Union Island
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Union Island

Union Island

Mountainous Grenadines island with Clifton Harbour and boat access to the Tobago Cays

Union Island is a small, mountainous island at the southern end of the Grenadines chain, part of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It serves as the jumping-off point for the Tobago Cays, one of the Caribbean's most spectacular sailing and snorkelling destinations, and for the private island of Palm Island nearby.

The island has a rugged, undeveloped feel compared to its neighbours. Clifton Harbour, the main town, has a small harbour, a few guesthouses, and a handful of bars where the sailing crowd gathers. The beaches are quiet — Chatham Bay on the west coast is a long crescent of sand backed by hills — and a hike up Mount Taboi gives panoramic views across the southern Grenadines. The northeast shore draws kitesurfers to Kite Beach, where the Grenadines trade winds are among the most consistent in the Caribbean. If you are island-hopping through the Grenadines by boat or ferry, Union Island is a natural stop.

Guide

Bars and Cafes

Union Island's bar scene is small and relaxed, concentrated around Clifton Harbour and the kite beach. Don't expect nightclubs — the social life here revolves around sundowners on boats or stools at open-air bars facing the water.

Guide

Getting There

Union Island is reached by a combination of air and ferry. The island has its own small airstrip, Union Island Airport (UNI), which handles regional turboprop flights from Kingstown (St Vincent), Grenada, and Barbados operated by SVG Air and Mustique Airways. Flights take between 20 and 45 minutes depending on origin.

The alternative is the ferry from St Vincent — the Jaden Sun and similar vessels run a multi-stop route through the Grenadines, calling at Bequia, Canouan, and Mayreau before reaching Union Island. The journey from Kingstown takes around 3–4 hours in good conditions and costs a fraction of the airfare. Day-trippers can also reach Union Island on water taxis from Canouan and Carriacou (Grenada) if you are already in the southern Grenadines.

Yachties passing through the Grenadines use Clifton Harbour as the official port of entry for St Vincent and the Grenadines when coming from the south.

Guide

Things to Do

Union Island punches above its weight for a small Grenadines outpost. The real draw is the sea — snorkelling, diving, kite surfing, and day trips to the Tobago Cays — but the island itself rewards those who stay long enough to explore the ridges and bays on foot.