The Grenadines: Bequia

Ideal stay

10–14 nights

The vibe

Salty, small-scale, blissfully slow

From our guides

1. 01

   Tobago Cays

   Five uninhabited islets inside Horseshoe Reef, protected as a marine park, where green turtles feed in shallow water over seagrass beds.

2. 02

   Princess Margaret Beach

   A curve of sand on Bequia reached by the Belmont walkway from Port Elizabeth, with calm water and shade at the northern end.

3. 03

   Bequia's boatbuilding

   The island has a long tradition of building wooden boats and detailed models by hand, explained in a small museum and local workshops.

4. 04

   Mustique by day sail

   The private island can be visited on a day charter, with quiet beaches and a low-key sense of exclusivity rather than any spectacle.

5. 05

   Union Island and Mayreau

   The southern Grenadines, with a hilltop walk on Union and the single-village island of Mayreau above Salt Whistle Bay.

6. 06

   Ferries and mail boats

   Scheduled boats connect Saint Vincent, Bequia, Canouan, Mayreau and Union, and riding them is half the reason to come.

1. Fly to

   Kingstown (SVD)

   Nearest airport to Bequia, about 18km away as the crow flies.

2. Then

   To Port Elizabeth

   Bequia's own airstrip (BQU) is about 15 minutes by taxi from Port Elizabeth, but most visitors fly into Saint Vincent (SVD) and take the ferry across, which takes about an hour.

3. On the ground

   Getting around

   Port Elizabeth's Admiralty Bay is walkable and the waterfront path leads to Princess Margaret Beach. Everything further afield, the Tobago Cays and a look at Mustique, is done on a day charter or the local boats.

Public transport: Shared minibuses and water taxis cover Bequia, and the inter-island ferries and charter boats handle the rest.

Small family-run hotels, guesthouses and villas rather than resorts, with a few upmarket boutique places. Mustique is private-villa rental only, and there are no chains anywhere.

• Best base overall

  Port Elizabeth, Bequia

  Admiralty Bay's harbour village, where the ferries dock and the day charters leave, with restaurants along the water. Small and sleepy, which is the point.

  Find stays in Port Elizabeth, Bequia →
• Best with children

  Lower Bay and Princess Margaret Beach, Bequia

  Calm swimming beaches a short walk over the headland from town, with guesthouses and villas above. The paths are steep and there is no pavement at all.

  Find stays in Lower Bay and Princess Margaret Beach, Bequia →
• Closest to the sights

  Union Island, Clifton

  The nearest inhabited island to the Tobago Cays, so day boats are short and cheap. Rooms are basic and the island itself is workaday rather than beautiful.

  Find stays in Union Island, Clifton →
• Quietest

  Friendship Bay, Bequia

  The windward side, with a long beach, few visitors and a couple of small hotels. You will need taxis for dinner, and they stop early.

  Find stays in Friendship Bay, Bequia →

Worth knowing before you book: The high season from December to April books far ahead and the islands have few rooms. Check ferry days before you commit, since some sailings run only a few times a week.

Getting there

Connections run via Barbados or Saint Vincent, then ferry or small aircraft. Allow a full day each way and avoid tight connections.

Timing

The dry season runs December to May. Hurricane season is June to November, when some businesses close entirely.

Cash or card

The East Caribbean dollar is used and cash matters outside the larger hotels. ATMs exist on Bequia and Union but not everywhere.

Snorkelling

Bring your own mask and fins if you can. Do not stand on coral or approach turtles closely inside the marine park.

Pace

Boats and shops run to island time. Plan buffer days, particularly before an international flight home.