St Vincent and the Grenadines fact file

Weather

The islands lie in the tropical trade wind zone and enjoy a pleasant climate all year round, with a yearly average temperature of 26°c. The following information relates to St Vincent – the Grenadines are marginally drier and warmer.

During the dry season in St Vincent, which runs from January to May, rain falls for an average of only six days. In January the average daily high is 29°C and the nightly low is 22°C.

May or June to December is the rainy season. In July, the wettest month, the average high is 30°C, while the nightly low is 24°C. The average yearly rainfall on St Vincent is 231cm, although in mountainous areas it averages more than 380 cm a year.

St Vincent

Known locally as ‘the mainland’, St Vincent is covered in tropical greenery and its black sand beaches mean it has been left relatively unspoiled by tourism. The 3,864ft La Soufrière volcano dominates the island and its slopes offer a difficult but rewarding hike through the rainforest. St Vincent is home to the SVG capital, Kingstown, a colonial settlement with cobblestone streets.

Mustique

The Mustique Company (owned by the island’s home owners) manages and maintains the island’s shops, medical clinic, bars and other facilities to a high standard. Its beautiful beaches and a sophisticated ambience attract high-profile celebrities, aristocrats and the super-rich.

Bequia

Island life is centred around Port Elizabeth, where colourful boats dot the harbour. The landscape is lush and rugged, with pretty beaches and churches. Its friendly, ‘real Caribbean’ atmosphere attracts privacy-seeking celebrities, artists, writers and bohemian families.

Travel

St Vincent’s main airport is the ET Joshua Airport in Arnos Vale, near Kingstown. Visitors from North America and Europe should travel to Barbados, Grenada, Trinidad, St Lucia, Martinique or Puerto Rico and take connecting flights to Bequia, Canouan, Mustique or Union Island.

SVG has an information desk in the arrivals section of the Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados. This desk is open daily from 1pm until the last flight to St Vincent departs. The following airlines offer connecting flights to St Vincent and the Grenadines:

Liat Airline
T: +1 (784) 457 1821
W: www.liatairline.com

Caribbean Airlines
T: + 1 (868) 625 7200
W: www.caribbean-airlines.com

Immigration

US, Canadian, Australian and EU citizens do not require visas, although passports and evidence of an ongoing or return travel plan must be shown.

Yachts arriving in St Vincent territorial waters must proceed to a port of entry to clear in. These include Port Elizabeth on Bequia; Dovers, Grand Bay on Mustique; and Blue Lagoon, Kingstown, Ottley Hall, Wallilabou Bay, and Young Island Cut on On St Vincent. Boats must also clear out at one of the official ports.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines participates in the ESeaClear.com scheme, which allows skippers to pre-clear their yacht, crew and passage details online.

Customs

Firearms must be declared upon arrival and sealed on board. If a yacht has no suitable locker, the firearms will be held in the custody of customs or police until departure.

Cruising permits

A cruising permit will be granted by customs or Port Department on clearing in. There is a monthly fee per crew member for cruising in SVG.

Medical

Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, Kingstown (+1 (784) 456 1185) has emergency and X-ray facilities. The ambulance service in St Vincent is quick and response in the emergency room is immediate.

Hazards

Natural dangers
SVG is at risk from hurricanes and the active La Soufrière volcano on St Vincent has erupted in 1718, 1812, 1902, 1971 and 1979.

Beware of the caustic fruit, sap and leaves of the Machineel Tree (or Poison Apple) which are poisonous if ingested and can cause a burning rash on contact with the skin. It is found near beaches.

Some cliffs can be hazardous, so before attempting a nature walk let someone know where you’re going and when you will return.

Crime and drugs

Petty street crime has been in a problem in towns after dark and visitors should be cautious on isolated streets. Thefts from hotels, yachts and beaches are also an issue, so keep possessions secure or take them with you.

The SVG Government has recently cracked down on all illegal drugs, including cannabis and cocaine. The punishment for possession can include prison time and confiscation of yachts or other possessions. Customs has also stepped-up efforts to prevent drugs being transported. No attempts should be made to import or export even small quantities for personal use, and buying any drugs while in SVG is inadvisable.

Dress

Chests and midriffs should be covered in towns.

Fishing permits

The use of spearguns or quantity fishing is not allowed unless written approval is given by the Fisheries Department. This can be requested from customs upon arrival. There is a closed season for lobsters from 1 May to 31 August, and for turtles from March 1 to July 31. The removal of coral is forbidden.

Bequia Mount Gay Music Fest, Bequia (late January)

Jazz, reggae, blues and Caribbean calypso ring out from the tiny island of Bequia as the crowd get into the laid-back beach groove at various venues in Lower Bay.
www.bequiatourism.com/bequiamusicfest

Mustique Blues Festival at Basil’s Bar, Mustique (late January)

On Sundays during the festival families can enjoy an early supper and a sunset blues performance. The more adventurous can stay on for cocktails and quality sounds from local and international musicians.
www.basilsmustique.com

Bequia Easter Regatta, Bequia (Easter long weekend)

Over 29 years this four-day event has grown into one of the region’s most popular regattas, famous for its unique blend of local boat racing, yacht racing and Bequia hospitality.
www.begos.com/easterregatta/

Vincy Mas, St Vincent (June/July)

An eclectic mix of local music and competitions. Events include street parades, king and queen of the bands, the Miss SVG pageant, and steel band and calypso contests.
www.carnivalsvg.com

Christmas

There are midnight services on Christmas Eve at both the Anglican church in Port Elizabeth and the tiny Catholic church in Hamilton. On Christmas Day hotels and restaurants offer traditional Christmas fare, often with a West Indian twist.

Nine Mornings Festival, St Vincent (December 16-24)

From about 4am on the nine mornings before Christmas, Vincentians partake in a range of activities, among them sea baths, dances (in local parlance, fetes), bicycle riding and street concerts. In the rural areas, the final morning of the festivity usually ends with a steel band ‘jump-up’. Festivities take place in Kingstown and throughout the island.

New Year’s Eve

Old Year’s Night, as it is known in SVG, is celebrated with church services, fire works displays, public and private dinners, and parties which spill over into the next day. Hotels and bars hold offer a variety of entertainment options. New Year’s Day is a public holiday.

Charter Guide St Vincent and the Grenadines charter guide Spared the tourist hordes and unsullied by major development, these mountainous islands and pristine cays are where you can encounter the natural Caribbean and get away from it all

Itinerary St Vincent and the Grenadines: a week exploring its natural side Well off the beaten track, this collection of islands, islets and cays has horseshoe reefs, bamboo forests, active volcanoes, cascading waterfalls and an eponymous parrot

Feature Back to nature in the ‘islands off the end of the world’ Nature is king in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and here you meet it face to face, clambering up volcanoes, traipsing through jungle, jumping off waterfalls and swimming with turtles