Imagine island hopping to unknown paradises that pirates once inhabited, with reggae music wafting through the air as warm breezes blow, and lying on pristine beaches as you laze away the summer. I took a three-week cruise like that on a 50ft sailboat from St. Vincent and the Grenadines that ended on the island of Spice in Grenada.
Find locally-led guided tours in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, here.
The Grenadines are part of the Windward Islands in the southern end of the Caribbean that range from Martinique to Grenada. It’s an area of the world where chocolate cacao beans are grown and rainforest fruits are plentiful. Being laid back is the order of the day.
Sailing in the Grenadines allows you to experience island life in a way that cruise ships never do. You can interact with local salty characters and full-time boat dwellers who live where the wind blows them. The stories they can tell in beachfront bars and shanty shacks will amaze you.
Landing in Barbados
Most small islands in the Grenadines don’t accommodate jets so we flew into Barbados and spent the night at the Butterfly Beach Hotel. It’s located in Christ Church, Barbados on Oistin Bay, and was a perfect location to greet the Caribbean.
***Please click on the thumbnails below to view the images below view full-size.
We were only there for one night but hired a driver who took us to the Sunbury Plantation House built around 1660 and St. John’s Parish Church built in 1645.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
From Barbados, we boarded a puddle jumper to St. Vincent where we met up with our group who had flown in from various parts of the U.S. Kingstown, is the capital of St. Vincent and is its bustling hub. We went into town and walked through the busy outdoor market.
We could see a peaceful but lively protest taking place in the street. Residents were angry at the sitting Prime Minister who they called a dictator. St. Vincent is a parliamentary democracy with the British monarch as head of state.
Immediately upon arriving in St. Vincent, I was affected by the intense Caribbean humidity. My feet swelled up and I could only wear sandals. That didn’t deter us from touring the island and we allowed a local man to lead us on a hike to the Botanical Garden and a tour of the town in exchange for a “tip.”
Goats rule the islands
They are everywhere. Almost everyone who lives in the Grenadines owns a gaggle of goats, sheep, or chickens. You have to be careful not to hit them with your car because they wander through towns like tourists. Goat yoga, anyone?
We were a group of six. Two were part-time sailors and the rest of us were mere passengers along for the adventure. We rented our 50-foot Beneteau sailboat from Sunsail. It had 4 tiny staterooms below and one in the bow that was filled with supplies.
Our quarters were tiny and the bed I shared with my partner wasn’t much bigger than a twin. Sailing is like camping, which isn’t something I’m a big fan of. But somehow, the crystal clear azure sea made it bearable.
That night we stayed at the Blue Lagoon Hotel at the Sunsail marina.
The mosquitos started munching on me right away, even though I was wearing a strong repellent. I turned out to be their favorite host during our trip while everyone else was spared. The next day, as we were sitting at the bar waiting to board our boat, I started feeling weird and was convinced I had Dengue fever. Luckily, the feeling passed and was probably a result of getting used to the humidity.
Bequia
We enjoyed our slightly rough and tumble ride to the island of Bequia. It’s known as “the island of sailors and boats.” I didn’t get seasick but the other woman in our group who was a motion picture stuntwoman, had to use the bucket a couple of times.
As we sailed into Admiralty Bay, we could hear the gentle sounds of reggae music wafting through the air. Bequia is a charming little island with an assortment of small sea-themed restaurants and colorfully painted shops. We anchored our boat in the bay and took our dinghy to the shore to explore.
The next day, we hired a driver who took us on a tour of the island including the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary.
Sailing life in the Grenadines is relaxed and free-spirited. It’s not unusual to see people, especially the French, jump off their boats buck-naked. If we knew our boat mates a little better we may have done it too.
Find things to do in Bequia, here.
Mustique
If you’re wondering where Mick Jagger, Kate Moss, Shania Twain, and The Beckhams hang out in their spare time, it’s Mustique. Other residents have included David Bowie, Tommy Hilfiger, Raquel Welsh, and Princess Margaret. This picturesque island is privately owned, making it much different than the other islands in the Grenadines.
The rich and famous own large estates there that are secluded and isolated from the paparazzi. When they aren’t in residence, their homes are rented out to visitors who can afford the high price tags.
We anchored at the marina where we could walk directly into the famous Basil’s Bar. At the time we were there, it was a rustic Hemingwayesque establishment that had been in business for over 35 years. It’s currently being renovated and is known as one of the world’s best beach bars. Make sure to order their rum punch.
We were sitting in Basils enjoying cocktails and were pleasantly surprised to be invited to a private reception at The Cotton House, Mustique’s exclusive premiere hotel.
Even though we were shabby from sailing, we happily obliged and proceeded to hobnob with the jet setters, although Mick was nowhere to be found… darn!
The next day, we hired a local driver (our favorite way to explore new places) and toured the island and beaches.
Find things to do in Mustique, here
Canouan
Did I mention I’m not a good camper? By the time we arrived at Canouan, I was totally over having to sleep on the boat. We had to leave the hatch open while we slept to keep from sweltering in the humidity. It never failed that it would rain on our heads several times a night and we’d have to get up and close the hatch until it stopped.
I also wasn’t thrilled with the toilet being in the shower and was dreaming of an air-conditioned hotel. Once we set anchor in Canouan, my partner and I took the dingy and booked a room at the Tamarind Beach Hotel. It was wonderful! I took a “real” shower, and was a much happier “camper.”
Canouan is a sleepy but stunning island and I wish we could have spent more time there.
Find things to do in Canouan, her.
Mayreau
Mayreau is a tiny fishing village and is the smallest inhabited island in the Grenadines with a population of about 300. There are a smattering of beachside bars and restaurants in the village and a couple of vendors onshore.
We landed at Saltwhistle Bay and were invited to join in on a BBQ hosted by Jean’s Seaside Restaurant and Beach Bar under an outdoor canopy. We sat there as it rained, mosquitos and all, and enjoyed a tasty freshly caught fish dinner.
Find things to do in Mayreau here.
Tobago Cays
The Tobago Cays is an archipelago of tiny and mostly flat islands surrounded by unbelievably crystal clear sea. It’s a popular snorkeling spot and is mostly uninhabited. Like many of the islands in the Grenadines, we were met by local boat vendors selling bread, ice, art, and other necessities.
We even had two Rastafarians come up to our boat smoking Gangia weed. At Tobago Cays, a tee-shirt vendor named Sydney greeted our boat. He had a deep voice that sounded just like Sebastian in the Little Mermaid. I got a big kick out of listening to him try to get us to buy his wares.
For the most part, the boat vendors in the Grenadines are helpful and honest. We took advantage of their services whenever we could.
Tobago Cays is primitive with almost no amenities, but you can hook up with locals who will take you on tours. Scuba diving is said to be spectacular at both Tobago Cays and Mayreau.
Union Island
Next was Union Island. It had an internet café that I quickly took advantage of to check in on my kids.
Union Island was originally inhabited by Arawak and Carib Indians before it came into the possession of French and English slave owners. They brought hundreds of Africans to the island. The island has a fascinating history of slave traders, pirates, and mixed cultures.
Most of the people we saw were locals, ex-pats, and other foreigners. I bought a stunning handmade turquoise necklace with silver sea symbols from a Frenchwoman who had spent twenty years living on a sailboat in the Caribbean. She finally opened a tiny shop on Union Island.
We stayed overnight at the Anchorage Yacht Club in Clifton Harbor, next to the island’s tiny airport.
Find things to do on Union Island, here.
Carriacou
Before you arrive at the island of Grenada, you have to dock at Hillsborough in Carriacou to go through customs. Carriacou is part of the nation of Grenada which is separate from St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
They are all part of the Commonwealth Caribbean. Carriacou is known for having over 100 rum shops. It’s an enchanting and friendly island with many areas of interest. As we did on all the islands we visited, we found a local driver who took us on an island tour.
Find things to do on Carriacou here.
Grenada
Grenada was formed from the crater of an underwater volcano and is a stunning and diverse island with gorgeous beaches, small towns, and rainforests. The capital city is St. George’s, which has a deep bay formed by the crater.
The island was originally inhabited by the Arawak and island Caribes and is known as the Isle of Spice. It’s the perfect place to purchase, nutmeg, cacao balls, cinnamon, and other rainforest products.
You may remember the invasion of Grenada by the U.S. in 1983 when Ronald Reagan was President. Grenada gained its independence from Great Britain in 1971 and Eric Gairy became Prime Minister. Maurice Bishop staged a coup in 1979, removed Gairy, and took over.
He was Marxist-Leninist and his party, the People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG) had close ties with Cuba, Nicaragua, and communist bloc countries. In 1983, there was another coup, this time by members of the same party. Bishop, along with his cabinet members, were executed at Fort George in St. George’s, Grenada.
The U.S. became involved when they learned a 10,000-foot airstrip was being constructed on Grenada by Cuban construction workers. Along with the Regional Security System, they invaded Grenada on Oct 25, 1983, and the pre-revolutionary government came back into power. Grenada is now a stable, peaceful, and safe place to visit.
We arrived on the island after maneuvering through a brief squall. Luckily, our captain knew what he was doing. We spent the night at the Grenada Yacht Club in St. George’s.
The next day we headed out to the True Blue Bay Boutique Resort, near Prickly Bay, where we stayed for the rest of our trip before flying home. It’s located in an idyllic setting with a marina bar and is charming beyond belief.
Our group spent several days exploring the island in a rented car. Highlights included The Belmont Estate’s cacao plantation, the rainforest, several of the island’s gorgeous beaches, and its extraordinary restaurants. It’s no wonder why ex-pats love living there. Life in Grenada is mellow, almost free from hurricanes, has fresh and natural rainforest superfoods, and is not far from Argentina in South America.
Find things to do in Grenada, here.
There’s never enough time
We missed the islands of Palm, PSV, and Martinique because it would have been impossible to do it all in the time we had to spend there. However, we did pass by the Kick ‘Em Jenny Volcano on the way to Grenada. It’s an active submarine volcano. I’m glad it didn’t explode while we sailing by.
A few glitches but worth it anyway
On the way to Grenada, we hit a reef in a shallow spot and could have wrecked the boat but didn’t. There was also the day our toilets backed up and it stank to high heaven. Our captain managed to fix it and hopefully, he did it legally.
The entire time I learned nothing about sailing and sat there like a Princess letting the guys do all of the work. Aside from the mosquitos and dealing with living on a boat for 3 weeks, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada are truly paradise and not to be missed.
Next time
If we were to do it again, we’d book a Catamaran instead of a regular sailboat because there is more room to move around. Even still, our experience with Sunsail was incredible. They have rental locations all over the world.
During our trip, we ate fish, fish, and more fish. All fresh, and incredible! Oh, and the rum drinks. We drank lots of those too. Yo Ho! Yo Ho! A pirate’s life for me.
Plan to sail anytime soon or have you been on a sailing trip? Please leave a comment below.
A wonderfully told story. Seeing those photos brings back many memories. A wonderful time Rebecca. Unfortunately, our wonderful Captain Tom passed away a couple of years after our trip. Michael & Marian Hofstein live in Atlanta now – Michael wants to return to Los Angeles. Lost touch with Tom’s brother Kevin. Hope all you readers enjoy our 3 week Caribbean trip.
Thanks, Doug and you took most of the photos. It was fun remembering our trip and all the fun we had.
I’m no pirate but it sounds like an incredible experience! I never knew there were so many islands in that area.
To be honest, we didn’t either. I had never heard of the Grenadines before we went there. I’m ready to do it again.
I have never been to Grenada. It looks amazing. Thanks for the travel tips!
You may want to plan a trip there someday. It’s an amazing island all by itself and it has an airport.
Wow! What an adventure! Good for you. Now these locations are on my lists!
I hope you get a chance to go AnnMerle. It’s a fantastic and sometimes overlooked part of the Earth. So beautiful and incredibly mellow.
I get seasick on small boats—combine that with mosquitoes, heat and humidity and the toilet in the shower, and I’m thinking that sail boat might not be a good method of travel for me. OTOH, your itinerary seems like it was wonderful and you were able to visit some smaller places that most of us will never see. PS: In our family, my poor mother was the mosquito magnet. She suffered mightily the year we lived in Mexico when I was growing up.
It was exciting to visit each small island and see the way the people live there. They were all so friendly. We mosquito magnets feel for your mother’s plight in Mexico.
What an incredible trip and experience! It’s really great to hear that opting for a sailboat trip gave you the opportunity to interact with locals – those are some of the most memorable experiences. I recently went on a small boat trip in Malta and also had the chance to meet and chat with local sailors/fisherman. It was amazing!
Ania, your trip to Malta sounds like it was incredible. I’ve always wanted to go there. How cool!
Now, that’s what I call fun! I really enjoyed reading about all the islands you visited, as well as your time on the boat. I’m sorry those nasty mosquitos caused you so much misery. They can really put a damper on things.
Nice islands aren’t they? Our honeymoon was a Windjammer cruise to most of the places you visited…So much fun and we didn’t have to deal with mosquitoes at all. We went in January though… One sailing trip we did have bug problems but that was in November.
Wow! It looks amazing. Thanks for the travel tips!