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Things To DoNearby ActivitiesNothing! You never get to do this at home so give it a try here. Read a book, relax by the pool, don't feel guilty if you don't get to see and do everything. Especially true for busy homemakers who could use a break from all the daily chores of running a household or managing a family. Beaches: The island may be small, however one can be spoilt for choice when it comes to the number and variety of beaches. Bequia offers crystal clear waters and is also perfect for sports diving and snorkeling. Lower Bay and Princess Margaret Beach, rated one of the 10 best beaches in the world, offer white sands and calm waters. Friendship Bay has stronger waves and is ideal for windsurfers. Industry, Hope and Spring are on the east side and are more remote but almost always deserted. For more information on Bequia's beaches, see our Beaches page. Island Tour: A perfect way to discover Bequia is on an island tour. Visit the Turtle Sanctuary, the Whaling Museum, and the Old Fort cannon station at the mouth of the harbour. See the remains of Sir Francis Drake's office when he was stationed on Bequia. Take a look at all of the white sandy beaches and stop for lunch at a ocean side cafe. Visit a pottery built into the ruins of one of the island's historic sugar plantations. Most open backed taxi drivers will be proud to show you their island and entertain you with their stories and narrative at the same time. Windsurfing and Kayaking: Bequia offers several protected beaches perfect for beginners to learn the basics, as well as fun and challenging locations for those with experience. Admiralty Bay is a good place to start discovering an abundance of water sport activities. Friendship Bay has the ideal combination of wind and waves for windsurfing. Spring House has two kayaks available for guests to use. Boat Trips:
No trip to Bequia is complete without a sail on The Friendship Rose, a wooden schooner built in
Friendship Bay. The Friendship Rose was originally commissioned in 1967 and has
served the islands as a cargo boat, mail boat and ferry. Today it operates as a
tourist boat based in Bequia with daily trips to the Tobago Cays as well as other
southern islands. Yacht Charters: Bequia is the sailing capital of the Grenadines and there is no better place to arrange a sailing charter than right here. Whether it's crewed or bareboat, a day sail or a weeklong charter, economy or luxury, there is something for every taste and budget. For something different why not integrate a few days aboard a charter yacht into your vacation and visit the other Grenadine islands of Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, Union, Palm, Petit St Vincent or the famous Tobago Cays. Snorkelling / Scuba: Bequia diving ranks with the best in the Caribbean. There are some 35 excellent dive sites around Bequia and the nearby islands. Full PADI-certified dive shops and dive masters are available. A great place to get open water dive certified during your visit, at considerably less cost. With water temperatures averaging 80°F / 27°C, the diving is comfortable and only a lightweight wetsuit is needed. Dive shops include all the equipment that you will need. See our Useful Links page for more information. Hiking and Walking: Perhaps the best way to really get to know Bequia and its hidden treasures is on foot. Early morning or late evening is the ideal time of day to avoid the heat — but whenever you go, remember to take water, a hat, sunscreen and your cell phone in case you get lost! Just exploring the winding roads on Bequia can be a revelation, but there are also smaller trails and disused roads to take you deep into the heart of the island. See the Bequia Tourism Association’s Tours & Hiking page. Fishing: No licence is required when fishing for pleasure. Sport fishing is a popular pastime and Spanish Mackerel, Barracuda, Marlin, Tuna, Bonito and Kingfish are just some of the many varieties available, often simply a line and lure. It is also possible to try reef fishing – hand lining and trolling are the only methods of fishing permitted to visitors and catches are restricted to only enough for your personal use. Several local tour operators can arrange deep-sea fishing trips and provide everything from the bait to the rum punch to celebrate your catch. See our Useful Links page for more information. Tennis: There are several tennis courts on Bequia where you can usually play with prior arrangement. Bring your own equipment or Spring House has a limited supply that you can use. Location of tennis courts:
Geocaching: If you know what this is then you may be surprised to learn that there are a few geocache locations on Bequia. Seek them out and leave your token, or start your own cache. For more information, check out the worldwide geocaching website The Global GPS Cache Hunt Site, or use this quicklink. Evening Activities:
When the sun goes down, the focus turns to the many fine
restaurants and bars on Bequia. Each evening of the week different restaurants hold
special activities or live music. Among the most well known is the Thursday evening
"Jump Up" at the Frangipani Hotel in Port Elizabeth. This beachfront BBQ and buffet
featuring excellent food and a lively steel band is a local institution. Consult our Restaurant Guide or ask our Housekeeper for
recommendations when you are ready to hit the town. Arts & CraftsLocal Artists:
Visitors to Bequia may be surprised to find such a vide variety of
locals arts and crafts on such a small island. There are several artists located
around the island engaging in media as diverse as scrimshaw, woodcarving, model boat
making, stained glass, ceramics, pottery, painting, photography, silk work, jewelry
making and crochet. Many artists display their work in the boutiques of Port
Elizabeth; most are more than happy to invite you into their studios to discuss
their work.
Model Boats: Bequia has a long tradition of boat building and for many years the local boatyards were the source of most commercial wooden vessels in the Grenadines. With the advent of larger steel ships the boatyards died out and the art of boatbuilding has shifted to the model boat building industry. Stop into Mauvin's or Sargeant Brothers in Port Elizabeth and watch the craftsmen create these incredibly detailed works of art. Island AttractionsTurtle Sanctuary: In Park, on the northeastern side of Bequia, Mr Orton King maintains the Oldhegg Turtle Sanctuary, founded in 1995, where baby hawksbill and leatherback sea turtles, caught up in fishing nets or stranded alone on beaches, are given a second chance at life. Nourished until they are old enough to fend for themselves, the turtles are then returned to the sea where they may live for 100 years or more. Pay a visit and watch this rescue mission in operation. Moonhole: Located on the far western tip of Bequia, the fascinating architectural style of Moonhole is based on the concept of living in harmony with nature while taking full advantage of the Caribbean environment, as interpreted by Tom Johnston, the American designer who first purchased and developed the site in the 1960's. To achieve these goals, these unique houses, seemingly carved out of the solid rock, have been designed on sites overlooking the sea, maximising both views and breezes while minimising their impact on the environment. Jim and Sheena Johnston conduct a Moonhole Tour twice a week through their unique architecturally famous rock homes on a private 35-acre wildlife and forest preserve where the line between living inside and outside becomes delightfully blurred. Reservations are a must and you can do this by telephoning (784) 458 3068 or (784) 493 373, or email them at moonhole@vincysurf.com. Mount Pleasant: The highest point on Bequia is Mount Pleasant at 760 ft / 231.7 m. The 360° view from the top is well worth the trip and the area is popular with locals and visitors alike. Stop at the Sugar Hill Bar and Restaurant near the top for a cold beer and enjoy a view from St. Vincent to Canouan. You will soon appreciate why so many fine homes are built at the top of this mountain. Paget Farm: A small fishing community near the airport, and home to the Banana Patch Studio featuring scrimshaw and other artwork, is another worthwhile stop. At Paget Farm, a few fishermen who use two 26 ft long cedar boats, powered by oars and sails, still legally practice whale harpooning from February to May. They do not catch much. If you can arrange a trip to Petit Nevis you can see the whaling station and find out more about Bequia’s whaling tradition. Don’t forget to visit the Whaling Museum. Spring Plantation: This 200 year old working plantation overlooking Spring Bay used to have a 19th century sugar factory whose ruins are now the location for The Spring Pottery. Here you can see pottery being made and an exhibition of works for sale. Hamilton Fort: A small, colonial-style, 18th century fort, is located on the far side of Admiralty Bay on the hill above Port Elizabeth. A few sea-worn cannons stand as a reminder of the French, who fortified the site in the 18th century, and the English, who later held it. The battery is mostly gone, but the view of sailboats anchored in Admiralty Bay makes the trip worthwhile. Farther AfieldMustique: A short boat ride, or a 5 minute flight, to the south of Bequia will take you to Mustique, the Caribbean homes of celebrities such as Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Bryan Adams and the like. This privately owned, beautifully manicured, 2 sq.miles / 4.5 sq.km island can be ideal for a day's visit by sail or powerboat. Explore the island, take an tour, or just visit one of the beautiful beaches, with plenty of time for a drink in Basil's bar, voted one of the 10 best beach bars in the world. Tobago Cays: The Tobago Cays are a famous collection of five uninhabited coral islands that comprise a national maritime park, with some of the most spectacular waters in the world. Once there, one can explore the underwater treasures of Horseshoe Reef, where the movie Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed, or enjoy a relaxing nap on one of the numerous desert island beaches. With clear, turquoise-blue waters, the area is quite simply breathtaking. The reefs here provide some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world. Don't forget to take your camera, as the scenery is truly breathtaking. Day trips can be arranged. The Friendship Rose sails to Tobago Cays. Canouan – Golf Course: If the thought of a vacation without golf is just too much to take, then take a short day trip to the Trump International Golf Club on nearby Canouan Island. An exhilarating and challenging 18-hole, par 72 golf course, designed by Jim Fazio, the course stretches for 60 acres along the ocean edge. Robb Report 2005 described this course as the "St. Andrews of the Caribbean". St Vincent: St Vincent is just 9 miles north of Bequia. With regular ferries throughout the day, it is one of the most naturally spectacular and undeveloped of the large Caribbean islands. Full and half day trips can be made to some of the natural wonders of this island. Climb through the rainforests to the summit of a volcano, visit the oldest botanical gardens in the western world, trek through rainforest to Trinity Falls, take a boat trip to the Falls of Baliene, visit Montreal Gardens a commercial tropical flower nursery, hike though the rainforest of a protected national park or just take a drive along the stunning coast line to the largest coconut plantation in the Caribbean. Whatever you choose to do, the amazing beauty of these natural wonders will take your breath away. St Vincent – La Soufriere Volcano: La Soufriere rises majestically to over 4,000 ft / 1,219 m. It last erupted in April 1979. A tour of La Soufriere volcano takes you along the picturesque windward coast of St Vincent, through banana and coconut plantations to where the foot trail begins. This trail starts halfway up the mountain and is suitable for all ages with a basic level of fitness. Or, for the more energetic, climb from the beaches of the Leeward side and you can truly say that you "did the volcano". Guides available and recommended. St Vincent – Vermont Nature Trails: A series of trails leading through tropical rain forest where visitors may have a chance to see the rare and unique St Vincent Parrot (Amazona Guildingii) and Whistling Warber. The trails offer excellent bird watching as the habitat surrounding them houses several rare species as well as an array of tropical plants and flowers. A good guide is essential for full appreciation of this spectacular natural ecosystem. St Vincent – Botanical Gardens; First established in 1765, making them the oldest botanical gardens in the Western Hemisphere, the gardens occupy 20 acres to the north of Kingstown and feature a descendent of the original breadfruit tree brought to the island by Captain Bligh in 1793. Many ancient and impressive specimens of flowering plants, palms, cycads, and tropical trees make up these gardens which were originally planted for the very practical reason of insuring visiting ships a good supply of fruits and vegetables for their voyages. Guides are available at the entrance to the gardens and a good one makes the trees and plants come alive. St Vincent – Falls of Baleine: These spectacular waterfalls are situated in the lush tropical rainforest at the northern tip of St Vincent. Cool waters come down from the mountaintops and then cascade 59 ft (18m) to form a series of shallow pools at the base. These falls can be easily reached by boat on a Leeward coast day trip or by land excursion. St Vincent – The Pirates of the Caribbean Film Site: St Vincent and the Grenadines' newest attraction is the film site of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Wallilabou Bay was selected because the film directors went looking for an un-spoilt cove on a Caribbean island that did not already have hotels or even a village, a rare thing in today's overdeveloped world. The pristine nature of St. Vincent's leeward coast, together with the Tobago Cays, made the perfect setting for this trilogy. You will easily recognize many of the settings for the film from the wharf to the gallows to the dead men's stone arch. St Vincent – Fort Charlotte: Explore 200-year-old Fort Charlotte, perched 600 feet above the sea. The ruins overlook Kingston harbour, and offer a magnificent southward panoramic view of the Grenadine islands. Forts such as Fort Charlotte remain as a remainder of the struggles of the past and there is an interesting museum and art gallery located within the old fort buildings. St Vincent – Leeward Side Tours: Annual EventsNew Year's Eve: Old Year's Night, as it is called by Bequians, has become a major celebration with dozens of yachts anchored in Admiralty Bay adding to the festivities. Restaurants are usually very busy and many host special events. In the past there has been a midnight fireworks display over the harbour. The Mustique Blues Festival and the Bequia Music Fest:
In late January every year Basil Charles of the famous
Basil's Bar organizes a week of phenomenal jazz and blues on Bequia's neighbouring
island of Mustique featuring Dana Gillespie and a selection of her fellow musicians
from England, the United States and elsewhere. Mozart under the Coconut and Palm Trees: The "Why Knot String Quartet" hosts this festival in early March. Events include concerts at Plantation House, Friendship Bay Hotel and a candlelight concert at St. Mary's Church. Mariann "Why Knot?" conceived the idea and brought young musicians to Bequia for this innovative method of exposing islanders to classical music. Easter Regatta: Organized by the Bequia Sailing Club this is Bequia's biggest yearly event and one of Bequia's most popular and lively long weekends. Small colourful sailing boats hand built on the island, as well as yachts from all over the world, compete in several challenging races. Dates change according to the date of Easter. For more information on the regatta, see Bequia Easter Regatta. Vincy Mas Carnival:
The Carnival in St Vincent and the Grenadines dates back
before 1920 when it was held at the Botanical Gardens. Carnival started out being a
display of folk dances, maypole, boisbois and calypso. In the late 1950's and early
1960's, the carnival was expanded into a beautiful pageant featuring historical
bands that showed and described Roman Emperors, Incas, Greeks, Spaniards, Chinese
and North American Indians. Nine Mornings: A uniquely Vincentian tradition, the nine nights before Christmas are celebrated with music, singing and revels taking place up and down the island in an exuberant countdown. Shortly before Christmas, groups representing the island's villages and communities compete in an evening carol competition attended by most of the island and its visitors. |