Super Seven
Kingstown
Firstly, the capital is very small, so you don't need to allocate more than one day of your itinerary. This is the liveliest part of the country with small bustling streets, markets, and business hubs. The top spot to check out is definitely the cathedrals. You've got St Mary's Catholic Cathedral which features gothic spires and romanesque columns, which is then directly adjacent to St George's Anglican Cathedral. St George's is a Georgian-style structure with beautiful stained-glass windows. Also spend time walking the streets to observe everyday island life!
Dark View Falls
A one hour scenic drive from Kingstown and you'll reach Dark View Falls. You have two beautiful waterfalls, one above the other, that cascade down the cliff into a natural pool. The falls itself are signposted, with plenty of parking, and a welcome hut where you'll pay a small fee. This area is picturesque and very green. You'll cross a small bamboo bridge and be at the base of the falls in under 10 minutes, so there's no strenuous hiking required.
Fort Charlotte
One of the most popular attractions in the country, due to its accessibility is Fort Charlotte, which is a 10 minute drive from Kingstown. This is a British-colonial era fort that's built on a hill overlooking the harbour of Kingstown. Constructed in 1806 and housed around 600 troops at its peak, and also 30 cannons, with many still remaining today. There's various rooms inside the fort that are accessible, as well as walking the upper wall. The site has free entry and is worth it for the bay views alone.
Layou Petroglyph Park
An unusual attraction, but one that's easy to combine en route to other stops is Layou Petroglyph Park. The location is north of Buccament Bay and the actual site isn't very well signposted (I drove past it 3 times). There's a small entrance fee of $2 USD at the front desk and the park is self-guided. It's small in size with the prized attraction being the petroglyphs scrawled on the side of a giant boulder by Amerindians. Historians date these back to 300-600 BC with the reason still unknown. The area itself is lush green and there's also a small pool where you can take a dip.
Wallilabou Bay
This small bay on the main island of St Vincent shot to fame when it was used as a background drop in many Pirates of the Caribbean scenes, with the bay still paying homage to Johnny Depp to this very day. You can see the old movie set, but to be honest, you don't need to allocate a huge amount of time here. Even if you don't head down into the bay itself, you can admire the bay views from the clifftop road above.
Fort Duvernette
It's another fort recommendation, but this one's completely different. Fort Duvernette is perched on top of a volcanic rock in the middle of the sea, but very close to the mainland. The fort can only be reached via boat, but you'll find plenty of locals on the adjacent shoreline who will happy take you across in their motorised/rowing boat for $10 USD return trip. There's a 225 step spiral staircase built into the rock, which will lead you up to the remains of two cannons. The reward is breathtaking panoramic 360 views of the coastline.
Barrouallie
The small town of Barrouallie is the former capital of the entire country, although today it's a sleepy coastal town. There's colourful houses dotted along the shoreline. The area is known for fishing and its famous "blackfish". Surrounded by mountains, which means it's fully protected from the nearby volcanic eruptions. If you're a fan of street art, there's some beautiful murals just before you head down to the shoreline.
Accommodation Advice
Compared to neighbouring Caribbean island, I found St V&G very limited when researching accommodation options. I decided on Grenadine House, as I'd heard great reviews from multiple friends over the years. I wasn't disappointed! Simple rooms, good WiFi, staff willing to help, fair price, and above all, a central location.
Food Factor
On this rare occasion, I didn't leave my hotel in search of food options. Most of the restaurants in the immediate vicinity had sadly closed down during the Covid era, so options were limited. This wasn't an issue as Grenadine House was actually voted the Number 2 restaurant pick on the whole island. The fresh fish combined with locally produced vegetables were a great choice, along with a very tasty cheesecake as a finisher.
Good Guide
No guide needed, car rental is essential.
Note: La Soufriere Volcano was closed during my visit due to a recent eruption.
