Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a beautiful 32-island nation that is located west of Barbados in the Caribbean Sea. This is what your Caribbean dream vacation should look like! Imagine: thatched-roof cottages rising over turquoise waters while the sweet scent of tropical flowers fills the air; bronzed sun-worshippers sprawled along isolated white-sands, and swaying palm trees. I mean! Seriously!
If you are an adventure junkie who prefers sports like hiking, diving or sailing, you’d surely love this gorgeous archipelago that offers volcanoes to climb, refreshing waterfalls to explore and calm diving waters.
Geography
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (also known simply as Saint Vincent) is a southern Caribbean country. It is located west of Barbados south of Saint Lucia and north of Grenada in the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, an island arc of the Caribbean Sea. This is wave-lapped sunshine comprised the main island, St. Vincent, and the northern two-thirds of the Grenadines, a chain of small islands stretching south from Saint Vincent to Grenada. The chief island of the chain is 29 kilometres (18 miles) long and 18 kilometres (11 miles) wide.
While St. Vincent is lush, mountainous and agricultural, it is surrounded by the magical Grenadine islands that are scattered south of the main island. There are over 32 islands and cays that form St Vincent and the Grenadines. Out of these, nine of them are inhabited. The main inhabited islands of the Grenadines are Bequia, Mustique, Union Island, and Canouan; others are privately owned. While the windward side is very rocky, the leeward side of this island nation consists of many sandy beaches and has many more bays.
Also Read: Keep Calm and Enjoy the Caribbean: Our Pick of the Top 8 Islands
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines‘s official language is English. There are five Airports in this island nation: E.T Joshua on St Vincent, J.F Mitchell on Bequia, as well as one each on Canouan, Union Island and Mustique. You can access the Caribbean country through these seven Ports of Entry as well: Wallilabou (yachts only), Kingstown, Bequia, Canouan, Mustique, Union Island and Chateaubelair.
When to Visit
Pamper yourself in this idyllic Caribbean climate between December and April as generally, the tropical climate is hot and humid. Take a break from the cold and dry weather as you plan for this trip. Unfortunately, prices usually tend to go up during this high season and the months of in May, June and November still have good weather. So, plan budget-wise as these latter months may be good options as well. However, keep in mind that the area is at risk for hurricanes each July through October.
Things to Do
- Take a stroll through the “The City of Arches” i.e. Kingstown – which is also the capital of St Vincent and the Grenadines. More than 400 arches can be found in the region’s largest city.
- Swim with sea turtles at Tobago Cays wildlife preserve. This cluster of uninhabited islands in a coral reef lagoon offers fantastic snorkelling opportunities as well.
- Climb an active volcano on St Vincent (La Soufriere) that rises almost 4,048 feet.
- Visit the oldest Botanical gardens in the Western Hemisphere: St Vincent Botanic Gardens (dating back to 1765).
- Visit the set of Pirates of the Caribbean I and II. These movies were filmed here in Wallilabou Bay. Some of the movie sets still remain to stand and also has some props and other movie memorabilia on display.
- Visit the Arawak Rock Carvings which embody features characteristic of Antillean Petroglyphs while also having shapes typical of mainland South America on the other.
- Sail to Mustique, Canouan, and Bequia—some of the Grenadine’s finest (and exclusive) hideaways to explore a quiet and less travelled tropical paradise for yourself.
This Caribbean destination makes a perfect escape with its 32 remote islands and cays boasting emerald hills, postcard-worthy harbours, and boutique hotels. But don’t worry, it’s not just for the rich and famous! You can, in fact, find cheap ferries to explore this archipelago nation independently in a way there’s that perfectly meets your needs. You can thank us later.