, along St. Vincent’s sheltered west coast. The road passes by local villages, black-sand beaches, coconut plantations, and tourist attractions.

Along the way, you can see Carib Rock which features a carved face dating from AD 600.

The route ends near the black sands of Richmond Beach, a popular swimming area. In the distance, you can see La Soufriere.

From this spot, tours depart to the Falls of Baleine, an 18-meter waterfall on the northwestern tip of St. Vincent. Access to the falls is by boat or on foot.

The small island of Canouan about 40 miles south of St. Vincent is known for its beautiful white-sand beaches and great snorkelling. A barrier reef on the Atlantic side protects the island. There are two exclusive resorts – The Pink Sands Club and Canouan Estate Villas & Residences. They overlook a highly acclaimed golf course.

Dramatic volcanic peaks cap Union Island. It is the southern port of entry for St. Vincent and the Grenadines and a gateway for tours to nearby islands. The island has two main villages, Ashton and Clifton. Ashton is the launching point for hikes into the hills and Clifton is home to most tourist facilities, with shops, restaurants, a marina, and an airport. The two best beaches lie on the north coast at Richmond Bay and Belmont Bay.