Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Not in the story-mood? Scroll down for the Quick Budget Fact Overview: an itemized information summary of St Vincent! ↓
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It sounds like a dowdy ‘70s soul ensemble, lingeringly sunk into oblivion. But no, it is a place on Earth. 32 places on Earth, to be exact, as that’s how many islands this nevertheless miniscule country contains, of which only 7 inhabited. They form an island strip rather complicated to reach on a budget, as a ferry service lacks and flights are flown in tiny sparsely-booked planes which are therefore incredibly pricy (a flight from one Caribbean island to the other cost me twice as much as my 12-hr flight from Europe to the Caribbean). Yet, it’s a common stop in the boating and sailing community… for those cap’s and sailors not scared away by Saint Vincent’s slightly dodgy reputation.
Luck had it that I indeed found myself on a sailboat. I actively networked on online sailing platforms*, and despite my non-existent sailing knowledge (but willingness to learn, as well as cook and clean) I found a spot on the “Rascal” from Grenada to Martinique. Saint Vincent and its lush Grenadines were therefore exactly on the way, and after considerable amounts of travel time in the most dodgiest of places it’s rather hard to take the assumed “threat” of SV&TC super seriously (although it is of course the captain who has the last say in this, as she’s the one bringing her most prized possession along: the boat itself – I generally worry less about my own safety than those of others). Yes, the high number of boys intimidatingly flocking together on the docks asking for cash to protect your dinghy are rather annoying, as obviously you’re paying to protect it against them… And yes, unlike Barbados and Grenada it’s easier to feel the poverty in some areas (mainly Chateaubelair), which elevates a certain desperation level and likeliness to potentially breach some morals or laws here and there. But personally, even though I always practiced general awareness and caution, my instinctual alarm didn’t go off as frequently and loudly compared to places such as El Salvador, Honduras and many spots in Brazil. I know my personal experience is isolated, just like any individual visit is per default, but I experienced the locals to be rather warm and welcoming and I didn’t encounter any issues when hiking or even hitchhiking around. To me, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is what tropical holiday memories are made of!
* Interested in doing the same? Findcrew is the go-to-website. You can create a profile for free and can be approached that way, but you can also actively reach out to captains with a paid subscription. I also found designated Facebook-groups a very useful tool in finding available boats or posting ads to offer your “services.”
Luck had it that I indeed found myself on a sailboat. I actively networked on online sailing platforms*, and despite my non-existent sailing knowledge (but willingness to learn, as well as cook and clean) I found a spot on the “Rascal” from Grenada to Martinique. Saint Vincent and its lush Grenadines were therefore exactly on the way, and after considerable amounts of travel time in the most dodgiest of places it’s rather hard to take the assumed “threat” of SV&TC super seriously (although it is of course the captain who has the last say in this, as she’s the one bringing her most prized possession along: the boat itself – I generally worry less about my own safety than those of others). Yes, the high number of boys intimidatingly flocking together on the docks asking for cash to protect your dinghy are rather annoying, as obviously you’re paying to protect it against them… And yes, unlike Barbados and Grenada it’s easier to feel the poverty in some areas (mainly Chateaubelair), which elevates a certain desperation level and likeliness to potentially breach some morals or laws here and there. But personally, even though I always practiced general awareness and caution, my instinctual alarm didn’t go off as frequently and loudly compared to places such as El Salvador, Honduras and many spots in Brazil. I know my personal experience is isolated, just like any individual visit is per default, but I experienced the locals to be rather warm and welcoming and I didn’t encounter any issues when hiking or even hitchhiking around. To me, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is what tropical holiday memories are made of!
* Interested in doing the same? Findcrew is the go-to-website. You can create a profile for free and can be approached that way, but you can also actively reach out to captains with a paid subscription. I also found designated Facebook-groups a very useful tool in finding available boats or posting ads to offer your “services.”
Too busy to read now? No problem, save it for later!
Save on Get Pocket | Save in Browser Bookmarks| Save on Instapaper
Save on Get Pocket | Save in Browser Bookmarks| Save on Instapaper
My top-3 favorite elements of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:
1. Hiking the active Soufriere Volcano (Leeward Trail)
I am an avid hiker. So it pains me to say that the Caribbean is probably my least favorite hiking destination worldwide (combined with the South-East Asian jungles). Why? The humidity drenches your body like a sponge and the heat evaporates the little liquid that’s left in it to sunstroke-level, while scorching your skin to bits. On top of that, the availability of proper hiking trails is limited and the ones that are existent are charged for with ridiculous amounts (USD 50-300) as they obligate guides for even the easiest, most straightforward routes. Soufriere is an exception to the rule. Well, obviously the heat cannot be avoided here, so be ready to roast, but the well-kept and accessible trail can be hiked independently and it won’t cost you a dime. Of course the locals will tell you otherwise, as guiding is a source of employment, but you really only need some GPS or Maps.me to find the trail head (which can be a tad tricky) and from then on it would take special skills to get lost. Don’t mistake my words for it being easy. You’re facing a 1,126m elevation gain, which you’ll definitely feel in the legs, but the goal is worth the journey and the journey is a goal in itself. La Soufriere is not only the highest peak in the country, it is also an active volcano with on average an eruption every 30 years. The last one happened rather recently, in 2021, so I assessed it safe enough to take my chances. Before you reach the top, be ready to indulge (and sweat your guts out) in a walk through wild and luscious rainforest, noticing the views getting better with every effort to get up. The environment changes drastically when you peep out above the tree line, where the trail continues onto an exposed and barren landscape, wiped away by rocks and lava, stretching out towards the crater. From the rim (which can be looped entirely on foot) you’ll have a generous view over Saint Vincent Island, while the reeking sulphur mystically swirls up from the earth’s abyss behind you.
Alternative no-cost hiking can be done in the Mesopotamia Valley. Otherwise, there are individual hills that can be climbed, such as Mount Peggy and Mount Taboi.
1. Hiking the active Soufriere Volcano (Leeward Trail)
I am an avid hiker. So it pains me to say that the Caribbean is probably my least favorite hiking destination worldwide (combined with the South-East Asian jungles). Why? The humidity drenches your body like a sponge and the heat evaporates the little liquid that’s left in it to sunstroke-level, while scorching your skin to bits. On top of that, the availability of proper hiking trails is limited and the ones that are existent are charged for with ridiculous amounts (USD 50-300) as they obligate guides for even the easiest, most straightforward routes. Soufriere is an exception to the rule. Well, obviously the heat cannot be avoided here, so be ready to roast, but the well-kept and accessible trail can be hiked independently and it won’t cost you a dime. Of course the locals will tell you otherwise, as guiding is a source of employment, but you really only need some GPS or Maps.me to find the trail head (which can be a tad tricky) and from then on it would take special skills to get lost. Don’t mistake my words for it being easy. You’re facing a 1,126m elevation gain, which you’ll definitely feel in the legs, but the goal is worth the journey and the journey is a goal in itself. La Soufriere is not only the highest peak in the country, it is also an active volcano with on average an eruption every 30 years. The last one happened rather recently, in 2021, so I assessed it safe enough to take my chances. Before you reach the top, be ready to indulge (and sweat your guts out) in a walk through wild and luscious rainforest, noticing the views getting better with every effort to get up. The environment changes drastically when you peep out above the tree line, where the trail continues onto an exposed and barren landscape, wiped away by rocks and lava, stretching out towards the crater. From the rim (which can be looped entirely on foot) you’ll have a generous view over Saint Vincent Island, while the reeking sulphur mystically swirls up from the earth’s abyss behind you.
- Distance: About 14km return incl. the beach. It’s however the elevation gain that adds the time. Evaluate your level of fitness (due to the steep elevation it can take up to 6-7hrs for some people) to determine how early you should leave.
- Terrain: Beach, rocky terrain and trail. There’s one river crossing on the beach.
- Views: Rainforest, volcano.
- Water & food situation: There’s absolutely nothing along the way. Bring plenty. Your last shop opportunity is Chateaubelair.
- Well-marked? No, but once you’re on the trail it’s obvious.
- Camping: There are no official campsites, but you can wildcamp in the rainforest. However, it’s a day hike, so unless you expect to take an incredibly long time or want to leave before sunrise, it’s not necessary.
- GPS: Click here! I included the route from Chateaubelair (which I easily hitchhiked both ways) to indicate the way of getting there.
Alternative no-cost hiking can be done in the Mesopotamia Valley. Otherwise, there are individual hills that can be climbed, such as Mount Peggy and Mount Taboi.
2. Exploring Bequia Island
I don’t have the authority to judge about all islands, as I only visited three of them: Union Island, Bequia and Saint Vincent. Yet, what I can say about those is that Bequia provided the most laidback experience. It wasn’t necessarily the prettiest one of ‘em all… It was in fact the main island, Saint Vincent, which I expected to be rougher and overly developed to suit its higher level of inhabitants’ needs, to surprise me with its slam-in-the-face natural beauty. Yet, Bequia is polished for the tourist influx. Not in a high-end fashion, but in a rather approachable, bubbly manner. Think coconut sheds on the beach, a chaotic way-too-narrow “promenade” meandering along the coastline and happy hours on the 1001 otherwise way overpriced restaurants and cocktail bars catering to the western taste pallet. An uncomplicated feel-good-place that remains pleasantly unconfrontational. One thing to do there is just to hang horizontally on its bright white beaches with a book (/phone, whatever) in one hand and a piña colada in the other. You wouldn’t be the first one. The Caribbean environment basically requires it from you. Another, more active option is to further explore the island on foot… as really, it’s not that big. You’ll notice that the windier, Atlantic side of the islet is much calmer and deserted. Instead of a cruise-ship-variety of languages, you’ll hear mostly Creole on this stretch… if you’ll see any fellow human to cross your path at all. I can vouch for looping back over the Mount Peggy Peak… a compact yet unforgiving and strenuous ascend (especially in the midday heat), granting you a full lookout over the entire island.
Find the GPS here.
I don’t have the authority to judge about all islands, as I only visited three of them: Union Island, Bequia and Saint Vincent. Yet, what I can say about those is that Bequia provided the most laidback experience. It wasn’t necessarily the prettiest one of ‘em all… It was in fact the main island, Saint Vincent, which I expected to be rougher and overly developed to suit its higher level of inhabitants’ needs, to surprise me with its slam-in-the-face natural beauty. Yet, Bequia is polished for the tourist influx. Not in a high-end fashion, but in a rather approachable, bubbly manner. Think coconut sheds on the beach, a chaotic way-too-narrow “promenade” meandering along the coastline and happy hours on the 1001 otherwise way overpriced restaurants and cocktail bars catering to the western taste pallet. An uncomplicated feel-good-place that remains pleasantly unconfrontational. One thing to do there is just to hang horizontally on its bright white beaches with a book (/phone, whatever) in one hand and a piña colada in the other. You wouldn’t be the first one. The Caribbean environment basically requires it from you. Another, more active option is to further explore the island on foot… as really, it’s not that big. You’ll notice that the windier, Atlantic side of the islet is much calmer and deserted. Instead of a cruise-ship-variety of languages, you’ll hear mostly Creole on this stretch… if you’ll see any fellow human to cross your path at all. I can vouch for looping back over the Mount Peggy Peak… a compact yet unforgiving and strenuous ascend (especially in the midday heat), granting you a full lookout over the entire island.
Find the GPS here.
3. Snorkelling the Reefs
As specified before, I didn’t head to the Caribbean for its hiking opportunities, even though it’s hard stopping me even in this relentless climate. I didn’t come for the cultural and/or historical heritage either, as even there is definitely an interesting Creole culture worth exploring, there unfortunately isn’t much physical evidence in terms of museums, cultural institutions or even just national heritage monuments to dedicate time to if you wanted it. Yet, its waters: pristine! That’s what you think of when someone mentions the Caribbean, don’t you: unrealistically, photoshopped-looking blue water and a sprinkle of white, palm-tree dotted islands thrown on top of it here and there. Well, you’re not far off, that pretty much sums it up. So this is what your holiday is all about: water. You’re gonna be alongside of it on one of its endless list of beaches (scroll down for fact sheet), you’re gonna be on it while sailing, kayaking, kitesurfing or wakeboarding, and you’re gonna be in it, all day every day. And while doing that, make sure you have a peek under the surface, because there’s always plenty to see. Be ready for a full finding nemo experience of colorful swimmers, stingrays and sea turtles (and jellyfish, careful for those nasty bastards). Saint Vincent is surrounded by natural reef stretches, some of which you can simply swim out to (others are nice scores on your padi logbook!). A snorkel truly is your best investment in these latitudes!
* Did you know that one of the snorkel spots, Walilabou Bay, is the film location of Pirates of the Caribbean?
As specified before, I didn’t head to the Caribbean for its hiking opportunities, even though it’s hard stopping me even in this relentless climate. I didn’t come for the cultural and/or historical heritage either, as even there is definitely an interesting Creole culture worth exploring, there unfortunately isn’t much physical evidence in terms of museums, cultural institutions or even just national heritage monuments to dedicate time to if you wanted it. Yet, its waters: pristine! That’s what you think of when someone mentions the Caribbean, don’t you: unrealistically, photoshopped-looking blue water and a sprinkle of white, palm-tree dotted islands thrown on top of it here and there. Well, you’re not far off, that pretty much sums it up. So this is what your holiday is all about: water. You’re gonna be alongside of it on one of its endless list of beaches (scroll down for fact sheet), you’re gonna be on it while sailing, kayaking, kitesurfing or wakeboarding, and you’re gonna be in it, all day every day. And while doing that, make sure you have a peek under the surface, because there’s always plenty to see. Be ready for a full finding nemo experience of colorful swimmers, stingrays and sea turtles (and jellyfish, careful for those nasty bastards). Saint Vincent is surrounded by natural reef stretches, some of which you can simply swim out to (others are nice scores on your padi logbook!). A snorkel truly is your best investment in these latitudes!
* Did you know that one of the snorkel spots, Walilabou Bay, is the film location of Pirates of the Caribbean?
Quick Budget Fact Overview
Saint Vincent & The Grenadines Facts
Short History Recap
1498: Columbus visits main island (allegedly) now that’s St. Vincent's Day. 1627: St. Vincent granted to Britain. 1783: Recognized as British colony. ‘95-97: 5,000 locals deported to Belize following an uprising. 1812: First recorded eruption of La Soufriere Volcano. ’34: Slavery abolished, 18,000 slaves freed on plantations. 1902: Second eruption of La Soufriere. ‘58-62: Member of British-sponsored West Indies Federation. ’69: Granted internal self-government. Britain still manages foreign and defence affairs. ’79: Independence. Later that year: Revolt on Union Island (group wanting more power in the country's new government). ’81: Strike protesting new industrial relations legislation (economic recession going on). 2000: Anti-government protests against proposal to increase pensions for parliamentarians. ’03: Admitted to Non-Aligned Movement of developing nations. Removed from a list of nations deemed uncooperative in the fight against money-laundering. ’09: Voters reject proposal to replace monarchy with a republic.
Saint Vincent & The Grenadines Facts
- Capital: Kingstown
- Language: Vincentian Creole, English
- Population: ± 104,300
- Sq km: ± 389
- Currency: East Caribbean Dollar ($ - XCD)
- Electricity Outlet: A + B + G / 110-230 V / 50-60 Hz. Check here.
- Emergency Phone: 911 & 999 (police / fire), 784-456-1955 (ambulance).
- Visa: Not needed, except for citizens of Afghanistan, China, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Nigeria and Syria. The length of stay depends on your nationality: Schengen, USA, Caricom, UK 6 months, the rest 3 months. More info here. There’s an exit fee (incl. in some flight tickets), and if you enter by boat there’s also an entry fee.
- Vaccinations: None.
- Climate: Tropical Monsoon Climate (Am). There are only two seasons: Dry (Dec-May) & Wet (Jun-Nov). Hurricane season runs from June until September, although Barbados isn’t located in the main hurricane strike zone.
- High season: December – April.
- Islands of Saint Vincent & The Grenadines: Saint Vincent, Petit Vincent, Bequia, Canouan, Petit Canouan, Union Island, Mustique, Petit Mustique, Mayreau, Palm Island, Balliceaux, Isle Quatre, Savan Island, Ile Mopion (sandbank with 1 umbrella), Young Island, Happy Island, Battowia, Petit Nevis, Jamesby, Frigate Island, Petite Martinique, Pigeon Island, Petit Rameau, Baradal, Petit Tabac, Sail Rock, Tobago Cay, Jamesby Cay.
Short History Recap
1498: Columbus visits main island (allegedly) now that’s St. Vincent's Day. 1627: St. Vincent granted to Britain. 1783: Recognized as British colony. ‘95-97: 5,000 locals deported to Belize following an uprising. 1812: First recorded eruption of La Soufriere Volcano. ’34: Slavery abolished, 18,000 slaves freed on plantations. 1902: Second eruption of La Soufriere. ‘58-62: Member of British-sponsored West Indies Federation. ’69: Granted internal self-government. Britain still manages foreign and defence affairs. ’79: Independence. Later that year: Revolt on Union Island (group wanting more power in the country's new government). ’81: Strike protesting new industrial relations legislation (economic recession going on). 2000: Anti-government protests against proposal to increase pensions for parliamentarians. ’03: Admitted to Non-Aligned Movement of developing nations. Removed from a list of nations deemed uncooperative in the fight against money-laundering. ’09: Voters reject proposal to replace monarchy with a republic.
FREE Sights / Activities
PAID Sights / Activities
Evening Entertainment
Local Festivals
- Sights: Port Elizabeth, Fort Charlotte, Fort Duvernette, Fort Hamilton, Mayrea Catholic Church, St. George’s Cathedral, St. Mary’s Cathedral of the Assumption, Queens Drive, St. Michael The Archangel Church, Moonhole Homes Bequia, Petit Nevis Whaling Station (permission island owners needed).
- Hikes / Nature: La Soufriere Cross Country Trail (volcano), Mount Peggy Hike, Buccament Forest Nature Trail, Cumberland Nature Trail, Mount Taboi, Petit Bordel Waterfall, Falls of Balleine, Mesopotomia Valley, Devil’s Table Reef, Mopian Reef, Mayreau Gardens (reef), Anchor Reef, Pinnacle Rock Reef, New Guinea Reef, Emmontal Reef, Tobago Kays (Horseshoe Reef and Ends Reef), Round About Reef, Mopion Reef, Pinese Reef
- Beaches: Princess Margaret Beach, Tobago Cays, Lower Bay Beach, Salt Whistle Bay, Chatham Bay, Macaroni Beach, Mopion, Friendship Bay, Petit Tabac, Lagoon Beach, Industry Bay, Indian Bay Beach, Brittania Bay, Mt. Wynne Beach, Cumberland Bay, Buccament Bay, Saline Bay, Ravine Beach, Richmond Beach, Turtle Bay, Argyle Beach, Big Sand Beach at Belmont Bay & many more.
PAID Sights / Activities
- Sights: Wallilabou (Pirates of the Caribbean Film Location), Layou Petroglyph Park.
- Museums: Bequia Heritage Museum, Bequia Maritime Museum, National Museum.
- Hikes / Nature: Owia Salt Pond, Botanical Gardens, Montreal Gardens, Dark View Falls, Vermont Nature Trail / Table Rock, Black Point Tunnel / Bat Cave.
- Other: Happy Island (Bar Island), Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary, Firefly Estate Bequia, Watersports such as snorkelling, scuba diving, kayaking, sailing, kiteboarding.
Evening Entertainment
- Nightlife Areas: St Vincent, Leeward Coast, Young Island.
- Theatres: Victress Theatre.
Local Festivals
- Bequia Music Festival – Jan-Feb
- Mustique Blues Festival – Jan-Feb
- National Heroes Day (in Fancy / Garifuna) – Mar-14
- Bequia Easter Regatta & Canouan Regatta – Mar-Apr
- Mayrea Regatta – Apr-May.
- Union Island Maroon Festival – May
- Vincy Mas (carnaval) – Jun-Jul
- Canouan Festival - Jul
- Breadfruit Festival – Aug
- Keegan’s Beachside Seafood Fest – Aug.
- National Dance Festival - Sep
- Independence Celebration – Oct-27
- Theatre Arts Festival - Nov
- Nine Mornings Festival - Dec
- National Independence Festival of Creative Arts – Nov
Budget Bites
Sleep Cheap
- Main Supermarket Chains: Independent supermarkets in every town and island, no main chains.
- Local Dishes: Roasted Breadfruit & Fried Jackfish, Fish Blaff (fish bouillon), Buljol (cod salad), Pelau (meat-rice dish), Pig Feet Souse (broth), Madongo Dumplings (arrowroot / coconut), Ducana (sweet potato coconut dumpling), Seafood, Blackfish (dried and salted whale meat), Callaloo Soup (leafy vegetable soup), Banana Fritters, Black Cake (rum cake).
- The Veg Situation: Going veg is a bit complicated in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as vegetarianism and veganism is not a part of their culture. However, there are plenty of fruits and some national dishes that are accidentally vegan or vegetarian. Veg restaurants can be found here. Local veg dishes: Breadfruit, Madongo, Ducana, Callaloo Soup, Banana Fritters, Black Cake.
- National Drink: Rum / Rum Punch (Sunset Rum), Hairoun Beer.
Sleep Cheap
- Hostels / Hotels / Guesthouses: If you intend to visit the Caribbean islands, make sure to have enough funds available. None of the islands is cheap here, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are notoriously expensive. Expect prices comparable or higher to Western Europe. When it comes to accommodation, without being paid to say so, I love Booking.com: They have the biggest selection, are transparent about the final price and have an efficient search engine tailored to your specific needs (cheapest first!). If you use it often enough, Genius-discounts are applied. Agoda is often not transparent about prices, adding a lot of additional costs in the last booking-step. Opodo is another decent option. Air BnB is not what it used to be, price-wise, but I noticed that within the Caribbean they have cheaper deals than hotels. Especially considering the often high tourist tax that as added to commercial accommodation (Air Bnb has cleaning fees and commission, but it is still much lower). Writer’s choice: I slept on a sailboat as crew.
- Couchsurfing: allows you to stay with locals. Nowadays it has a moderate sign-up cost (unless you put a third-world country as homebase), but paying extra for verification is unnecessary: Positive reviews are way more important. Once active, there are no costs for staying at someone’s house. In order to get accepted, make sure to write an elaborate review explaining why you applied to this specific profile and think you and your host are a good match (copy-pastes tend to be ignored). The Couchsurfing community in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is small (because the country is small), but it exists.
- Wild Camping: seems to be legal, although official information is unavailable. Make sure you find public land or ask permission if it seems to be private.
Mama Said
Transport
Next?
- Safety: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has a reputation of being one of the more dangerous islands. However, this mainly applies to some areas of Kingstown (incl. Ottley Hill, Eden Boro, Redemption Sharpes). The islands of Chateaubelair, Petit Saint Vincent and Union Island are more notorious for yacht robberies.
- Tap Water: is safe to drink.
- Traffic drives on the left side of the road.
- Unfortunately, homosexuality is still illegal in this country. Stealthiness is required.
- The best credit/debit card for traveling is Wise, as they use the live conversion rates with minimal exchange fees. Wise also has the lowest fees for sending money to foreign accounts. Revolut is comparable, but they have higher exchange fees in the weekend and less wallet-options. Also, you can only wire money to Revolut in the currency you opened the account with, whereas Wise has IBAN’s from a wide variety of currencies, so you don’t have to pay a double exchange fee. Most local ATMs charge a fee for cash outs, but card payments are generally accepted everywhere, even in the countryside.
- Simcard: Buying a local simcard is usually cheaper than using your international roaming option, although keep in the Caribbean prices for sims and data are incredibly high (way more expensive than Europe, for example) so it might be worth comparing in advance or check if there are better e-sim deals suitable for your phone. The main providers are Digicel and Flow. Digicel has a coverage from Grenada up to St. Lucia. As usual, never buy a sim at the airport, where you’ll be ripped off with expensive tourist packages. Instead, buy it in the phone stores in the cities. A passport must be shown. More info on eSims here.
Transport
- Walking: The islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines are very small and within the separate towns it is easy to get around on foot. Walking from town to town is doable too, but keep in mind that the heat can be overwhelming and there are generally no pedestrian lanes alongside the main roads.
- Cycling: Cycling is a good option to get around. However, keep in mind that local traffic might not always be mindful towards cyclists and there is little space for cyclists. They also drive on the left side of the road!
- Public Transport: There is no organized public transport, but minivans randomly drive around on different routes and pick up and drop off passengers anywhere along the way. They usually drive recklessly and the vans are overfull, but it kind of works. You pay in cash. It’s best to verify the numbers, routes and fares with fellow waiting passengers, as there is no clear system or app where you can trace this information down.
- Taxi / Uber: The most common taxi app in Saint Vincent is SVG, or you can hail one down. Prices are elevated.
- Train: There are no trains in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
- Car Rental: This is not a cheap endeavour in Saint Vincent, but it is available. You will be limited to one island.
- Airport: Argyle International Airport (SVD), J.F. Mitchell Airport Bequia (BQU), Mustique Airport (MQS), Canouan Airport (CIW), Union Island Airport (UNI), ET Joshua (SVD). The seaports include Kingstown, Campden Park, Blue Lagoon / Ratho Mill, Chateaubelair, Walliabou, Bequia, Mustique, Union Island and Canouan.
- Hitchhiking: is relatively safe and very easy in Saint Vincent. I hitchhiked on several occasions in Saint Vincent and it was very fast and straightforward. The symbol for hitchhiking is not a thumbs up, but waving and pointing into the direction you want to go to. More info on hitchhiking in the Caribbean can be found on Hitchwiki.
Next?
- International Destinations Close By: Grenada, Barbados, Martinique, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.
In order to support the travelers’ community, I spend many hours per week to adequately document all information and advices for prospective visitors, accompanied by a (hopefully) entertaining insight into my personal observations and experiences. This service is and will remain free. However, if you voluntarily want to make a contribution and support my travels and thus the creation of new stories and information supply, here is the button you’re looking for:
Related:
- German Gems: Aachen, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Mulheim, Osnabruck, Baden-Baden... and of course Freiburg!
- The world's biggest metal festival: Wacken Open Air
- The perfect daytrip from Aachen: Maastricht & Southern Limburg gems
- More of the Netherlands: Den Bosch, Haarlem & Nijmegen... and 10 typical Dutch celebrations you shouldn't miss out on
- More metal in Holland: Into The Grave Festival in Leeuwarden
- Discover more Belgium: Antwerp & the most kick-ass Flanders itinerary!
- Europe's best skiing & hiking: Get your ass over to jaw-dropping Switzerland!
- Visit Europe's mini-countries: Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Kosovo & Wales!
- Relive history in Austria's majestic capital Vienna
- Unravel the mysteries of Serbia
- More European city-tripping: Copenhagen [Denmark], Vilnius [Lithuania], Frankfurt am Main [Germany] or Glasgow [Scotland]
- Where city and nature meet: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Budget Bucket List hitchhike trip to... Kosovo!
- The prettiest historical town in Romania: Sighisoara!
- The 3 golden rules to travel Sofia on a budget! & Why you shouldn’t miss out on Plovdiv! [Bulgaria]
- Discover the splendours of Turkey: Istanbul on a Budget & Reasons to visit Edirne
- German Gems: Aachen, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Mulheim, Osnabruck, Baden-Baden... and of course Freiburg!
- The world's biggest metal festival: Wacken Open Air
- The perfect daytrip from Aachen: Maastricht & Southern Limburg gems
- More of the Netherlands: Den Bosch, Haarlem & Nijmegen... and 10 typical Dutch celebrations you shouldn't miss out on
- More metal in Holland: Into The Grave Festival in Leeuwarden
- Discover more Belgium: Antwerp & the most kick-ass Flanders itinerary!
- Europe's best skiing & hiking: Get your ass over to jaw-dropping Switzerland!
- Visit Europe's mini-countries: Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Kosovo & Wales!
- Relive history in Austria's majestic capital Vienna
- Unravel the mysteries of Serbia
- More European city-tripping: Copenhagen [Denmark], Vilnius [Lithuania], Frankfurt am Main [Germany] or Glasgow [Scotland]
- Where city and nature meet: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Budget Bucket List hitchhike trip to... Kosovo!
- The prettiest historical town in Romania: Sighisoara!
- The 3 golden rules to travel Sofia on a budget! & Why you shouldn’t miss out on Plovdiv! [Bulgaria]
- Discover the splendours of Turkey: Istanbul on a Budget & Reasons to visit Edirne