Grenadine Islands Travel Guide & Grenadines Pictures

Grenadines Sightseeing Guide

The Grenadines cover some 145 miles of the Caribbean Sea, south of St. Vincent. 32 islands or Cays (pronounced 'Keys') which make up the Grenadine Islands. In this sightseeing travel guide, we share some of the idyllic tropical beauty of the Grenadine Islands with you.

The Grenadine Islands form part of the Windward Islands in the Caribbean and provide an incredibly private retreat away from the hustle of everyday life and some of the best diving and snorkelling locations in the Caribbean.

Only seven of the islands are inhabited: Bequia, Canouan, Mayreau, Mustique, Palm, Petit St. Vincent and Union. Travel Guides recommends Mustique Airways to get you between the main islands of the Grenadines and other key Caribbean islands such as Barbados and St. Lucia.

Bequia Island

Pronounced 'Beck Way', Bequia is the largest of the Grenadine islands but still remains largely unspoilt. Located nine miles from St. Vincent it has peaks rising over 800 feet. Predominantly a sailing island it is well connected with St. Vincent and other islands both by the airport and by regular ferry to Port Elizabeth (the island's capital). Villas are available for rental (telephone: +1 (784) 458 3393 or e-mail beqvilla@caribsurf.com. The Plantation House Hotel is a 27 room exclusive hotel set in 20 acres of tropical gardens located at the end of Admiralty Bay. Telephone +1 (784) 458 3425 for reservations.

Canouan Island

Canouan is a crescent shaped island having some of the Grenadines best beaches on its east side where its wide, shallow waters are protected by an extensive coral reef. The French owned Canouan Beach Hotel offers either deluxe accommodation (including beautiful cottages) and is reached from the island's small airport. The island's diving centre is located at the hotel.

Mayreau Island, Grenadines

Pronounced 'My-row', Mayreau is a 700 acre island lying in the centre of the Grenadine island chain adjacent to the Tobago Cays. The island can be reached only by sea and has one small fishing village of around 200 people. There are no roads or cars! This totally unspoilt island offers fantastic walks and views. At Salt Whistle Bay you can find the Salt Whistle Bay Club which offers 10 beautifully designed stone and timber cottages overlooking 3000 feet of divine beach. The tropical garden restaurant has romantic individual cabanas for that special dining experience. Reservations: +1 (784) 458 8444.

The Tobago Cays

The Tobago Cays are uninhabited and offer some of the best diving and snorkelling outside of the Pacific Ocean with multi-colour fish and corals. Just off Mayreau a horseshoe reef protects the Cays from rough waters and makes for safe swimming and an excellent choice for sailing. The islands have been declared a National Marine Park and all visitors are expected to preserve their beauty and not litter the islands or pollute the pristine waters.

Union Island

Union Island, measuring only three miles by one mile, has a mountainous terrain similar to some of the pacific islands. Union has an excellent airport and is considered by many people as "the gateway to the Grenadines". A key attraction is the French owned Yacht Club home to an excellent restaurant.

Palm Island

Palm Island is just a mile away from Union Island and is some 130 acres. It is home to the Palm Island Resort - an exceptional, exclusive all-inclusive Caribbean retreat.

Mustique Island

Mustique is well known as the destination for Royalty and the rich seeking freedom from the paparazzi. Lying 18 miles south of St. Vincent and in the path of the cooling trade winds, Mustique is a mere three miles by one and a half miles and boasts no vendors, unemployment, virtually no crime, no high rise hotels and an island-wide 20mph speed limit for the few cars which exist on the island. The island consists of wooded hills, fertile valleys and dazzling beaches.

Mustique is very unspoilt and a large part of the development on the island is made up of imposing mansions with landscaped gardens around 50 of which can be rented. Weekly rates start from around US $2500 for a small two bedroom villa to US $20,000 for a seven bedroom mansion. These elegant rentals offer the rich from all parts of the world solitude, ranging from British Colonial styles to Italian classics and Japanese mansions. You can contact the Mustique Company by telephoning +1 (784) 458 4621 or fax them at +1 (784) 456 4565. Mustique was purchased 38 years ago by Lord Glenconner, the Honourable Colin Tennant and later sold by him to 50 of the property owners who are now the shareholders.

The shareholders protect the conservation areas and most importantly the islands privacy, banning cruise ships and vessels with more than 25 passengers. The Caribbean Safari Tours recommended on our Barbados Sightseeing page take you on a tour of this fascinating island. This picture of Mustique was taken from the famous Firefly Restaurant and Hotel which is an exclusive hotel on the island, boasting many famous visitors and some not so famous (me!).

Take a look at our 'Mustique travel guide' to supplement the information provided here.

Petit St. Vincent Island

Petit St. Vincent at 113 acres is another privately owned Caribbean Island lying in the middle of the Grenadines. On "PSV" as it is known, you will find 22 luxuriously appointed cottages offering the most beautiful, relaxing and private location for a vacation. The Caribbean ocean is crystal clear in this area giving fantastic conditions for sailing and diving. Some of the leading hotels in the world are located on the Petit St. Vincent. For more information call +1 (784) 458 8801 or from the US call 1 (800) 654 9326. Click here to take a look at the island.

Grenadines Travel Web Resources

You can select other Grenadines web resources by using the pull-down menu below. There are links to some of the best Grenadines travel web sites on the Internet. To add your Grenadines travel or Grenadines holidays site to this links menu, please contact us.