IMAGES: THE MUSTIQUE; ALAMY
Love Dominican Republic? Why not try St Vincent
& the Grenadines? While the Dominican Republic’s shores gleam with luxury resorts, travellers after a secluded escape should head south. Sprinkled through the southern Antilles, St Vincent & the Grenadines is a chain of 32 islands that remains largely unspoilt. Perhaps the most exclusive hideaway of all is the tiny (and
now privately owned) isle of Mustique. When Princess Margaret holidayed here in 1960, Mustique’s hedonistic heyday began, with musicians including David Bowie and Quincy Jones buying their own homes on the island. Today, visitors come for exclusivity, kicking back on the sands of Macaroni Beach, perhaps, or sinking a rum or two at the legendary Basil’s Bar. But visitors needn’t be A-listers to enjoy the islands’ charm.
On St Vincent, the largest island in the country, nature trails snake up from Kingstown into the hills, where botanical gardens showcase lush flora. The tiny isle of Mayreau, by contrast, lies off the beaten track and is reachable only by boat. Salt Whistle Bay in the north is a moon-shaped slick of golden sand, palm trees and neon-blue shallows, making it a haven for snorkellers. Laid-back Union Island is a short boat ride away, with forest-
covered cliffs in the west and the harbour town of Clifton, with its bars and snack shacks, in the east. Bequia, meanwhile, is rumoured to be where pirate Blackbeard had his base, though today the island is better known for honeymooners than high-sea marauders. It’s the most visited of the islands, but still has a laid-back feel and the magnificent Princess Margaret Beach.
8
NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM/TRAVEL
Clockwise from top left: Basil’s Bar is a legendary spot on the island of Mustique; lobster features heavily on menus in Dominica, from grilled and baked dishes to lobster pizzas; Martinique’s capital, Fort-de-France, was founded by the French in the 17th century
Jacques Cousteau once proclaimed Pigeon Island as one of the world’s finest diving spots, with turtles, coral reefs and a kaleidoscope of tropical fish
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108
