Attractions
Petit St. Vincent, the southernmost of the Grenadines governed by St. Vincent, covers an area of 45 hectares. 22 luxury villas line the beaches, offering privacy to visitors. The houses have their own terraces and sea views. Meals are served in beach pavilions.
Palm Island: This 45 hectare private island with 8000 coconut palms is relatively flat. The 20 bungalows of the Palm Island Beach Club are located directly on the beach. Al fresco dining and a variety of water sports are available.
Another private island, Mayreau, lies east of the Cays. It is one of the smaller Grenadines and only sparsely populated. Salt Whistle Bay Resort, the only hotel, can be reached by boat from Union Island.
Canouan has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. In the coral reefs, numerous fish can be observed without diving. The island is 5.5 km long and about 2 km wide. The two hotels Tamarind Beach Hotel and Canouan Beach Hotel are close to the beach. There are also two guesthouses.
The Grenadines
Bequia, 14 km south of St. Vincent, is the largest of the Grenadines with an area of 18 square km. Due to its remoteness before the airstrip was built in 1992, ancient traditions such as boat building, whaling and fishing (to a very limited extent) have been preserved. No harpoons, slings or nets may be used in the water protection area. The interior of the country is hilly and forested and forms an impressive backdrop for the numerous bays and beaches.
Admiralty Bay, the island’s natural harbor, is a popular anchorage for yachtsmen from around the world. On the shore you can watch the locals making hand-built boats. Lower Bay is another region with good bathing and water sports opportunities.
On the harbor promenade of Port Elizabeth is home to bars, restaurants and craft shops. Bequia is surrounded by golden sandy beaches. They run out to bays that invite you to go sailing, swimming, snorkeling and diving. Accommodation ranges from simple inns to luxurious bungalows. Nightlife is mostly organized by the hotels. Barbecues on the beach and performances by steel bands are typical events.
Young Island, just 180 m from St. Vincent, consists of a 10-hectare mountain with tropical plants and bushes growing on its slopes. At certain times of the year, the island is covered in a carpet of flowers. From Young Island you can watch the yachts on their way to Kingstown. The Young Island Resort hotel complex consists of 29 rustic cottages spread over the slopes and beaches of the entire island. There is a freshwater swimming pool and tennis courts. Just off the coast of Young Island is Fort Duvernette (18C), carved out of an enormous rock and rising 60m high. A ferry constantly shuttles between Young Island and St. Vincent.
Kingstown, the capital of St. Vincent, is a bustling port and market town on the south coast. It is divided into 12 small districts in which numerous shops are located. The busy port is the trading hub of the islands. The entire population meets at the weekly market on Saturday morning. The St. Mary’s Cathedral in the city center offers a combination of different European architectural styles: The gray stone building combines Romanesque arches with Gothic turrets and Moorish decorations. The ruins of Fort Charlotte stand on a 180 m high mountain slope in the north of the city and offer a beautiful view. The oldest botanical garden in the western hemisphere is north of Kingstown. Many rare tropical trees and plants grow on the 8-hectare site. The collection of old stone monuments is also interesting. Just north of Kingstown, in the St. Vincent Parrot Reserve, you can see the endangered St. Vincent’s parrot.
The Baleine Falls on the northern tip of the island can only be reached by boat. 18 m high waterfalls rush over volcanic slopes and collect in a series of shallow pools. A challenge is the 5 km long hike to the more than 1000 m high volcano La Soufrière. The hardship is rewarded with a bird’s-eye view that includes the crater, the entire island, and some neighboring islands.
On the west coast are the picturesque fishing villages of Questelles, Layou, Barrouallie and Châteaubelair with pastel colored cottages and excellent black sand beaches.
St Vincent
St. Vincent is a lush green volcanic island with steep mountains, deep valleys and magnificent waterfalls. Rugged cliffs alternate with rocky beaches on the east coast, while black and golden sandy beaches lie on the west coast. In the north rises the 1234 m high volcano La Soufrière.
Mustique: Further south is the island of Mustique. This “pearl in the ocean” is about 3 km long and 1.5 km wide. Gentle green hills gradually give way to white sandy beaches lapped by the turquoise sea. An 18th-century plantation has been converted into the island’s only hotel. Several stone houses offer extremely elegant accommodation. On a hill is a swimming pool with a breathtaking panorama. You can also play tennis, explore the island on horseback or motorbike and practice all kinds of water sports.
Tobago Cays: South of Canouan are the Tobago Cays, a chain of small islands on the most beautiful coral reefs in the world. Here you can swim, sail and dive in complete seclusion. These islets can only be reached by chartered boat.
Union Island: Mount Parnassus on Union Island is 900 feet (275 m) tall. Its peak seems to watch over the southern Grenadines. This mountainous island has an area of approximately 850 hectares and is fringed with excellent beaches. Sailors from all over the world dock here. Small Clifton Harbor is the largest town and has a lively commercial life. There are inns with a friendly atmosphere on the promenade.
Shopping
Overview
Straw netting, grass carpets and aromatic spices. If you buy one of the island’s typical printed cotton fabrics, you can have clothes made in numerous shops in two to three days. Shop opening hours: Mon-Fri 08.00-12.00 and 13.00-16.00, Sat 08.00-12.00.
Nightlife
Introduction
Numerous hotels offer evening entertainment; Programs are available at the hotel reception. The Attic in Kingstown offers an extensive entertainment program with live music on weekends. There is also a casino in Peniston on St Vincent.
Culinary
Overview
Numerous fish specialties such as red snapper or lambi (a type of sea shell similar to abalone) are on the menu. The excellent calaloo soup and souse (a sauce made from pig’s feet) should be tried, as well as the sea moss drink. Local lobster is also available during certain times of the year. Drinks: Local beer and rum (often as punch and in cocktails) and various exotic fruit juices are drunk.
Culture
Religion
47% Anglican, 28% Methodist, other Protestant and 13% Catholic.
Social Rules of Conduct
It’s easy to keep calm and combine British influences with a Caribbean lifestyle. Visitors are warmly welcomed and casual wear is accepted almost everywhere. Nevertheless, shorts and bathing suits belong on the beach and should not be worn when strolling through the city. Tipping: Bills include 10-15% service charge. Taxi drivers do not expect tips.
Climate
Best travel time
Hot and tropical. Trade winds moderate the temperatures of the hottest months of June and July, occasional heavy rains.
Country data
Phone prefix
+1 784
Area (sq km)
389
Population
110,940 (Source: homosociety)
Population density (per square km)
264
Population statistics year
2020
Main emergency number
911
