HIGHLIGHTS
- Splashing in the Falls of Baleine, which plunge 70 feet into a rockbound pool
- Nosing around Fort Charlotte, built by the English to defend against the Caribs
- Charting a sailboat for a trip through the Grenadines
OVERVIEW
Like chicks following the mother hen, the islands of the Grenadines scramble to form a line behind St. Vincent. Part of the Windward chain, St. Vincent and the Grenadines are best known for sailing. In fact, most of the 32 islets and cays of the Grenadine archipelago can only be reached by boat, making them perfect for seclusion seekers.
Pearl-shaped St. Vincent is still evolving as a result of La Soufrihre's refusal to go to sleep. Visitors, however, are in no danger, since the nearly 4,000-foot volcano is closely monitored. The last major eruption was in 1902.
While 133-square-mile mountainous St. Vincent has extraordinary black-sand beaches, the Grenadines-Bequia, Mayreau, Mustique, Palm Island, Petit St. Vincent-are blessed with whitewashed ones. They're also blessed with extreme seclusion and a jet-set clientele; Mick Jagger, England's royals and David Bowie vacation here.
Just outside of St. Vincent's capital of Kingstown, Fort Charlotte commands imposing views. Nearby, 20 acres of botanical garden have been under cultivation since 1765. Flowering trees including flamboyant, yellow pouis, jacarandas and flame of the forest punctuate the dense growth. At the park's entrance, an archaeological museum built in 1891 displays Amerindian artifacts. North of Kingstown is Barrouallie, a quaint fishing village. Inland, hikers will delight in the trails that wiggle through the Buccament Valley rainforest. To the east in the town of Mesopotamia, rock carvings reveal the Indians' past presence. One of the most visited sights on St. Vincent is the Falls of Baleine, a 70-foot cascade usually visited by boat.
Bequia lies some nine miles south of St. Vincent. Accommodations include small inns and rooms in private homes. Mustique is a cozy island of exclusive villas, some owned by rock stars. Rub shoulders with the rich and famous at the island's only bar. Tiny three-mile-long Canouan has a wide bay optimal for anchoring. Neighboring Mayreau has some of the indisputably prettiest beaches in the world. Check out Salt Whistle Bay: It's the creme de la creme. Union Island is the tallest of the Grenadines, sporting a peak of nearly 1,000 feet. Petit St. Vincent is a private island boasting just one super-private resort. Palm Island is another private retreat. The five Tobago Cays are uninhabited. You'll probably have the undivided attention of fish cliques circling the pristine reefs. You'll probably also be one of the few to visit the St. Vincent archipelago before it is truly discovered.
GEOGRAPHY
Topography: The terrain is hilly and blanketed with verdant forests, as well as a grand variety of fruit and nut trees. St. Vincent is the largest island at 18 miles long and 11 miles wide, while Union Island is only three miles in length and one mile in width. Some cays are only a few acres in area.
Climate:Year-round temperatures hover between 77ºF and 81ºF with nearly constant tradewinds. The average rainfall per year is 60 inches on the coast and increases to 150 inches inland, with the wettest months being May through November.
HISTORY
The St. Vincent island group was one of the last strongholds of the Carib Indians. Sighted by Columbus in 1498, the island was not brought under European control until the late 1700s, with the British outlasting the French. In 1969, St. Vincent became an Associated State of Britain. Ten years later, the collective islands were granted independence.
