Canouan

Small southern Grenadines island with barrier reefs, turquoise lagoons, and hilltop views toward Mustique.

Canouan is a small island in the southern Grenadines, about five kilometres long and blessed with some of the finest beaches in the Caribbean. A barrier reef wraps around the Atlantic side, creating calm turquoise lagoons, while the hills in the centre rise steeply enough to offer views across to Mustique and the Tobago Cays.

The island has a split personality. The northern half is occupied by a luxury resort and golf course; the southern half is where the locals live, in a small village around the harbour. Both sides share the same beautiful water. Diving and snorkelling are excellent — the reef is healthy and close to shore.

Getting here usually means a short flight from Barbados or St. Vincent, or a stop on a sailing route through the Grenadines. The island is quiet even by Grenadine standards, which is saying something.

Guide

Getting There

Canouan Airport (IATA: CIW) has a short runway that accepts small regional aircraft. Mustique Airways and SVG Air operate scheduled flights from Barbados and from St. Vincent's E.T. Joshua Airport. The flight from Barbados takes about 30 minutes.

A water taxi service connects Canouan to other Grenadine islands. Inter-island ferries from St. Vincent call at Canouan on a limited schedule — the journey takes several hours and is primarily used by locals. Most visitors arrive by air or by yacht.

Guide

Things to Do

Canouan's main draw is its reef and beaches. The barrier reef wrapping the Atlantic side creates sheltered lagoons that are among the cleanest in the Grenadines — snorkelling and diving are the primary activities. The hills in the centre offer short hikes with sweeping views across the island chain. The pace is slow and that is the point.