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At the end of the arc formed by the Little Antilles, near St. Lucia, Barbados and Grenada, is an island of 18 km long x 11 km wide, with an archipelago of 32 isles at the south. It’s St. Vincent and the Grenadines. St. Vincent the largest island, has a mountainous geography, with its highest point at 1200 m over sea level. The Grenadines, with sizes going from 18 square km. to mere points on the ocean, are islands surrounded by beaches with crystalline sea waters. (map)
Official Holidays
January 1st New Year
January 22nd St Vincent and Grenadines Day
March/April Good Friday
Holly Week Easter Monday / Holy Pentecost Wednesday
July 7th Caricom Day
July First Days Carnival Tuesday
August (1st Monday) August’ Tuesday
October 27th Independence Day
December 25th Christmas Day
December 26th Christmas Box Day
Events Calendar
Holy Week: Bequia Regatta, boats racing and parties in Bequia; Easterval, a weekend with boats racing, music concerts and cultural events in the Union island.
July: Carnival
End of July/beginning of August: Boats racing and parties in Canouan
End of November: Boats racing and parties in Petit St. Vincent
December 16-24: New morning parades, and dances previous to Christmas.
Other events
Vincy Mas is the name given to the St. Vincent carnival that takes place during the first two week of July. Twelve days of calypso and steel pan music, ending with a lively and colorful costumes party. During the Holy week weekend, the Bequia Regatta is celebrated, two days of boat races and parties gathering all the island.
PLANNING THE TRIP
Banks and Exchange
The official currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$), though generally American dollars are accepted. Almost all hotels, restaurants and car rental agencies accept most known credit cards. Hotels and restaurants add 10% to their bills for service. If not you better leave a tip.
There is a branch of the Barclays Bank in Kingston (phone 456 1706) and another in Bequia. The CIBC has bank offices in Kingstown (phone 457 2873).
Departure tax: 20 EC$
Tourist Information Abroad
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourist Office
10 Kensington Court, London W8 5DL
Phone 0171 937 6570 in the UK
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourist Office
801 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Phone 212 687 4981 in the US
Websites
www.vincy.com/
PRACTICAL TIPS
News
The two newspapers of these islands are The Vincentian and The News. At the local tourist information office you’ll find issues of Discover St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Escape Tourist Guide, both with plenty of information.
Post Services
The post office in Kingstown on Halifax Street. It’s open from 8:30 to 15:00 from Monday to Friday, and from 8:30 to 11:30 hours on Saturdays.
Phones, Telex and Fax
The area code is 784, The best place for international calls or telegrams and telex, is the Cable and Wireless office in Halifax Street. This company has small branches around
St. Vincent.
Tourist Information Local Offices
St Vincent and the Grenadines Department of Tourism,
finance Complex, Bay street, Kingstown, St. Vincent.
phone 457 1502
There’s also an information stand at the E.T. Joshua international airport (phone 458 4685), and branches at Bequia (phone 458 3286), and the Union island (phone 458 3286).
Medical Assistance
There are four hospitals in St. Vincent: two in Kingstown (one also has dental clinic), one in Georgetown, and another in Chateaubelair. You will also find a hospital in Bequia, and clinics at other smaller islands of the Grenadines.
Useful Numbers
Emergencies, police, firemen and ambulances: 999
Kingstown General Hospital: 456 1185
Bequia Hospital: 458 3294
Shopping
At St. Vincent and Bequia you’ll find many shops where you can buy the famous batik fabrics, and local handicraft like baskets and carved woods.
Voltage: 220 volts, 5o cycles.
Best Beaches
Along the islands are many white sand beaches, frequently hidden in beautiful harbors. In St. Vincent almost all have dark sand, volcanic origin, though they are still charming. At the Villa zone are some white sand beaches. As in other Caribbean islands, swimming in the Atlantic coast is not recommended. The huge waves and craggy rocks are eye catching, but also a big risk if you try to go in. All St. Vincent beaches are public. Maybe to reach some of them is necessary to trespass some private land. If that’s the case be sure to obtain the owner’s permission.
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