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This Home Page hopes to provide something a little different than what you may be accustomed to in home pages. This is not a history or geography lesson - If you like that sort of thing, you may want to get hold of a book "St. Vincent and the Grenadines - A Plural Country" by Dana Jinkins & Jill Bobrow and published by W.W. Norton and Company, Inc. New York, N.Y..
The uniquely beautiful archipelago of islands in the Caribbean called St. Vincent and the Grenadines is definitely the place to be to have a completely stress-free vacation. This will not be your traditional getaway.
e-mail: amitchell13@shaw.ca
Discover a beautiful getaway; a hideaway that is not as commercial as most others, but offers the visitor an uncommon vacation with plenty of variety. This is the land - St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The true boys of St. Vincent are men of the sea. This fact defines the type of visitor that finds these islands truly enchanting.
The big island of St. Vincent has rugged mountainous terrain, lush forest and many uncluttered beaches and inlets that more than imitates an Amazon getaway. Yet the island is sufficiently small (133 sq. miles - 18 miles long and 11 miles wide) that there is never the dread of being lost to civilization with a good guide. This most fertile of Caribbean islands has been fed by volcanic ash as recently as April 1979 - and provides for its inhabitants enough fruit and vegetables to make them self-sufficient. The Soufriere volcano which is to the north of the island is itself a wonderful attraction for the energetic and adventurous visitor.
On the south west coast of the island is Kingstown the small bustling capital, built on a broad bay between two hilly promonitories. From Kingstown, highways wind their way northward along both coasts: the Atlantic or Windward coast is rugged, with pounding surf and rocky shores, providing dramatic landscapes; the Caribbean or Leeward coast offers spectacular scenery and most of the island's beaches. The most beautiful beaches in St. Vincent lie along the south coast, some of the best being at Villa, four miles from Kingstown.
Young Island Resort is an exclusive, private-island resort, just 200 yards off St. Vincent's south coast. With only 29 breeze-cooled cottages and suites, set along the beach and hillside of this 25 acre tropical paradise - you are bound to fulfil a fantasy or two. The island also offers two 44 foot luxury yachts for the use of its guests.
As the boats go - Bequia (bec-way) my home island just 1 hour from St. Vincent (9 miles) - This is dedicated to my father Cyril and to Mac a great cousin and Ian and Geoff good friends; and all those who go down to the sea and love sailing.
Largest and first of the chain of Grenadines Islands, the name Bequia comes from the Carib word meaning "Island of the Clouds". Many yacht people from the countries like New Zealand, Australia, France, Belgium, Norway, Italy, South Africa, Canada, Great Britain and the United States think of Bequia as the "Jewel of the Grenadines". Picturesque Admiralty Bay well known for the Seventeenth Century pirates and the British, French and Spanish Navies is now found dotted with as many as 100 sailing yachts and other ships of calling.
The very name Bequia hides the fact of romantic visions of blue skies, white beaches and lazy days under a tropical sun and a tropical moon - unless you think of "clouds" as heavenly. Bequia is an island for the connoisseur. Very few Caribbean islands offer such a tranquil and beautiful location for an escapist's dream holiday. The island is just 7 miles long.
Bequia offers a paradise complete with quiet lagoons, beautiful reefs and long stretches of near-deserted beaches. Small, beautifully lush, and the quiet side, Bequia has its own unique culture. The atmosphere is very West Indian and the inhabitants who enjoy a comfortable standard of living, are usually friendly and polite.
Sunsets are very breathtaking and that usually signals the locals, fishermen, yachtsmen and tourists to the friendly bars. Once or twice a week there might be a "jump-up" - where admission is free at clubs and locals with tourist intermingle for a good time of dance and festivity. The food is exceptionally good and healthy - lobster, chicken and fish steaks, tropical fruits, fried plantains, coconut and guava pudding fresh each day.
As the boats go - Mustique (mus-teek) - an island that is 3 x 1 1/2 miles in size and is 1 1/2 hours sailing from St. Vincent (12 miles). Some twenty five years ago, the completely unspoiled Caribbean island became the property of a devotee of the island life, who then directed a gradual development of the island. In the years since, some of the world's most sophisticated beachcombers arrived, lured to this island gem by safe, warm waters, varied terrain and astonishing views. Mick (the Rocker) Jagger and David Bowie are just a couple of the celebrities that live on the Island Company.
Mustique offered the new arrivals an opportunity to participate in something rare. The houses they built were under the direction of British Designer the late Oliver Messel and his sensitive restorations to ensure that existng structures reflect the lifestyle and taste of their owners. There was respect given to topography, climate and above all the relaxed, casual comfort sought by the members. Now the directors of the Mustique Company invite all to enjoy the unspoiled enchantment of the island.
As the boats go - Canouan (ca-o-one) is about 3 hours from St. Vincent (25 miles). A crescent-shaped island surrounded by wide shallows and coral - A scuba diver's dream. The islanders are mainly fisherman and small farmers. However, with a wealth of excellent beaches and unspoilt scenery, Canouan is attracting significant hotel development.
As the boats go - Mayreau (mi-roe) has about 40 to 60 persons living on the island - again mainly fishermen and small farmers. The island is privately owned and modest plans for development are projected. The island is only accessible by boat and is approximately 4 hours from St. Vincent (35 miles).
As the boats go - Union Island is about 4 1/2 hours from St. Vincent (40 miles). The island is approximately 3 miles long and 1 mile wide. The island has a dramatic profile of ridges and peaks - the highest is Mount Parnassus some 900 feet above sea level for such a small island - a little Tahiti. Because Union Island is the most southern of the island nation: St. Vincent and the Grenadines, it boasts the headquarters of the southern Grenadines.
As the boats go - Palm Island is just 400 yards offshore of Union Island - it is surrounded to the north, south and east by coral reefs - so access is limited to a launch from Union Island. Of its four beaches, the west - Casvarina is reputed to be one of the finest in the Grenadines.
As the boats go - Petit St. Vincent is about 5 miles offshore of Union. This 113 acre island resort is privately owned and offers private cottage-type accommodation and a wide range of sporting and marine activities. It is almost surrounded by white sand beaches and has excellent anchorage for yachts. The island also sponsors yacht races over the American Thanksgiving weekend which attract yachtsmen and visitors from all over the world.
St. Vincent Links
Bequia Links
Mustique Link
Canouan Links
Palm Island Link
Petit St. Vincent Links
If this getaway has pique your interest, I would like to hear from you.
e-mail: amitchell13@shaw.ca