Green Mountains and a String of Small Islands
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an archipelagic nation in the eastern Caribbean, known for the green mountains of its main island and a chain of small islands that has long drawn sailors. It covers 389 square kilometres and had about 109,000 residents at the 2023 census, with Kingstown as its capital. The nation gained independence on 27 October 1979, having been a British colony since 1783. Seven of the Grenadines are inhabited, with Bequia, Mustique, Canouan and Union Island the best known.
The main island, Saint Vincent, combines a working capital with remarkable greenery. Kingstown has a lively market and a harbour front, Fort Charlotte looks down from its ridge, and the Botanic Gardens, which date from the 1760s, are among the oldest in the Western Hemisphere. Beyond town, the green interior and quiet coastal bays give the island a character quite different from its glossier neighbours. Many visitors find the lack of crowds is the main attraction.
Pirates, Sailing and the Tobago Cays
The islands entered the popular imagination when the Pirates of the Caribbean films were shot here, and tourism has grown significantly since. Wallilabou Bay on Saint Vincent's west coast is the best-known filming location, and its harbour still carries the film-set atmosphere. Sailing is the other great draw: sheltered passages and short distances between islands make the Grenadines one of the Caribbean's most popular charter grounds, with the Tobago Cays marine reserve as the crown jewel.
Each island offers a different mood. Bequia, the second-largest of the Grenadines, has a waterfront village and a yachting tradition. Mustique is known for its low-key, private luxury, and Union Island and Canouan offer beaches and a strong sailing culture. The wider Grenadines stretch south to Grenada's islands, making an island-hopping itinerary easy to plan by ferry, schooner or yacht. An airline partner can build a clear gateway story around the new airport.
Read the full St Vincent and the Grenadines guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitStVincent.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.