MARCH 2020 PAGE 22 DESTINATION SVG


the views. There’s also a little-played golf course for those who fancy tee- ing-off. Nightlife is centred on island regattas where so- cialising goes on into the small hours.


T


he scale and opu- lence on display at the Mandarin Ori-


ental are an obvious far cry from the poor-look- ing village – home to 700 locals – which is the first thing visitors see after landing at Canouan’s tiny airport. Marketing bosses at the MO say its owners have pledged support to the building of a secondary school on the island. Union Island is an antidote to Canouan. De- scribed by tourism bosses as unsophisticated, it has yet to be developed for tourism but is a hub for holidaymakers flying on to Petit St Vincent, Palm Island and Canouan. Its jagged peaks dom- inate the view from sur- rounding islands and it’s a popular


stop-off for


sailors stocking up or looking to soak up some unpretentious Caribbean vibes. The island’s air- port runway is famously short and doesn’t allow for any margin of error when landing. Professional


kite-


surfer Jeremie Tronet –who grew up on Martin- ique - travelled the world competing before decid- ing to settle on Union Is- land. He chose it because


the more relaxed you be- come.


One thing that strikes you continuously is the size of the islands - some of them are only a couple of square miles in size.


T Castaway beach dining at Canouan in St Vincent and the Grenadines


it’s small, authentic and has a real community. Now, active holiday- makers can drop into his JT pro centre kiteboard- ing school and learn to kite surf. All levels are catered for, from begin- ner to expert with group (from $99) or private lessons available and ex- cellent safety standards. Jeremie has the kind of laid-back, humble atti- tude that true pros often possess and convinces us that anyone can learn to kite surf. If you’re on Union


Island at the right time, you can enjoy full moon kitesurfing parties on the beach,


complete with


LED displays. One new development on Union Island is the Ashton Lagoon eco trail through natural man- groves. It has been de- veloped in an engaging


way and is worth a visit for adults and children alike. Union Island may prove to be the start or finish point of your St Vincent & the Grena- dines island-hopping holiday. We can’t think of a better way to finish an active holiday than booking into simple ac- commodation and spend- ing a few days earning to kite surf.


T


here are two dis- tinct sensations when you visit St


Vincent & the Grena- dines. The first is of a bustling centre - Kings- town on the island of St Vincent is the historic hub, beyond it a small lush island which seems bigger due to its hilly ter- rain. Behind the bustling


markets and colourful houses lies a history of British rule. The islands gained independence from Britain in 1979 but remain in the Common- wealth and continue to use the British judicial system. English is the first language, having replaced the islands’ ori- ginal language, Garifuna. There’s plenty to do on


St Vincent. Take a tour of the rum distillery which now imports molasses in order to produce its popular Sunset and Cap- tain Bligh rums; bathe beneath the Dark Views waterfalls or hike to swim in volcanic craters, a rite of passage for many young islanders and an adventure to remember. Visit the Botanic Gar- dens, drink Guinness brewed at the island’s Hairoun brewery or sim- ply wander through the


busy markets and stop for a typical Caribbean lunch of fried fish and breadfruit at the Cobble- stone Inn hotel, site of a former sugar mill. A number of new ho- tels are due to be built on St Vincent from 2020. Many visitors who want to explore the island currently opt to stay on Young Island which is just a couple of minutes boat ride away. With secluded cottages (we loved the outdoor showers) set into the hill or on the beach front, tropical gardens, a swim- ming pool and good food, Young Island is private and popular with yachters finishing their trip with homeward flights from St Vincent. The


sensation upon


leaving St Vincent – by ferry to Bequia – is that the further south you go,


he island of Be- quia is great for sailing, weddings


and eco tourism. It feels like the Caribbean you’re looking for. The Swed- ish-owned Bequia Beach Hotel is a haven of palm tree-lined beaches with beautiful suites just steps from the sea and mo- ments of relaxation that you’ll day dream about long after your holiday has ended. It’s worth remem- SVG’s


bering that


beaches can be on the Atlantic or Caribbean side so the water can be livelier than expected. Some of the islands have experienced a seaweed problem in recent years but resorts are proactive in removing it on a daily basis.


Bequia Beach hotel is a spacious and un-crowded resort


with a planta-


tion-style reception villa. Bagatelle restaurant of- fers relaxing beach-side dining but watch out for vacationing American lawyers talking power politics over pre-dinner cocktails.


From the hotel, it’s a short golf buggy ride to downtown where colourful cafes and street traders remind you that you’re in the Caribbean. Each year, the island


Kitesurfing JT Pro Center and island views. Joseph Scott Lennon of Canouan


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