Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
North America · Kingstown · VC
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is the island nation of the southern Caribbean that combines the wild volcanic main island with the famous chain of the thirty smaller isles of the Grenadines, one of the most beautiful sailing grounds on earth. The main island of the Saint Vincent, green and rugged, holds the capital of the Kingstown, the forested peaks of the interior with the endemic parrots and the black-sand beaches of the Atlantic coast, while the Grenadines to the south spread the picture of the palm-ringed cays, the coral reefs and the turquoise lagoons of the Bequia, the Mustique and the islands of the Tobago cays. The country, still one of the least commercialised of the region, lives on the fishing, the sailing and the slow tourist trade, and its culture of the calypso, the reggae and the warm island manners gives the whole nation its gentle, friendly rhythm. The yachts, the reefs and the wild interior make the nation a genuine escape.
Overview
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a country in North America. Its capital is Kingstown and the international dialling code is +1784. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include English. Local currency is the East Caribbean Dollar (XCD). We also list 1 city in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Kingstown.
The Cays of the Tobago and the Beaches of the Water
The chain of the cays of the Tobago, the group of the golden islets that forms the marine park of the southern Grenadines, is the unrivalled jewel of the country, a world of the shallow turquoise lagoons, the coral reefs and the sweeping sandbars that the yachts of the world come to anchor. The protected lagoons of the cays hold the turtles, the rays and the bright fish of the reef, and the snorkelling and the swimming in the calm, clear water of the sandbars give the classic day of the tropical idyll. The motor boats from the islands of the south bring the visitors of the day to the cays, and the long sandy spits of the anchoring, with their palms and their shallow water, are the perfect picture of the unhurried Caribbean.
The Sailing of the Grenadines and the Island of the Bequia
The islands of the Grenadines, strung between the Saint Vincent and the Grenada in the chain of the green and the golden islets, form one of the finest cruising grounds of the world, with the reliable winds, the protected anchorages and the friendly ports of the region. The island of the Bequia, the largest and the most characterful of the southern group, holds the harbour of the Port Elizabeth with the fishing boats, the yacht anchorage and the beach of the summertime, and the island keeps the traditions of the whaling and the boat building of the old seafaring world. The islands of the Mustique with its villas, the Canouan and the Union with their reefs and their quiet towns, fill the sailing picture of the country.
The Capital of the Kingstown and the Harbour of the North
The capital of the Kingstown, the historic town on the deep harbour of the south-western coast of the main island, is the commercial and the religious centre of the country, a bustling town of the colonial-era buildings, the market and the churches of the valleys. The botanical gardens of the capital, the oldest in the western hemisphere, hold the green collections of the island and the rare shrubs of the national treasury, and the cathedral of the main church with its carved wooden interior and the fort of the Charlotte on its hill above the town give the views and the history of the port. The market of the town, the vendors of the produce and the crafts and the busy street life of the capital hold the friendly pulse of the country.
The Parrot of the Saint Vincent and the Forest of the Vermont
The forests of the main island, the green highlands of the interior that the volcanic chain keeps in the constant mist, are the refuge of the endemic parrot of the Saint Vincent, the gorgeous green and yellow bird that is the national emblem of the country. The trail of the Vermont, the well-marked path of the nature reserve that climbs through the mature rainforest of the north of the island, offers among the best chances of the world to see the rare parrots feeding in the canopy, together with the other birds and the wildlife of the forest. The hikes of the interior, from the easy forest walks to the long routes of the peaks and the volcanic craters, give the visitor the deep, untouched nature of the main island.
The Wallilabou and the Falls of the Mountain Coast
The western coast of the main island, the steep, green shore of the bays and the fishing villages, holds the setting of the Wallilabou, the little harbour of the river mouth that the film crews of the swashbuckling pirates made famous in the movies of the new century. The paint stores and the jetties of the anonymous fishing village now carry the relics of the film set, and the small beach and the pier of the bay draw the curious visitors of the movie lore. The falls of the island, the mountain cascades of the Baleine and the smaller falls reached by the river walks of the valleys, tumble through the black volcanic rocks of the coast, and the black-sand beaches and the blowholes of the shore complete the dramatic natural picture.
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- Capital
- Kingstown
- Currency
- East Caribbean Dollar (XCD)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +1784
- Internet TLD
- vc
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines?
Kingstown is the capital of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and the country sits in North America.
What currency is used in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines?
You pay with East Caribbean Dollar (XCD) in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines?
The languages we list for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are English. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines?
The dialling code for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is +1784 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which cities in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Kingstown (capital).