This photo was used under the Creative Commons license curtsey of Flickr.com
A few years ago, St Vincent and the Grenadines, a small chain of islands in the Caribbean’s Lesser Antilles, wouldn’t have registered with many people. Isolated from the main tourist areas, the few people to travel here, apart from the native islanders, were the rich and famous. The sort of travellers who can afford to step off the beaten track and wend their way to this tropical chain through the crystal waters of the Caribbean Sea in private yachts – without the need to negotiate complicated airline routes or organise fishing charters, naturally. An event in 2002 changed all that, and the world suddenly sat up and took notice.
The arrival of Johnny Depp, Keira Knightly and the rest of the Pirates of the Caribbean crew on the quiet shoreline of St Vincent sparked a keen interest in the island and what it had to offer. And with the following two films shot in the same location, public curiosity continued for years. While these days there may not be any swashbuckling pirates or cursed gold to speak of, there’s still a certain history there that appeals to the seafaring types, and with idyllic shots of sparking blue waters and white sandy beaches to gaze upon, it’s little wonder that it’s become a favourite equatorial hotspot and an ideal local for bareboat charter or diving trips.
There are, however, other hidden treasures these islands have to offer…
Culinary Cache
This part of the world is one of the few places where certain gastronomic treats can be found, making them a treasured delicacy for travellers who venture far enough to sample them. Take the breadfruit, for example. Although originally from Tahiti, the first plants were brought to St Vincent by Captain Bligh aboard the HMS Providence – it became not only the staple diet for the islands slaves, but has gone on to form the national dish of fried jack fish with roasted breadfruit. Then there’s the crop of Arrowroot, one of the last commercial harvests of this unique tuber in the world. A strange plant, it’s not cooked the way a traditional tuber (like the potato) is, but instead it’s cooked and ground into powder and used as flour replacement in many indigenous baked goods. That’s when it’s not been used to neutralise poison on the tips of arrowheads, of course.
Island Exploration
The actual number of islands that make up St Vincent and the Grenadines is hard to document. Officially, there are 32 major islands, many of which most travellers will never have heard of; Young Island, Bequia, Canouan, Mayreau and many more. Unofficially, it’s reported that there are actually over 600 islets, many of which are so small they’re even a mystery to Google Earth. What this means, though, is that if you’re looking for isolation and exploration, you’re in the right place. The only way to move between most of these islands is by yacht charter. There simply isn’t any form of public transportation. Some fishing boats will be happy to take you out for a fee, but bear in mind that they have a job to do, so the time they can spend exploring remote sand banks out with their fishing territories will be very limited.
Festival Flair
St Vincent plays hosts to a number of annual festivals, and it’s quickly become a popular destination even with natives of the remaining Caribbean islands. So much so, in fact, that many of its festivals, which were once low-key affairs, have now hit the headlines. Their unique Nine Mornings Festival is one such event that attracts worldwide interest, and if you’re in St Vincent just before Christmas you’ll have the opportunity to see for yourself. Picture the scene: beginning at 4 o’clock in the morning on December 16th, locals get out of bed early and head off to join in any one of the many festivities that take place in the run up to Christmas. There are contests and games, dances and fairs every morning for nine days. But as the title of this festival suggests, by dawn each day the festivities will end and it’s back to normal. Well, as normal as it gets in the Caribbean…
Byline: Fiona Galloway is a travel writer who is most at home on the water. Her favourite holiday was taking a yacht charter to Tobago.