The Best St. Vincent and the Grenadines Guide

The Best St. Vincent and the Grenadines Guide – The Grenadines Travel with immerse you in white sand beaches, crystal blue waters, swaying palm trees, all the hallmarks of a tropical getaway in the Caribbean, without the tourist traffic of other Caribbean islands. A string of 32 islands and cays comprises the nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. St Vincent has long been the destination of choice for the elite travelers who moor their private yachts off its secluded shorelines. While it may sound like a playground for the rich and famous, you don’t need your own yacht to enjoy St Vincent & the Grenadines. Ferries make exploring St Vincent & the Grenadines a breeze, and with so many islands to choose from, there’s sure to be one that perfectly meets your needs.

St. Vincent is one of the least touristy islands in the Caribbean. Hotels on St. Vincent are almost all small, locally owned and operated, and not glitzy. Restaurants mainly serve local food such as grilled fish, stewed or curried chicken, rice, and “provisions” (root vegetables). The beaches are either tiny crescents of black or brown sand on remote leeward bays or sweeping expanses of the same black sand pounded by Atlantic surf. The Grenadines, on the other hand, dazzle vacationers with amazing inns and resorts, fine white-sand beaches, excellent sailing waters, and a get-away-from-it-all atmosphere. The islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines are fairly close together. Whether you go by boat or by plane, traveling between them is not difficult. And each island is unique—once there, you’ll definitely want to sample more than one. To learn more about all the beautiful beaches on St Vincent & the Grenadines, visit here, or visit us on Pinterest.

St Vincent & the Grenadines Weather – When to Visit

High season runs from mid-December through mid-April; in the off-season, rates at large resorts may be reduced by up to 40%. Seasonal discounts vary dramatically by resort and by island, with some of the luxury resorts offering specials periodically throughout the year; the most extravagant resorts, however, are always expensive. The small, less expensive hotels and guesthouses have little or no seasonal changes in their rates.

St Vincent & The Grenadines Attractions

Chatham Bay Beach

On the leeward side of Union Island, remote Chatham Bay Beach—one of a dozen on the island—is a favorite anchorage for boaters, a peaceful spot for sunbathers, and a great location for snorkelers. If you’re coming by land, there’s a trail that leads right down to the beach. There’s also a bar and a couple nearby restaurants should you get hungry from all that relaxing.

Friendship Beach

A mile-long strip of soft white sand frames Friendship Bay on Bequia’s southern coast. The water here is consistently calm, making it perfect for swimming and snorkeling. You’ll likely have much of the beach to yourself—except for, perhaps, the area in front of the Bequia Beach Hotel, which welcomes non-guests to its lively beach bar.

Macaroni Beach

Macaroni Beach is an isolated strip on the eastern side of the island that is considered one of the best in the world. Access is limited to on-island residents and guests. If you can get here, look forward to a blissfully quiet stretch of sparkling white sand, bordered by lush greenery and bright-blue water.

Mahaut Bay Beach

While all of the beaches in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are technically public, some of the best ones are accessible only by sea. If you’re cruising around the Grenadines, be sure to stop for a swim at this beautiful, remote beach on the northern tip of Canouan. You won’t find any restrooms or facilities here but you’ll likely have the beach all to yourself.

Princess Margaret Beach

Princess Margaret Beach features a broad strip of white sand framed by palm trees and sea grape plants. Get here by water taxi, car, or a fairly rough cliff-side nature trail, then head to Jack’s Beach Bar for lunch, happy hour, or both.

Best St. Vincent and the Grenadines Restaurants

Mac’s Pizzeria $11 – 30

Mac’s has been serving brick-oven pizza in Bequia since 1980. Choose from 17 mouthwatering toppings, or opt for homemade lasagna, quiche, conch fritters, pita sandwiches, or soup and salad. Mac’s home-baked cookies, muffins, and banana bread are great for dessert or a snack. Or top off your meal with a scoop or two of Maranne’s homemade ice cream in tropical flavors. The outdoor terrace has water views. Telephone: 784-458-3474 Web: Mac’s Pizzeria.

L’Auberge Des Grenadines $11 – 30

The extensive menu marries French and West Indian cuisines: seafood and local vegetables are prepared with a French twist. Lobster is the specialty; select yours from the live lobster pool. Light salads and sandwiches are available at lunch. Try the BLT (bacon, lobster, and tomato). Choose dinner from either the à la carte or prix-fixe menu. Delicious baguettes and delicate pastries round out any meal. Telephone: 784-458-3555 Web: L’Auberge Des Grenadines.

Jack’s Bar $11 – 30

The sandwiches, salads, burgers and fries, or the grilled catch of the day along with a refreshing cold drink will certainly satisfy. The evening menu focuses on prime steaks and seafood. Dinner by the water is always a delight, but you’ll have to navigate a lot of stairs farther down to the beachside restaurant—and back up, of course, after your meal. The Tuesday night barbecue is particularly popular. Telephone: 784-458-3809 Web: Jack’s Bar.

Sugar Reef Café $11 – 30

Perfect for a romantic dinner, and also an excellent choice for a delightful lunch of savory seafood (try the lobster or fish roti or an open fish steak on focaccia bread), a vegetarian dish (tangy callaloo soup, callaloo lasagna, cassava flat bread with grilled vegetables, or the light but filling fire-roasted corn salad with goat cheese and spinach), or settle for a perfectly cooked hamburger with cheese, bacon, and grilled onion. The chef’s lime pie is the perfect dessert, with passion-fruit mousse a close runner-up. All produce, fish, and meat are locally sourced. Telephone: 784-458-3400 Web: Sugar Reef Café.

The French Verandah $11 – 30

Dine by candlelight on the waterfront terrace of Mariners Hotel with excellent French cuisine and Caribbean flair. Start with a rich soup or escargots, stuffed crab back, or conch salad. Main courses include fresh fish and shellfish grilled with fresh herbs, garlic butter and lime, or creole sauce. Landlovers may prefer sautéed chicken paillard with mushroom or Thai peanut sauce, grilled lamb chops, or beef tenderloin with béarnaise, Roquefort, or pepper sauce. For dessert, there’s the wonderful mi-cuit, a warm chocolate delicacy with vanilla ice cream. Telephone: 784-453-1111 Web: The French Verandah.

Best St. Vincent and the Grenadines Nightlife

Basil’s Bar

Famous Basil’s is a delightful open-air thatch-and-bamboo restaurant that extends out into Britannia Bay, and is the place to eat, drink and meet up with others in Mustique. It’s a must-stop for every day-tripper and seemingly every passing sailboat. Who could imagine that a menu that combines tasty banana pancakes and lobster could be such a hit? Telephone: 784-456-4777 Web: Basil’s.

Happy Island

Located right in front of Clifton, in the bay, you’ll find this one-bar island. There didn’t used to be any land in this part of the bay, but local fishermen would throw conch shells in the shallows and eventually an island began to form. And what do you do with some free land? You put a bar on it! These days there’s quite a lot of concrete here, but it’s still a scenic and fun place that draws a crowd of locals and visitors alike. Telephone: 784-498-3786 Web: Happy Island.

Flow Wine Bar

Fabulously chic for grubby downtown Kingstown, Flow is a dimly lit top-floor bar with sofas to spare, a chilled soundtrack and an extensive selection of wine by the glass and bottle. The food here is inventive and excellent value – try the jalapeño wontons. A place to put your Caribbean escape on hold just for a moment. Monday nights involve craft-beer tastings, while Saturday is all about Latin dance. Telephone: 784-457-0809 Web: Flow Wine Bar.

Coco’s Place

Climb the stairs to the pastel-painted deck overlooking Admiralty Bay and enjoy good-value meals, a wide selection of mixed drinks and a fun atmosphere at this bar/restaurant that’s popular with locals, yachties and visitors alike. There’s often live music with rotating house artists. Telephone: 784-458-3463 Web: Coco’s Place.

Coconut Bar

Right on the sands by the dock, this welcoming shack is great for watching the comings and goings on the island, or to hit a cold beer while you wait for your boat. Also serves reasonably priced local dishes. Telephone: 784-530-6772 Web: Coconut Bar.

Best St. Vincent and the Grenadines Hotels

30 Comments

Henry July 20, 2019 at 6:37 pm

Hi! When I was still at school my attention was drawn to Fort Duvernette in St. Vincent. It’s fantastic 360-degree views have captivated me. It was built in the 1790s and it’s also called rock fort. There are a few mysteries surrounding Fort Duvernette which nobody has been able to answer up to this day. I am going to do some research as this interests me. I’m excited about going to St. Vincent. And I can’t wait to arrive at Fort Duvernette. I’ve heard it’s a short boat ride over from Villa Wharf to the Fort and that the journey is very picturesque.

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1. Leahrae (Post author)July 26, 2019 at 12:26 pm
  
  Yes, very picturesque indeed. I think that you will find Fort Duventte in St. Vincent quite interesting. Please let me know if you need any additional information.
  
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Tamara July 20, 2019 at 6:31 pm

Leahrae,

Wow! My bags are packed (I wish). St. Vincent & The Grenadines Travel look heavenly. Such a beautiful destination for R&R!

You’ve done a great job describing beaches, gardens, hikes, must-see spots, restaurants, hotels, and tour options. I feel the information you’ve provided visitors to your website will help them make the best decisions for vacationing in the Caribbean. Discounts sound fantastic–guess I know where and when my next adventure will be!!

Thanks for sharing,

Tamara

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1. Leahrae (Post author)July 23, 2019 at 1:47 pm
  
  You are very welcome Tamara! I am glad you enjoyed. I know you would enjoy vacationing here. What is not to love? If you love beaches and nice warm sunshine, along with plenty to do, then it really is a wonderful choice. Thanks for stopping by.
  
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My Daily Pointers July 20, 2019 at 6:21 pm

You had me reading this article as soon as I saw those gorgeous blue waters! I have travelled to the Mayan Riviera and Dominican Republic but have been looking for some alternatives in the Caribbean that are less touristy. I appreciated how you broke down the locations as well as some popular dining spots. I am a total foodie and it is essential for me that the food is good when I travel! I think I will be doing some additional research about St. Vincent.

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1. Leahrae (Post author)July 23, 2019 at 1:46 pm
  
  Thank you for stopping by and I think you will really enjoy St Vincent. Please let me know if I can answer any questions for you.
  
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Dave Thomas November 8, 2017 at 4:26 pm

Wow, looks beautiful. My wife and I are planning to do a cruise in the Caribbean but not sure which cruise to take as they stop in different islands. We get to spend a day at the islands when they stop off. Do you have any recommendations for islands that a re good for one day? We will look into your tour recommendations.

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1. Leahrae (Post author)November 8, 2017 at 11:03 pm
  
  Hi Dave, hands down you want to do an Eastern Caribbean Cruise. Visit any of these: Bahamas (Nassau), St Martin, St Thomas, Dominca, and Barbados. I would say Puerto Rico, but they were devastated by the hurricanes this past hurricane season. Please let me know if you need any additional information. Thanks for visiting St Vincent & The Grenadines Travel!
  
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Angela Meaadowcroft November 2, 2017 at 10:56 pm

Wow, St Vincent and the Grenadines looks amazing! I have never been there but reading your post has inspired me to put it on my list. We have been looking at a Caribbean vacation, and now I have so many options! Lots of great info and pictures, thank you!

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1. Leahrae (Post author)November 3, 2017 at 1:01 am
  
  It is amazing Angela and thank you for reading about St Vincent & the Grenadines travel. I think if you decide on this wonderful Caribbean Island, you will not be disappointed. Let me know if you have any questions you need answered.
  
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Pastor Gabriel Helene November 2, 2017 at 1:23 pm

Hi Leahrae,
This is great! You have done an awesome job describing and giving tons of good information for St Vincent! Nice Website with so many beautiful destinations to choose from. You have made it difficult for me to decide! I look forward to booking my trip with you next year, and I will keep in touch when I am ready!

God Bless

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1. Leahrae (Post author)November 2, 2017 at 1:48 pm
  
  Hi Pastor Gabriel Helene! Thanks for reading about St Vincent & the Grenadines Travel. I know, there are a lot of beautiful destinations around the world, and Caribbean Islands are wonderful. Please let me know when you are ready, I know that I can get you a great package deal. As always, thank you for visiting!
  
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NSOH ALIEH LAURINE November 2, 2017 at 9:17 am

All information in one place concerning travel.

Seems like a luxury to me. I have never been to St Vincent, but would love to in the up coming new year. The place looks like the real face of mother nature… freshness, blueness and everything nature.

This has got me really day dreaming and hoping my wishes would develop wings. You are keen to details and your post is just woooow. Plus this is the right time for information like this. Christmas is just around the corner.

I enjoyed reading your post. Thank you very much.

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1. Leahrae (Post author)November 2, 2017 at 12:39 pm
  
  Thank you so much for reading about St Vincent & the Grenadines Travel. Yes, a luxury but not out of reach. You would be surprised, how comparable it is in price for a vacation here, or to most Caribbean Islands for that matter, compared to any other beach vacation. Keep dreaming, as that is what drives us to make them come true.
  
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Marco November 2, 2017 at 3:00 am

The only caribbean destination I’ve been to so far is the Cayman Islands, and I enjoyed it very much.

I have heard about SVG, but never looked into going there in-detail, which is why your post is very helpful for me. Based on the YouTube video, it looks like there are a lot of places to see and explore.

I’m not a fan of non-metered taxis though.

I was wondering if it is ok for my to bring my wife and kids to SVG? Both my kids are still quite young – 4 and 1. Would it be too early for them?

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1. Leahrae (Post author)November 2, 2017 at 3:11 am
  
  Hi Marco and thanks for reading about St Vincent & the Grenadines Travel. There are restaurants and accommodations that go out of there way to cater to families with children. I don’t think they are too young at all. When you are ready to start planning let me know, and I can recommend resorts to you that are happy to have families, and have lots of activities for them. They would enjoy the birds, the turtles, going to the beach, playing in the water, building sand castles. There is so much for children to do, and they would absolutely have a ball. Please let me know if you have any other questions Marco.
  
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Bradford Gilliland November 2, 2017 at 2:53 am

This is amazing. I have been ready to take a vacation for the last couple years, and I really think your article has swayed me in the right direction. You have everything a person would need to know all in one place. Great information!

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1. Leahrae (Post author)November 2, 2017 at 2:54 am
  
  Thank you so much Bradford for visiting St Vincent & The Grenadines Travel. I am sure you would absolutely have a wonderful time in the beautiful Caribbean Island of St Vincent! I am glad I could push you in the right direction!
  
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Zach October 31, 2017 at 9:17 pm

How much money would you consider saving up before going on an adventure to a island or cruise?

Would you suggest going alone or as a group to balance out the money spent from person to person?

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1. Leahrae (Post author)October 31, 2017 at 11:53 pm
  
  I can say that either way you go, you are going to probably spend about the same amount of money. This depends on the cruise you take too, because some cruise lines can be rather spendy. I personally love cruises, but you don’t get the island experience, and you cannot go and see what you want, you are on their time table. Going in a group is always going to save you money, especially on the hotel or cruise room accommodations. This is probably the most expensive part of the trip, so if you have a group to go with, that is the best option. There are villas and great apartments available that can accommodate groups, and you will save quite a bit, making the trip less expensive than a cruise. If you email me the trip length, time of year, and a few more specifics I can give you a ball park price for each. Thanks for visiting BeachTravelDestinations.com
  
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Dini October 31, 2017 at 6:22 pm

Your vacation reviews are amazing. Reading this article makes me want to travel now. You have such a great way of detailing everything a traveler needs , all the information necessary. Good job. Keep it up.

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1. Leahrae (Post author)October 31, 2017 at 6:34 pm
  
  Thank you so much Dini, and thank you for visiting BeachTravelDestinations.com. Come visit again 🙂
  
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Melissa October 31, 2017 at 4:39 pm

This place looks amazing! The weather is great, I love how it doesn’t get higher than 85 so I would love to spend summers there. I hate dealing with 110s where I live. Mac’s Pizzeria sounds delicious, I would love to try the pizza while sitting on the terrace looking at the amazing views. I love how you always give such amazing details, great post!

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1. Leahrae (Post author)October 31, 2017 at 6:31 pm
  
  Thank you so much Melissa! Oh, yes how I would love to spend summers in beautiful St. Vincent. And I agree, 85 is pretty darn perfect! Thank you for visiting!
  
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Rob October 30, 2017 at 7:15 pm

Wow, looks amazing. I love how the weather doesn’t get too hot also. The last vacation I went on was to Cuba in the beginning of September which my friends and I actually missed Hurricane Irma by 3 hours. We were the last flight out of there. I really want to go somewhere very nice next time. St. Vincent and the Grenadines seems breath-taking. Will definitely put it on my vaca list. Such a good review also. Thank you!

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1. Leahrae (Post author)October 30, 2017 at 10:51 pm
  
  Wow, you are so lucky you got out of there in time. It is scary I know that, we had to evacuate from our house. I am glad you enjoyed the review of St Vincent & The Grenadines Travel. Please come back again when you are ready to plan your next vacation. I would be more than happy to help you get a good deal.
  
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Kathryn October 24, 2017 at 10:24 pm

It looks beautiful! Thanks for the recommendation. Do you have a price rating for the hotels you have suggested? What would you recommend for a couple, traveling on a budget?

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1. Leahrae (Post author)October 24, 2017 at 10:56 pm
  
  Thanks for visiting St Vincent & the Grenadines Travel Kathryn. I would recommend the Spring House Bequia. It is not on my list, but the price is certainly right ($119 per night) and it is a 5 star hotel. Great for couples 🙂 Please let me know if you need anything else.
  
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Rico Hanes October 24, 2017 at 2:42 am

Beautiful spot ! It looks so untouched by modern civilization, it’s remarkable ! Big question, how did Hurricane Irma affect St. Vincent and the Grenadines as oppose to the other places ? I am always looking for deals and the peak season is coming up here. So, please let us know, if you do. Thank you for your thorough work, as always, Amazing ! 🙂

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1. Leahrae (Post author)October 24, 2017 at 1:34 pm
  
  The islands sit a little outside of the destructive path. Because of this, they only suffered from some high winds and basically were mostly untouched by the recent onslaught of hurricanes. This makes the islands of St Vincent and the Grenadines a perfect Caribbean Island getaway. I really don’t think you can go wrong with a vacation here. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to ask 🙂
  
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