Thirty Islands Between Two Caribbean Neighbours
The Grenadines are a chain of small islands in the Lesser Antilles, lying on a line between Saint Vincent and Grenada and known for sheltered sailing, quiet beaches and a clear, reef-ringed sea. The archipelago holds about 32 islands and cays in total, with a combined land area of just 86 square kilometres and a population near 20,880. Politically, the northern two-thirds belong to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and the southern third to Grenada. The scale is intimate, and distances between islands are short, so a day often includes more than one anchorage.
Each island has its own mood. Bequia, home to about 5,300 people, is the friendly hub, with Port Elizabeth and a long boat-building tradition. Mustique, with roughly 800 residents, is known for quiet, private luxury. Union Island, with about 2,700, is a lively sailing base, Canouan has some 1,200 residents and a growing resort scene, and Mayreau, at around 280, is a tiny, characterful island of simple beauty. Carriacou, the largest of all with about 10,000 residents, belongs to Grenada and has its own unhurried rhythm.
Tobago Cays and the Art of Island Hopping
The Tobago Cays are the archipelago's most celebrated sight: a marine reserve of small uninhabited islands set behind a horseshoe reef, with shallow, brilliantly clear water and sandy anchorages. Sailing is the natural way to experience them, and charter yachts, catamarans and traditional schooners all ply the waters between islands. Even travellers who rarely sail find that a day on a boat here is easy and relaxed, with a snorkel and a picnic on a deserted sandbar as the main agenda.
Away from the water, the islands offer simple pleasures: beach bars with grilled lobster, small villages with colourful shops and evenings under the stars. For a booking platform, the Grenadines are a rewarding product because itineraries can be built in many ways, from a week on a single island to a two-week voyage. Bequia is the gentlest first stop, and Saint Vincent provides the gateway for most visitors.
Read the full The Grenadines guide on Visit Travel Group, or see TheGrenadines.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.