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St. Vincent & the Grenadines
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St. Vincent & The Grenadines is located in the Caribbean Sea, 1600 miles southeast of Miami. Situated at 13º 15' N and 60º 56' W, it is between St Lucia to the north and Grenada to the south and 100 miles west of Barbados. St. Vincent is a lush volcanic island, 18 miles long and 11 miles wide. Its east coast is fairly rugged, lined with cliffs and rocky shores that are blasted by the Atlantic ocean. The west coast, in comparison, has lush green valleys and a coastline that is gently carressed by the Caribbean Sea. Kingstown, combines reminders of its colonial past, with the activity of a busy commercial caribbean port town. St. Vincent has a population of 117,000. African, East Indian, Portuguese, Carib and European heritages are present on the island. Temperatures range from 24C (75F) to 34C (93F). Apart from the mainland there are 32 other islands and cays. |
| Attractions include Fort Charlotte, constructed in 1806, which has a stunning view of Kingstown bay and the Northern Grenadine islands, a parrot observatory, a turtle sanctuary, numerous coral reefs, yacht marinas, banana plantations that are still in use, old towns and beautifully preserved colonial buildings, including a cathedral and churches. |
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The carnival (Vincy Mas') is held in June / July and is a fascinating mixture of beautiful, colourful costumes and the best in Caribbean music such as calypso, steeldrums and soca. St. Vincent's Botanic Gardens, founded in 1765, are the oldest in the western hemisphere. There are a number of small fishing villages worth a visit, including Buccament Bay, Layou and Barrouallie. Enjoy or take part in jazz and blues festivals, various regattas, international cricket and a host of other festivals. |
| One can swim or go snorkelling at many picturesque beaches in warm tropical seas and enjoy a world of marine adventure. There are a variety of scuba diving sites available on the mainland or in the beautiful Grenadines. You will have the opportunity to dive around some of the best coral reefs of the region and see some wrecks too. They are willing to assist disabled people who wish to dive also. Other activities include water-skiing, windsurfing, cycling, canoeing, sea-fishing and bird-watching. |  |
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Even if you are not arriving in your own yacht, there is plenty of opportunity still to do some island hoping by boat or yacht, either on your own or with a hired crew. Sailing is the ideal way to take in the beautiful Grenadine islands at your leisure. Why not head off to the Tobago Cays, Petit St. Vincent, Canouan or Mayreau and see the beautiful white-sand beaches and the turtles. In evening, you can have the supper of the fresh seafood that you caught, with the perfect Caribbean sunset lighting your table and smiles. |
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The Vermont Nature Trail provides an opportunity to bird-watch and explore the flora and fauna. You can delve in to secondary rainforest, see tree trunks that are so big you can walk in to them, and drink the fresh, clear, cool water of the streams flowing through this nature reserve. Again, wheelchair users can enjoy this spectacular phenomenom too if you don't mind being carried. |
| For the more adventurous there is La Soufriere, a tour to which takes you along the picturesque east coast of St Vincent, through banana and coconut plantations to where the trail begins, leading you along steep volcanic ridges verdant with bamboo and other tropical trees. Wheelchair users can do this trip too, if you don't mind being carried for a couple of hours. Visit this heavenly site and see the sulphur fumes leaking out of the crater plug. |  |
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Alternatively, if you want to relax, enjoy the tranquility of the garden and read a book under one of the mango trees. You could try some coconut water too from one of the coconut trees in the garden. |
For more information about St. Vincent please visit www.svgtourism.com
