A Closer Look at the Grenadine Islands

I`ve talked about Saint Vincent and my volcano hike, but what`s with these Grenadines. Let me take you on a little island hopping tour around the Grenadine islands I saw on my trip. Starting with the first island I stayed on: Young Island.

Young Island Resort, the most northerly of the Grenadines chain of islands, is a privately owned tropical island. Legend has that 150 years ago the original inhabitants of the region, the Caribs, traded the island for a stallion owned by the then British Administrator, Governor Young, hence the origin of the island`s name. I had a private cottage to myself, hammock, Jacuzzi and private gazebo… this is definitely an island you come to for relaxation.

Fun Fact: Young Island became one of the first private resort islands in the Caribbean in 1974.

Next up: Bequia, my favorite island on this trip. This island has a certain vibe and charm. Apparently I`m not the only one who thinks this way about the island, as several people told me, once you`ve been to Bequia, you return. What made Bequia stick out from the other islands?

Maybe it was the warm welcome of all the colorful boats in the harbor of Port Elizabeth, the elegant Bequia Beach Hotel we stayed at or the island tour, giving us an introduction to the island. I can tell you what surely made an impression on me, the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary. This sanctuary has tended the endangered hawksbill turtle since 1995. It was founded and is run by Orton King.

Another interesting place we paid a visit to, Sargeant`s Model Boat Shop. Boat building is a rich Bequian tradition introduced during the 1800`s by the Scottish.

Our last island where we would stay was Canouan. – To get to this island we took a ferry and I would like to give you a tip, when picking a seat on the boat, choose one in the back of the boat. I was told this by the locals after a rough boat ride into Canouan. –

The name Canouan comes from the Caribbean word “cannouan” meaning “turtle” or “turtle island”. This island has one of the Caribbean`s longest barrier reefs, white sandy beaches and turquoise seas. It`s also the perfect place to take a boat to see the neighboring islands.

TIP: go on a big boat, not a small speed boat like we did, as the sea can be rough and let`s just say it wasn`t my best boat experience!

On our boat trip we saw Mustique, a small private island known to the rich and famous, like Bill Gates, Mick Jagger, … Let`s just say, it`s not a place you just show up. Mayreau, located northwest of the Tobago Cays and is one of the smaller Grenadines. Union Island, located on the southern end of the Grenadines chain of islands. It is the commercial center for the southern Grenadines and an important stop for yachts and Palm Island, named after its hundreds of swaying palm trees.

We had a brief stop at Tobago Cays, southwest of Canouan. You can sail or snorkel in the crystal clear, turquoise waters. It is said you can snorkel with turtles here, unfortunately I didn`t have the opportunity to do this. And last but not least, Petit St Vincent. The southernmost Grenadine island, is a privately owned elegant island resort. You can enjoy the ultimate luxury and seclusion at the cottages with private patios. We had a cocktail break at their bar and had the privilege to have a look around. Daniel Craig recently stayed here…. You can say it`s “tres chic” here!

Some Practical Information about SVG

• English is the official language
•  Average daytime temperatures range from 24° C/75° F to 30° C/85° F. Dry season is January to April. Rainy season is July to October.
• The Eastern Caribbean dollar is the local currency. (But they accepted US dollars as well)
• A flight from London takes you via Barbados. London – Barbados is about 9 hours and Barbados – St Vincent is about 40 minutes.

I was invited on this trip by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority. Check out their social channels on Twitter and FB. As always the thoughts in this post are my own.

Have you ever been to St Vincent and the Grenadines? Which island is your favorite?