Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Saint Vincent is the largest island of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is home to a live volcano, La Soufriere, which last erupted in 1979. Its summit is the highest peak in the country. The largest town is Kingstown, a modern, bustling metropolis with about 25,000 people. It is also the island’s main port. The rest of the population lives mostly along the coast. The island’s interior is mountainous and densely forested, and beautiful beaches with black sand (a consequence of island’s volcanic origin) surround it. In contrast, the beaches in the Grenadines have white sand. The Vermont Nature Trail is a popular way to get around the island’s spectacular natural scenery and see many island’s endemic species, as well as over 500 native parrots. A scenic coastal trail will take you pass by Fort Charlotte and many fantastic waterfalls, with breathtaking views around every corner. You might even try climbing to the summit of the Sufriere volcano.

Bequia, meaning "island of the clouds" in ancient Arawak, is the second biggest island in the country of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is located about nine miles from the capital of Kingstown located on the main island, Saint Vincent. Bequia is a beautiful tropical oasis with white sandy beaches, magnificent coral reefs, lively yachting community in Port Elizabeth, and friendly people. The island is popular with the yachting crowd, and local healthy coral reefs offer fantastic scuba diving, especially at several sunken shipwrecks. Local restaurants, often overlooking the water, are quaint and small, and they offer delicious local dishes.

Located about 40 miles from St. Vincent, Petit St Vincent is the southernmost island in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Since 2013, the entire island has been converted into a private luxury resort, a part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World chain of hotels. The island is surrounded by miles of fine white sand beaches. The interior consists of green rolling hills and lush tropical forest. The island’s highest point is Marni Hill at 275 feet. Reefs surround the island, and diving and snorkeling are great both on the windward and the leeward coast. There is a network of hiking trails through the island’s lush interior. Island guests can also go kayaking or charter a boat to go fishing or cruising the ocean around the island.

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Botanic Gardens, about one mile from Kingstown in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, is one of the world’s oldest botanical gardens, preserving rare native and other tropical plants since 1765. Spread over about 20 acres of lush grounds, the garden is an incredibly beautiful green oasis, a peaceful retreat, a historic landmark, and a gorgeous background to many local weddings, celebrations, and events. The Botanical Gardens is part of the National Parks, Rivers, and Beaches Authority, and is in charge of preserving and propagating country’s diverse biodiversity. An important part of the garden is the Nicholas Wildlife Aviary, which runs a captive breeding program to protect and conserve Saint Vincent amazon parrot, listed as a vulnerable species.

Canouan is a small island in the Caribbean nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A barrier reef protects the island on the Atlantic side. Its interior is hilly and lushly forested, with Mount Royal dominating the landscape and offering magnificent views from the summit. The island is famous for its beautiful sandy beaches. One of the most popular is Grand Bay Beach, located close to Charlestown, the island main town. Visitors to the lovely South Glossy Bay can enjoy calm, protected waters and beautiful views of the southern Grenadines. Windward Bay is very different, filled with volcanic rocks that show the island’s volcanic origin. An expedient ferry connects the island with the Grenadines, taking only one hour. The island is home to the exclusive luxury Tamarind Beach Hotel and private Grenadines Estate.

Located at the foot of La Soufrière Volcano in the northwest of St. Vincent, Dark View Falls are two spectacular waterfalls that spill from a small Richmond River tributary, one above the other, spilling over the face of a high cliff and dropping into the deep natural pool. A hike from the parking lot to the falls is only about 15 minutes of an easy walk, but you first have to go through a shady bamboo grove and then over a natural bamboo bridge that crosses the tumbling river to get to the falls. It is an adrenaline-pumping adventure, but it is well worth it. The pools below the falls are wonderful for a cooling swim.

Just off the coast of Grenadines’ Union Island is a very special island that is home of the local artist, builder, and visionary Janti Ramage. He named his home Happy Island, and you will know why when you come to visit. His home and bar are made entirely of conch shells he scavenged over time from the neighboring beaches where fishermen threw them away after taking out the succulent muscle. Janti took the mountains of abandoned shells that were becoming a local problem and, combining them with bits of exposed coral rocks, created a flat platform that became a surface for his new little island. He built a bar and patio on it and even planted some palm trees, creating a unique Union Island attraction no visiting sailor or tourist can miss.

The Grenadines’ smallest inhabited island, Mayreau covers only about one and half square miles and has only one village with no name where everyone lives. The village is perched on top of Station Hill on the south-west end of the island and has a school, the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, a telecommunications building, and a Pentecostal church. Behind the Catholic Church is an overlook that offers spectacular view of Tobago Cays, Canouan, and Union Island. There is a single-lane road that runs from the Saline Bay through the village to Saltwhistle Bay. Saline Bay got its name because of the salt pond from which salt was exported in the past, but it is now used only by the locals. Most of the islanders are fishermen, the tourism is an important part of the island economy. There is a small resort on Saltwhistle Bay, which is also a very popular anchoring spot for the passing yachts.

Moonhole is a private nature preserve and community on the western tip of Bequia Island in the Grenadines. Moonhole got its name from a huge arch in the volcanic cliff through which it is possible to see the setting moon at times. Thomas and Gladys Johnston, former NY advertising execs, founded the preserve in the 1960s. They built a house under the arch with the help of masons from the nearby Paget Farm village and created a massive room using native hardwoods, whalebones, and various objects collected on the beach. The room is open on one side to the spectacular view of the ocean. The unique dwelling at first had no electricity, water was collected from rain, and a huge tree grew through the master bedroom. The guest bedrooms were created around a veranda, a central dining room, and a large bar built from a jawbone of humpback whale. The community today has 11 private homes and is dedicated to the protection of this unique architecture, vision, and local nature.

Mustique is a private island in the St. Vincent and the Grenadines archipelago known for its magnificent fine white-sand beaches. The most famous are Pasture Bay Beach, Macaroni Beach, and Endeavour Bay Beach. There are not many roads on the island, and the North Point trail runs through wild coastal areas that are home to native seabirds. The island’s west coast has a small village called Britannia Bay, with a collection of small shops and fruit stalls. The tiny village of Lovell is nearby. The island is surrounded by healthy coral reefs and has rich and diverse wildlife and many bird species. The island is privately owned by the Mustique Company, formed by the owners of island homes. There are about 100 private villas that the Mustique Company rents out. There are also two hotels: the Cotton House and the Firefly.