If creating a list of the best places to visit on a Caribbean island is a hugely demanding task (how can one fit all this beauty in a few lines!), imagine how big of a challenge it is to come up with suggestions when it comes to a Caribbean nation that consists of more than 30 equally enchanting islands! What you are about to go through is a decent effort to give you an idea of what awaits, but feel free to add as many components as you feel suited to this guide!
Owia Salt Pond
Situated on the northeastern coast of Saint Vincent and the small Owia village, Owia Salt Pond is a basin created by the lava that once sprouted from the Soufriere Volcano, which cooled as soon as it flowed into the ocean, shaping a small bowl filled with salt water! What is amazing about the pond is that the waves that splash to the rocks replenish it and keep it fresh at all times. Protected from the ocean by large volcanic boulders, the land once inhabited by the indigenous Black Caribs welcomes visitors as an inviting place on earth whose warm, salty waters are believed to be healing! And while here, do take some time to enjoy the scenery, the fire pits, park benches and tables, gazebos, and well-maintained grounds!
Bequia Maritime Museum
Those feeling fascinated by maritime history will find their heart’s content at the Bequia Maritime Museum, which houses a unique collection of model boats by a popular local artist, old, black-and-white photos of the Queen of England’s visit to the island, and pictures of Bequia’s oldest schooners, as well as artifacts from the island’s rich past.
Inside it, you will find a model of a Bequia Whaler, which makes sense considering that the island solely relies on whaling to survive since it has no other resources. Whale hunting is an activity (non-commercial) that has been practiced for centuries in Bequia and is tolerated by the International Whaling Commission to date (they rarely allow whaling occupations).
If you decide to visit this landmark, we strongly recommend a guided tour that will enable you to learn much more about the island’s history, including details about the whaling tradition and the Scottish ancestors that brought boat building to the island.
Tobago Cays
Five small uninhabited islands dot the archipelago in the southern Grenadines are called the Tobago Cays. Enveloped by a series of beautiful, healthy coral reefs, they are a chain of islands with extensive popularity and one of the most visited areas in the Caribbean, especially among people looking for a tranquil place with a profound natural landscape and a relaxed atmosphere.
This charming handful of Caribbean cays is part of the massive Tobago Cays Marine Park. This 1,400-acre land even includes the idyllic Mayreau island, enchanting visitors and locals alike with the beauty of its extensive coral reefs and the shallow lagoon with its transparent waters and soft, sandy bottom.
But, besides all these, the Tobago Cays (“cay” is a word used to refer to a “coral island”) also feel inviting with their magnificent dry tropical forest and lush, vegetation-covered lands that cascade down to the sugary shores. So, if you love trekking or hiking, you will be delighted with the natural scenery around you as you trek along patches with coccoloba, agave, cactus, coconut, and diospyros plants, to name a few! Not to be omitted, of course, is the small Petit Rameau mangrove that adds some more natural notes to the overall landscape.
The islands are hugely popular with private yachts. They are visited by thousands of tourists annually, along with charter boats that sail to the Tobago Cays from nearby resorts and hotels for a pinch of serenity and subtle natural majesty while also enjoying life doing activities like fishing, snorkelling, diving, and many more.
Horseshoe Reef
This is a four-kilometre (around 2.5 miles) reef that is part of the Tobago Cays Marine Park, along with the five islands that make up the Tobago Cays and the charming, uninhabited island of Mayreau. The park has been established in the southern Grenadines to help protect the unique environment of the magnificent lagoon with the sandy bottom mentioned above. Horseshoe Reef is one of the most biodiverse and healthiest bank-barrier reefs in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and also one of the biggest reefs in the country where one can come across a large number of coral fish that have found a loving home here. Occasionally, you may also see jacks and barracudas, among so many other fish species, common and rare, that swarm the reef. Whether you fancy swimming, snorkelling, or sunbathing, this is an exciting place to be, with more things to see than you can imagine!
Union Island
Not belonging to the stardom where other more popular of its siblings sit comfortably, Union Island is still a hypnotising off-the-beaten-path destination that lots of tourists love to visit. This small remote island in St. Vincent & The Grenadines offers an irresistible sense of peacefulness and relaxation. It is one of the most beloved starting points for boating vacations or sailing cruises around the Caribbean islands.
And, if you are not much of a sailing enthusiast, Union Island will pamper the scuba diver inside you, while its lush vegetation also opens the appetite of hiking enthusiasts. As for its highest peak, that would be Mount Taboi at 305 metres (around 999 feet), from where you can rest your eyes on spectacular seascapes and vistas encompassing the two lovely towns on the island, Ashton and Clifton and the amazing natural scenery.
Happy Island is a must-visit on Union Island. The unique bar built with conch shells the owner collected from the shores is a necessary and undebatable pit stop for every person visiting Saint Vincent & The Grenadines, regardless of the selected adventure.
Vermont Nature Trail
One of the most enjoyable ways of seeing the heart-melting nature of the country is by hiking the Vermont Natural Trail that runs through the Saint Vincent Central Forest Reserve. Those who decide to walk the 3.2-kilometres (around 2 miles) trail are never prepared well enough for the sights they are about to be greeted with.
Buccament Valley is, hands down, one of the most scenic places on earth, with rolling hills alternating with majestic cliffs and sweeping valleys that give their place to the dense rainforest and its profound diversity of tropical plants and trees. As for the local fauna, the Saint Vincent Parrot Reserve is within arm’s reach and a fun destination for kids and adults alike as they see hundreds of native parrots (mainly of the Saint Vincent parrot species) in their natural habitat. If you decide to walk the trail, it is a fairly easy hike, except for the relatively small part that ascends to the lookout, which is mildly challenging. The panoramas you’ll manage to see from up there, though, are worth every effort.
If creating a list of the best places to visit on a Caribbean island is a hugely demanding task (how can one fit all this beauty in a few lines!), imagine how big of a challenge it is to come up with suggestions when it comes to a Caribbean nation that consists of more than 30 equally enchanting islands! What you are about to go through is a decent effort to give you an idea of what awaits, but feel free to add as many components as you feel suited to this guide!
Owia Salt Pond
Situated on the northeastern coast of Saint Vincent and the small Owia village, Owia Salt Pond is a basin created by the lava that once sprouted from the Soufriere Volcano, which cooled as soon as it flowed into the ocean, shaping a small bowl filled with salt water! What is amazing about the pond is that the waves that splash to the rocks replenish it and keep it fresh at all times. Protected from the ocean by large volcanic boulders, the land once inhabited by the indigenous Black Caribs welcomes visitors as an inviting place on earth whose warm, salty waters are believed to be healing! And while here, do take some time to enjoy the scenery, the fire pits, park benches and tables, gazebos, and well-maintained grounds!
Bequia Maritime Museum
Those feeling fascinated by maritime history will find their heart’s content at the Bequia Maritime Museum, which houses a unique collection of model boats by a popular local artist, old, black-and-white photos of the Queen of England’s visit to the island, and pictures of Bequia’s oldest schooners, as well as artifacts from the island’s rich past.
Inside it, you will find a model of a Bequia Whaler, which makes sense considering that the island solely relies on whaling to survive since it has no other resources. Whale hunting is an activity (non-commercial) that has been practiced for centuries in Bequia and is tolerated by the International Whaling Commission to date (they rarely allow whaling occupations).
If you decide to visit this landmark, we strongly recommend a guided tour that will enable you to learn much more about the island’s history, including details about the whaling tradition and the Scottish ancestors that brought boat building to the island.
Tobago Cays
Five small uninhabited islands dot the archipelago in the southern Grenadines are called the Tobago Cays. Enveloped by a series of beautiful, healthy coral reefs, they are a chain of islands with extensive popularity and one of the most visited areas in the Caribbean, especially among people looking for a tranquil place with a profound natural landscape and a relaxed atmosphere.
This charming handful of Caribbean cays is part of the massive Tobago Cays Marine Park. This 1,400-acre land even includes the idyllic Mayreau island, enchanting visitors and locals alike with the beauty of its extensive coral reefs and the shallow lagoon with its transparent waters and soft, sandy bottom.
But, besides all these, the Tobago Cays (“cay” is a word used to refer to a “coral island”) also feel inviting with their magnificent dry tropical forest and lush, vegetation-covered lands that cascade down to the sugary shores. So, if you love trekking or hiking, you will be delighted with the natural scenery around you as you trek along patches with coccoloba, agave, cactus, coconut, and diospyros plants, to name a few! Not to be omitted, of course, is the small Petit Rameau mangrove that adds some more natural notes to the overall landscape.
The islands are hugely popular with private yachts. They are visited by thousands of tourists annually, along with charter boats that sail to the Tobago Cays from nearby resorts and hotels for a pinch of serenity and subtle natural majesty while also enjoying life doing activities like fishing, snorkelling, diving, and many more.
Horseshoe Reef
This is a four-kilometre (around 2.5 miles) reef that is part of the Tobago Cays Marine Park, along with the five islands that make up the Tobago Cays and the charming, uninhabited island of Mayreau. The park has been established in the southern Grenadines to help protect the unique environment of the magnificent lagoon with the sandy bottom mentioned above. Horseshoe Reef is one of the most biodiverse and healthiest bank-barrier reefs in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and also one of the biggest reefs in the country where one can come across a large number of coral fish that have found a loving home here. Occasionally, you may also see jacks and barracudas, among so many other fish species, common and rare, that swarm the reef. Whether you fancy swimming, snorkelling, or sunbathing, this is an exciting place to be, with more things to see than you can imagine!
Union Island
Not belonging to the stardom where other more popular of its siblings sit comfortably, Union Island is still a hypnotising off-the-beaten-path destination that lots of tourists love to visit. This small remote island in St. Vincent & The Grenadines offers an irresistible sense of peacefulness and relaxation. It is one of the most beloved starting points for boating vacations or sailing cruises around the Caribbean islands.
And, if you are not much of a sailing enthusiast, Union Island will pamper the scuba diver inside you, while its lush vegetation also opens the appetite of hiking enthusiasts. As for its highest peak, that would be Mount Taboi at 305 metres (around 999 feet), from where you can rest your eyes on spectacular seascapes and vistas encompassing the two lovely towns on the island, Ashton and Clifton and the amazing natural scenery.
Happy Island is a must-visit on Union Island. The unique bar built with conch shells the owner collected from the shores is a necessary and undebatable pit stop for every person visiting Saint Vincent & The Grenadines, regardless of the selected adventure.
Vermont Nature Trail
One of the most enjoyable ways of seeing the heart-melting nature of the country is by hiking the Vermont Natural Trail that runs through the Saint Vincent Central Forest Reserve. Those who decide to walk the 3.2-kilometres (around 2 miles) trail are never prepared well enough for the sights they are about to be greeted with.
Buccament Valley is, hands down, one of the most scenic places on earth, with rolling hills alternating with majestic cliffs and sweeping valleys that give their place to the dense rainforest and its profound diversity of tropical plants and trees. As for the local fauna, the Saint Vincent Parrot Reserve is within arm’s reach and a fun destination for kids and adults alike as they see hundreds of native parrots (mainly of the Saint Vincent parrot species) in their natural habitat. If you decide to walk the trail, it is a fairly easy hike, except for the relatively small part that ascends to the lookout, which is mildly challenging. The panoramas you’ll manage to see from up there, though, are worth every effort.