Just south of St Lucia and west of Barbados, the 32 island chain of St Vincent and the Grenadines is made up of some of the most idyllic and secluded destinations in the world.
The Grenadines are superbly underdeveloped, supremely unspoilt and sufficiently inaccessible to stay that way. On these gorgeous islands, nightlife is conspicuous by its absence, and the lifestyle ranges from informal to barefoot casual.
From celebrity hideaway Mustique, private island resorts like Palm Island and Petit St Vincent, and the unspoilt islands of Bequia and Canouan, the common factor is the unrivalled scenery – white sandy beaches and the shimmering turquoise and blue sea. It’s no wonder that many of the location scenes for ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ were shot here.
After St Vincent, the largest island is Bequia, where secluded beaches and green hills provide a stunning backdrop for activities including sailing, diving and hiking. Port Elizabeth located at the heart of Admiralty Bay is the picture perfect capital of Bequia. Its’ vibrant daily fish and vegetable market is a must in order to soak up the local atmosphere. Nearby Princess Margaret Beach offers a glorious sweep of white sand, while the sugar-white sands of Friendship Bay lie on the south-east coast, where its sheltered waters are ideal for watersports.
On the private island of Mustique relaxation and casualness are the bye words. The island’s gentle climate and natural beauty of dramatic hilltops and pristine palm fringed beaches has attracted visitors for generations, many of whom return time and time again. Visitors can either rent villas on the island (including David Bowie’s former villa!) or stay in one of the island’s two hotels, Cotton Club or Firefly. You may even bump into Mick Jagger!
You can experience even more of the Caribbean by combining your St Vincent and the Grenadines holiday with a stay on Barbados, Saint Lucia or Grenada, all of which are less than an hour’s flight away. The Caribbeanist would be more than happy to tailor make a trip to suit your personal requirements.
You can get to St Vincent and the Grenadines via Barbados or St Lucia. British Airways have 12 direct flights from Gatwick to Barbados each week and 7 direct flights a week to Saint Lucia, also from Gatwick. Virgin fly direct from Gatwick to Barbados and St Lucia at least 3 times a week throughout the year. Flying time is 8hours 50minutes.
St Vincent and The Grenadines is an all year-round holiday destination, with ‘high’ season being between December and April.
Why the Grenadines?
‘Karen and I visited the Grenadines after spending a few days in Barbados. We were welcomed on Bequia like family, and nothing was too much trouble for anyone. I remember commenting to Gideon one day (local Mr Fixit) how good the local reggae Christmas music was (we were there in December), and before I knew it, he’d got his son to burn a CD of local Christmas music and presented it to us as a gift. That sums up the Grenadines’. – Mike Williams, co-founder, The Caribbeanist.
