History

To find something special, to discover the extraordinary, one has to search for it. And there, lies the secret of this island. Visitors do not just arrive in Bequia, they discover it like an amazing treasure.

The Windward Islands, especially the tiny Grenadines, are renowned as one of the world's most beautiful holiday destinations. Bequia is a jewel and is situated within this chain of islands, located west of Barbados. It is part of the State of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Bequia provides a unique atmosphere that blends total relaxation with a wealth of interesting activities. Here there are no crowds but a very special lifestyle which brings people together. Bequia welcomes visitors as part of the community: Here you will be treated as a guest and friend, not just a "tourist".

Bequia Quick Facts
Language	English
Capital	Port Elizabeth
Population	Approx. 6000
Electricity	220 volts, 50 cycles AC
Time	EST +1 in winter, EST in summer
Post Office	Located in Port Elizabeth
Internet Access	We offer free wireless broadband to guests
Climate/Temperature	land temperature = 88 F - water temperature = 78-80
Size	Approx. 7 square miles
Location	8 Miles South of St. Vincent
Currency	Eastern Caribbean Dollar: US$ 1 = EC$ 2.67
Getting Around	Reliable 24H taxi service and vehicle hire service
Culture	Ethnic West Indian with foreign influences
Religion	Numerous Christian faiths are represented
Banks	All banking services are available
Couriers	DHL and FedEx
In the event of an emergency	Dial 999 or 911

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Detailed Description

While one reads all about the more visited Caribbean destinations such as the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, the Caymans, and St. Martin, it's often hard to find information about St. Vincent and the Grenadines. One reason is that St. Vincent, a bountiful island with vast coconut and banana plantations, does not primarily depend on tourism as a source of income, and another is that the Grenadines are remote and can only be reached by yachts or commuter airlines. As a result, these islands are the perfect haven for travelers searching for quiet, beautiful get-aways surrounded in natural splendors, rather than islands full of glitzy hotels, casinos and jet loads of tourists.

The string of 32 islands and cays in the Grenadines compose a single nation. Each island is, in its own way, a refuge for demanding escapists. These islands dazzle you with their lush mountains, fertile valleys, quiet villages, secluded beaches, and fine sailing waters.

The romantic island of Bequia was named the island of the clouds by the Caribs, (pronounced Bek-way) this is the largest of the St Vincent dependencies with a population of 4,874 (1991 census). Bequia lies 14km (9 miles) south of St Vincent and measures 18 sq km (7 sq miles). Little changed by time, it is an island on which life is completely oriented to the sea. Its seclusion has ensured it retained its age-old traditions of boat building and fishing. Isolated enough to remain relatively unspoiled, yet lively enough to be stimulating and entertaining, it provides a blend of the old and new that many find perfect.

It is a beautiful lush island with some of the friendliest people in the Caribbean. The island is a great place to make friends from all over the world, go on a day sail, go hiking, or just "lime" under a coconut tree with your favorite beverage.

Sailors have known about the Grenadines for much longer than most but more tourists are finding out it's a beautiful and natural place to be.

Bequia tends to attract the more adventurous type of visitor who prefers the tropical delights and ambiance of the smaller, more informal islands, where the beaches are secluded and high rise hotels do not mar the scenery.

The island is encircled by gold-sand beaches, many of which disappear into coves, excellent for sailing, scuba diving and snorkelling. The centre of the island is hilly and forested, providing a dramatic backdrop to the bays and beaches. Admiralty Bay, the island's natural harbour, is a favourite anchoring spot for yachtsmen from all over the world, and here visitors can watch men building their boats by hand on the shores. Every day during the winter months one can see 200 or so yachts at anchor here.

The attractive region around Lower Bay has good opportunities for swimming and other watersports. The quaint waterfront of Port Elizabeth is lined with bars, restaurants and craft shops.

The Mount Pleasant area offers some stunning views to the south of the Grenadine Island chain. The Old Fort is ideally situated to advantage of these views and of the gentle trade winds coming off the ocean. These breezes have a welcome cooling effect during the hotter days and keep us virtually bug free.

Bequia is below and west of the hurricane belt. Temperatures in the winter months range from about 76 degrees in the early morning to 83 degrees at high noon. The tradewinds blow from the northeast to the southwest averaging about 14 knots. The temperature of the island's peripheral waters is about 85 degrees every day of the year.

The island used to be an active whaling station, and though the tradition is now dying out, Bequians still make an occasional foray during the whaling season, between February and April. At this time of year humpback whales have left their northern feeding grounds and arrived here to mate and bear young. Few people are left in Bequia with the skills necessary to hunt them -- a daring feat in an open sailing boat, using hand-thrown harpoons.

Part of the leeward side of the island is a designated marine park; spear fishing, anchoring, traps and nets are banned. Both experienced divers and those who have never donned tank, mask and fins before have the opportunity to explore a superb, seven mile reef, where the Atlantic butts up to the Caribbean, and which fringes the island. This is strictly protected against any damage and under no circumstances can even dead coral be collected, as the reef is part of the fragile underwater ecosystem.

Together with it's natural beauty Bequia's charm has a lot to do with her population, a friendly mix who trace their ancestry to Africa, Portugal, India, Ireland and the British Isles. This charm is yours to discover for your next vacation. Come, enjoy and be prepared to be as relaxed or invigorated as you dare...

For further details feel free to visit our info page at www.bequiablog.com!