Part of the British Windward Islands, the Grenadines are a strand of tiny, private islands. St. Vincent and the 30 some islands and cays that make up the Grenadines are a favorite of those seeking a quiet respite on a secluded Caribbean island.

Know before you go

One of the major British Windward Islands, sleepy St. Vincent is just beginning to awaken to tourism. Sailors and the yachting set have long known of St. Vincent and The Grenadines, and until recently it was a well-kept vacation secret. Even if you’ve not been here, you may have seen its scenery in Pirates of the Caribbean, starring Johnny Depp.

You visit St. Vincent for its lush beauty, and The Grenadines for the best sailing waters in the Caribbean. Don’t come for nightlife, grand cuisine, or spectacular beaches. There are some white-sand beaches near Kingstown on St. Vincent, but most of the other beaches ringing the island are black sand.

Unspoiled by the fallout that mass tourism sometimes brings, islanders treat visitors courteously. British customs predominate, along with traces of Gallic cultural influences, but all with a distinct West Indian flair.

The yachting crowd seems to view St. Vincent merely as a launching pad for the 64km (40-mile) string of The Grenadines, but the island still has a few attractions that make it worth exploring on its own. You can also start your itinerary from St. Lucia and finish at Grenada or vice versa.

St. Vincent & Grenadines TB