St Vincent and the Grenadines: a week exploring its natural side

DAY 1
ADMIRALTY BAY, BEQUIA

Join your yacht at Young Island, just off St Vincent’s southern coast, and then set sail for the lush, green isle of Bequia, anchoring in picturesque Admiralty Bay. Wander ashore to stroll along the quaint waterfront of Port Elizabeth with its cafés and shops, and visit the impressive model boat workshops, where these miniature vessels are hand-made by the local craftsmen. Finish your day with drinks at the legendary Frangipani, a favourite among yachties, and return to the yacht to dine on fresh lime and chilli-dressed conch salad and seared yellowfin tuna, or whatever else the Vincentian fisherman may have caught that day.

Picturesque moorings in Admiralty Bay, Port Elizabeth | photo by Eye Ubiquitous/robertharding.com

DAY 2
PICNIC AT HOPE BAY EN ROUTE TO UNION ISLAND

Spend the morning on one of Bequia’s golden beaches or dive the Devil’s Table, loaded with fish and coral. Alternatively take an excursion to Hope Bay on the Atlantic coast, beginning with an hour-long walk down to the shore from the end of the driveable track. Your chef will pack a picnic lunch as there are no restaurants nearby. For those in the know this is a great place to bodysurf, but Hope is such a well-kept secret that you are unlikely to see another soul. Back on board, take a late afternoon cruise to Union Island, a mini-Tahiti topped by the 1,100ft Mount Taboi, anchoring overnight off the long sand beach in Chatham Bay.

Crabs and coral await divers down below | photolibrary.com

DAY 3
SNORKELLING AND BEACH BARBECUE ON TOBAGO CAYS

A quick passage over to the magical Tobago Cays National Maritime Park deposits you among thousands of marine creatures and pristine corals where visibility to 12 metres is not unusual. The four uninhabited islands that make up the Tobago Cays are surrounded by a pristine Horseshoe Reef, and you can spend the whole day snorkelling and floating atop transparent waves, pausing to lunch on board. The dive boats depart in the afternoon, leaving you to enjoy shelling the beaches in perfect solitude. Enjoy a banquet of champagne and barbecued lobster (caught outside the park) on the beach, topped off with passion fruit sorbets.

The distinctive Horseshoe Reef of Tobago Cays with Mayreau Island behind | photo by Michael DeFreitas/robertharding.com

DAY 4
PLAY OR PAMPER ON CANOUAN, DINE ON MAYREAU

Return to civilized pleasures on Canouan Island and play a round of golf at the Jim Fazio-designed Trump International Golf Club which is set on dramatic sloping hills and along the ocean edge. Or pamper yourself at Canouan Resort Spa, where you can watch marine life through the glass floors of the over-water palapas while having a relaxing massage. Then set sail for palm-lined Saltwhistle Bay on the northern tip of Mayreau, and make your way ashore to dine off stone tables in the resort’s renowned tropical garden restaurant, with perhaps an after-dinner stroll along its pristine beaches. A longer walk to the crest of the hill beside the Catholic church will give you panoramic view of Tobago Cays, Canouan and Union Island.

Over-water palapas at Canouan Resort Spa, off Godahl Beach | photo by Eye Ubiquitous/robertharding.com

DAY 5
BIRDWATCHING AND BASIL’S BAR ON MUSTIQUE

An early departure delivers you quickly to the tiny private island of Mustique. Banana pancakes at Basil’s Bar, on stilts in Britannia Bay, will kick off your Mustique experience nicely – to be followed by a scenic horseback ride. Meander through the hills keeping your eye out for Mustique’s 50 indigenous species of birds, including the Mangrove Cuckoo and Tropical Kingbird, and gallop in the surf on white beaches. Finish your ride at the Cotton House for lunch at the Beach Café on the water. Visit the spa for a bit of aromatherapy or the unique ‘Coconut Experience’. An evening swim or snorkel at Lagoon Bay (just south of your mooring at Britannia Bay) is a must, followed by sundowners and dinner onboard in tranquil Britannia Bay. Those included can swing by Basil’s for an evening libation.

Traditional fishing boats on Britannia Bay, Mustique, with Basil's Bar beyond | photo by Eye Ubiquitious/robertharding.com

DAY 6
LUNCH ON PETIT NEVIS AND BACK TO YOUNG ISLAND

Spend the morning in the surf at Mustique’s Macaroni Bay and then cruise to Petit Nevis, a private island off Bequia’s southern shore, for a last lunch in splendid isolation. Returning to Young Island, take the tender to Lime N’ Pub restaurant on the mainland for a seafood feast.

Young Island | photo by Alvaro Leiva/robertharding.com

DAY 7
INLAND ADVENTURES ON ST VINCENT

Anchor in Petit Byahaut cove on the lee-side of St Vincent, and then head ashore early to explore the island. Rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle and head north through banana plantations and villages to the Bamboo Forest. The more energetic may wish to make the spectacular but vigorous two-hour climb to the summit of the sleeping La Soufrière volcano, or hike to Trinity Falls, a group of three cascades. Those looking for a shorter adventure could opt to catch a glimpse of the brilliantly coloured St Vincent parrot from the Vermont Nature Trail – a lovely hiking and bird-watching area within the 10,870-acre St Vincent Parrot Reserve. Then return to the yacht for champagne and farewells before heading home.

St Vincent parrot | photoshot.com

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

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