Djara

We are chartering a sailboat in St. Vincent. We plan to sail to Bequia, Mustique, Tobago Cays, Canouan, and Union Island. What should we not miss on these islands, i.e. beaches, restaurants, nightlife, harbors, snorkeling and dive sites, bays? Is there a special place not to be missed? Please let us know.

Callaloo

Djara, a few thoughts...

First of all, don't plan your itinerary yet!! Especially since you aren't even sure what you'd like to see on those particular islands. Get yourself a copy of Chris Doyle's Cruising Guide to the Windward Islands (Amazon has it) -- read it and THEN decide what appeals and what doesn't. Even then, be prepared to find that the weather or sea conditions will dictate your itinerary. You gotta go wid da flow!

Second, be sure the visit a terrific Grenadines sailing website at www.usual-suspects-sailing.com. Rob has sold/is selling his boat (Usual Suspects), but his guide to the area is comprehensive and very entertaining. His discourse on the (in)famous "boat boys" of the Grenadines is the defnitive source.

FWIW, one of my favorite spots to visit in the Grenadines didn't even make your list: Mayreau. Saltwhistle Bay is one of the prettiest beaches in the Caribbean. And I love the hike up the hill from the beach that gives you a spectacular panomramic view of the area, including the Tobago Cays.

Don't forget to visit the boards at www.traveltalkonline.com. A lot of frequent charterers visit that board, so you're likely to get great advice there.

Finally, have a great trip!!

blamona

Union is good for staples.
On the time you were going to spend on Union, really, stop at Mayreau (excellent suggestion) and Palm Island. The views from Palm Island looking at Union are like a mini Bora Bora-stunning!

The day you go to Tobago Cays, check out tiny Mopion. It's a sand spit off of Petit St. Vincent with an umbrella in the middle. When the tides change, the umbrella "changes". Mopion is always on the cover of some magazine, it's really a neat little spot.

Mustique has Basil's Bar-the best (if not really only) place to eat, hang out, etc. Don't be surprised if you see someone famous there.

The other Grenadines (other than Bequia) don't have much nightlife or restaurant choices, the are really small, and basically quiet. Canouan has a nice restaurant at the Tamarind Resort with brick oven pizzas. They also have the upscale Raffles. Best snorkeling is at Tobago Cays, and you can snorkel a little at Mopion.

If you have time, try to check out Sandy Island-it technacally belongs to Grenada, but it's another fun way to spend the day on your own little "Gilligan's Island.".

Djara

Thanks so much for the valuable information. We have been reading the Cruising Guide; it momentarily puts us in the Caribbean, then we look outside and see all the snow. Our sailing instructor, Captain Carl, told us local knowlege of an area is sometimes the best, so we really appreciated the two websites you listed! Thanks for the Saltwhistle Bay tip. We will check it out.
Djara

Djara

To Blomona - thanks for the provisioing information. We are not sure we will get all the way to Grenada. We'll need to sail back to St. Vincent mid-week. Thanks for the Mayreau and Palm Island recommendations. Any idea about how strong the currents, winds, and mosquitos are in the Spring?
Djara

blamona

Even if Grenada is a different country, Sandy Island looks like part of the Grenadines. It's really a stone throw away. You will see from one island you can see the others, it's possible to visit more than one on any given day.

BeachGirl247

Is Sandy Island off of Carriacou or Canouan? I remember it was a short trip from PSV. And Mopion keeps getting smaller and smaller so go there while it still above water!

You will really enjoy snorkeling at Tobago Keys. I didn't want to come home but....

Callaloo

Sandy Island is off Carriacou, opposite Hillsborough. Not so far from PSV. (Remember, though, that technically you'd be required to clear in to Grenada to visit her islands -- Hillsborough is a port of entry. How well that is enforced, I couldn't say. We were anchored off PSV once, and snuck into Petit Martinique for dinner without doing the customs thing, but you've got to use your own judgment. Many people just elect to stay within St. Vincent and the Grenadines to avoid the issue.)

ejcrowe

You've received some great input here and reading this thread has made me long to return to Bequia, which I visited for the first time last summer.
Most folks love the Grenadines for what they're not--not overdeveloped commercially, with the exception of Raffles, no major international corporations, no generic Disneyfied idea of what "Caribbean" means.

With that in mind, may I gently suggest that people who like the Grenadines for all of those reasons *not* shop at Amazon.com? Order the book new from your local independent bookstore to help your own hometown escape the pull of homogenized chain stores. Is the book too expensive to order new? Then I'd suggest going to www.abebooks.com, a website for used bookstores to sell their books online under one umbrella. That way you're supporting the local economy *somewhere*, and if you're traveler, that's got to mean something to you, right?

Sorry for the temporary soapbox, but sometimes I think that so many of us who love certain areas of the Caribbean don't think twice about popping over to Amazon.com to buy something when on vacation in the Caribbean we wouldn't dream of eating at McDonald's or staying at Ramada...

vinceygirl

Bequia make a stop to see Brother King at the turtle sanctuary. Amazing to see what is accomplished one turtle at a time. Thursday night on Bequia has music and dancing, the Frangipani, and I think it's called Devil's Table directly on the water in Port Elizabeth. Mac's Pizza for some of the best pizza anywhere. Lobster pizza recently has been scarce but if available to die for. The ice cream shop along the Belmont walkway near Mac's. Moonhole. Tobago cays support the local economy by buying something on the T-shirt trees. Beautiful uninhabited islands. Mustique personally IMO not worth the effort but others will disagree. Basil's overpriced and over rated unless you're into celebrity watching. Canouan nice island not much there unless you can afford or want to visit Raffles Resort. I think they may offer day passes. You can check out their website for info. The Tamarind has a great restaurant. Loved the lobster salad. Union Island I haven't spent any time there except anchored in Chatham Bay which is beautiful, and difficult to get a cell phone signal should you need it. Would question why you aren't considering a stop on Mayreau. Salt Whistle Bay is beautiful and on the hill is the most quaint, simple and beautiful Catholic church. The people are the nicest and most welcoming. Life in the Caribbean at it's simplest. It has only been a few years since they have electricity. Time to see it now before more of the beach is sold off to the cruise ships for their private use. They do have internet cafe and I believe 5 bars all very different from the next. Climb from the opposite side of Salt Whistle Bay up to the top and then down to SWB you will be well rewarded. SWB's food is good too. The other spot you seem to be missing is the mainland St. Vincent. I am admittedly biased but for good reason. There is so much to see and experience on the island. It is a true working Caribbean seaport. It is sad that so many donot realize the treasure in spending some time to explore. @ Botanical Gardens, Mespo, La Soufriere, the difference between the Windward and Leeward coasts.
The Usual Suspects is a great website also Caribbean Travel Forum is another and Travel Talk Online. Have you googled St. Vincent Grenadines tourism. If not do so there is a wealth of info out there including pictures.
Wish I was going but will be in the fall. Enjoy.

Djara

Thanks everyone for this wonderful information. I think we'll have to miss the highlights on St. Vincent because of the sailing trip. After reading wonderful things about Mayreau, we have to be sure to stop there. Thanks again for your time to write. My crew and fellow captains are reading this and we are putting the trip together as I type. Khris, how is the provisioning list coming? You know my favorites.

khriskuck

Djara I cant wait to go on this trip with you! Thanks to all who posted the great advice.

Djara

We just returned from St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Thanks to everyone who helped plan our trip. We leased a 41 ft. catamaran (from Sunsail) and had beautiful weather to sail to Union Island and back in a week. We absolutely loved the Tobago Cays (spent two nights) and Salt Whistle Bay. We dingied over to Petit Tabac and were the only ones on that island. We did 4 dives around Mayreau and saw sharks, turtles, rays and lots of reef fish. We ate at the Firefly (ok) and had a drink at Basils on Mustique. We rented a mule there and saw the island. On Bequia we shopped. We loved the remote small islands and deserted beaches. We had lots of wind for sailing during the day and to keep cool at night. It really was a great sailing trip/vacation.

brenandg

Thanks for reporting back. Now you really need to reward everyone with a trip report