Luxury St Vincent & The Grenadines Holidays

Set in the heart of the Caribbean Sea, St Vincent and The Grenadines offer an idyllic alternative to the Caribbean’s larger islands. Well-loved for their tranquil and intimate atmosphere, these untouched islands are bursting with natural beauty; from volcanic landscapes and lush tropical rainforests to sky-blue waters and white-sand beaches, and all to be enjoyed with barely a soul around.

The islands

The main island of St Vincent is located 20 miles southwest of St Lucia and 100 miles west of Barbados. Mountainous and cloaked in rainforest, St Vincent has few man-made attractions but an abundance of natural ones: hike a 4000 feet volcano and admire the dramatic west coast from a catamaran. Scattered just south of St Vincent, towards Grenada, are the magical Grenadines, a chain of 32 beautifully picturesque islands of which just nine are inhabited.

Once the haunt of pirates, this island chain’s stunning Robinson Crusoe aura made it the ideal location to film scenes for Pirates of the Caribbean. Bequia – pronounced Beckway – charms with vibrant pastel, gingerbread houses and narrow hilly roads which wheel round to disclose fabulous viewpoints of beaches and pretty yachts. It is divinely low-key and a nostalgic step back in time to a place where everyone knows everybody.

Within its seven mile by two silhouette, there may be only one petrol station, no traffic lights, two police cars, and pick-up trucks for taxis, but there is a pleasing scattering of characterful cafés and bars particularly popular with the yacht enthusiasts who sail this way. Palm Island and Petit St Vincent offer the sort of private island feeling usually associated with Indian Ocean resorts. Water clarity, beaches and marine life are superb, and considered by many to be unequalled in the Caribbean.

Activities

The islands have some of the best sailing in the Caribbean, and boat charters and day trips are available to explore the local islands. The area also offers some fantastic snorkelling and diving opportunities including at Tobago Cays Marine Park. Made up of five small islands ringed with stunning coral reefs, here you will also find turtles in abundance. Some of the islands are also great to explore on foot, with gentle or strenuous hikes leading to the most breathtaking views.

Dining

Fresh fish is a staple on the islands and includes mahi-mahi, tuna, bonito and marlin. The national dish is roasted breadfruit and jackfish, and other traditional dishes include curried goat and queen conch. The local drink is Hairoun beer, but Sunset rum is a firm favourite. Thanks to its popularity with sailing and yacht owners, Bequia offers a small selection of excellent restaurants, cafes and bars. Dining on Palm Island and Petit St Vincent would be within the resorts.

When to visit

The islands enjoy a hot, tropical climate year-round with February to April the driest months. The climate varies slightly in The Grenadines, with the southern islands being a little drier and warmer than those in the north. Average hours of sunshine are fairly consistent each month, with temperatures reaching highs of around 30°C. June to November is official hurricane season, although it rarely has an impact owing to the island's southerly location. Rain falls in brief, but very heavy, showers.

Tobago Cays Marine Park

Tobago Cays’ stunning archipelago of uninhabited islands is home to an impressive national marine park. The most extensive and well-developed coral reefs in all of St Vincent and The Grenadines can be found here, especially on the windward sides of Mayreau and around the cays themselves. In addition to its coral reefs, the park also features small systems of mangroves and seagrass beds, all ready to be explored. Turtles are plentiful with green turtles, hawksbill turtles and leatherback turtles all making their home here.

Mayreau

Set in Tobago Cays Marine Park, the tiny island of Mayreau is only accessible by boat. Here, at Saltwhistle Bay, you'll find a double crescent of beautiful beaches composed of a pure white shoreline split by a narrow palm-tree-fringed isthmus and fringed by aquamarine waves. The beach draws boat enthusiasts and sun-worshippers alike to its sandy oasis. Walk up the hill to the village for fantastic views of Tobago Cays.

Mountains and waterfalls

A number of the islands have easy or strenuous hill walks that bring you to incredible vistas but St Vincent, in particular, offers an array of excellent hiking and tours to explore the lush mountainous interior and cascading waterfalls.

Kingstown, St Vincent

Kingstown heaves and swells with a pulsing local community that bustles through its narrow streets and arched stone doorways, conjuring up images of a Caribbean of banana boats and colonial rule. The city features a series of surviving 19th-century buildings, including St George's Cathedral, known for its beautiful stained glass windows. Head up to Fort Charlotte for some local history and superb views of the city and surrounding area.

Montreal Gardens, St Vincent

The magnificent Montreal Gardens is surrounded by craggy mountains and rolling hills, and is frequently compared to the Garden of Eden. Truly a labour of love, Timothy Vaughn has dedicated over twenty-five years of his life to designing and developing this magnificent botanical garden, encompassing seven acres of lush hills and valleys.