Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island nation in the southeastern Caribbean, made up of the volcanic main island of Saint Vincent and a chain of smaller islands and cays stretching south toward Grenada. Together they offer a combination rarely found in the Caribbean: dramatic volcanic scenery on the main island, and some of the finest sailing waters in the world threading between the Grenadines.
Saint Vincent itself is steep, green, and less developed than its neighbours. The capital Kingstown has a market, old stone churches, and the Botanical Gardens — one of the oldest in the Western Hemisphere, dating to 1765 and home to a descendant of the breadfruit trees brought by Captain Bligh. La Soufrière volcano in the north can be hiked; it last erupted in 2021. The Atlantic coast is rough and wild; the Caribbean side has the calmer beaches.
The Grenadines are the draw for most visitors. Bequia is the largest and most self-sufficient, a small island with a strong boat-building tradition and excellent anchorage. Mustique is private and exclusive. Canouan and Mayreau are quieter still, with white-sand beaches and clear water. The Tobago Cays — a group of uninhabited islets within a horseshoe reef — are among the most beautiful sailing destinations in the Caribbean.
The main airline serving the islands is LIAT; connections also run from Barbados, Grenada, Martinique, and Trinidad. The ET Joshua Airport is 3 km from Kingstown. Small airports on Bequia, Union Island, Canouan, and Mustique serve light aircraft.
