Top Things To Do In Bequia
Bequia is an island located off the south coast of St Vincent. It is the second largest island in the Grenadines. This stunning island is arguably the most perfect of the whole Grenadines and as a result is a popular destination with yachts and tourists. It isn’t hard to see why! We spent 10 days in Bequia and absolutely loved the slower pace of life, picturesque beaches and amazing waterfront restaurants.Β
No.1
Port Elizabeth
Port Elizabeth is the capital of Bequia and is the ‘main hub’ of the island where you’ll find yachts from all around the globe. It is also where the inter-island ferries come and go from. Walk out of the ferry port and you’ll find a colourful and lively street filled with small shops, local stalls selling souvenirs and cafe’s.
No.2
Princess Margaret Beach
Walk along the Belmont Coastal trail from Port Elizabeth and you’ll find the Princess Margaret beach. A beautiful strip of white sand looking out on to the yacht-covered Admiralty Bay. At one end you have the popular Jack’s Beach Bar for delicious local food. There is also Fay’s beach bar in the middle where you can get a refreshing rum punch. All in all, it is the perfect place to spend a relaxing day.Β
Top Tip
It is the most popular beach on the island when a cruise ship is in port. Tours from other islands also tend to this beach. The beach is generally quieter in the morning but becomes busy around lunch time. Keep reading for a quieter beach further down!
No.3
Diving and Snorkelling
Dive Bequia is based along the waterfront next to the Gingerbead Hotel. They offer a variety of diving options, including: Discover Scuba, for those who have never dived before; and the PADI Open Water Course, for those wishing to get diving certification. There are also numerous great dive sites around Bequia to explore for those with diving experience. They also offer snorkelling trips to the waters surrounding the island which are filled with beautiful marine life.
No.4
Lower Bay Beach
Another stand out spot on Bequia is Lower Bay Beach. This beach is quieter as cruise ships and tours tend not to come here. It is a slightly longer walk round from Port Elizabeth but it is just as beautiful. The turquoise water here is calm making it great for swimming and snorkelling.
No.5
Day Trips
The Grenadines is made up ofΒ lots of beautiful islands! The Friendship Rose Caribbean Schooner offers day cruises from Bequia to the popular Mustique and Tobago Cays. Private charter is also available to other surrounding islands. It is the only remaining Bequia Schooner and was handbuilt in Friendship Bay on the island.
Top Tip
If you want to do a day trip make sure you check schedules and pre-book. Unfortunately, we went around New Year’s and they weren’t running the trips at this time so we missed out on going to these beautiful islands.
No.6
Floating Bar
If you want amazing cocktails in the middle of the picturequse Admiralty Bay, then head to Bequia’s floating bar – Bar One. To get to the bar from shore, you can either: kayak, paddleboard, boat, or contact the bar to pick you up. If you’re feeling strong, you could probably even swim…just maybe don’t swim back! The bar’s motto is ‘sip, float, relax’ – what more could you ask for?!
No.7
Enjoy the local cuisine
You’re spoilt for choice with places to eat whilst on Bequia. Here are some of our favourites:
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Mac’s Pizza & Kitchen – A bustling restaurant with a great atmosphere, well-known for it’s famous pizzas which they have been serving for over 35 years!
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The Gingerbread Hotel – Admire the ornate building whilst enjoying a great morning coffee and delicious baked goodies.
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The Fig Tree – A great place to sit by the water and watch the sunset with a cocktail.
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Jack’s Beach Bar – Lovely beach front bar on Princess Margaret Beach serving fresh, local cuisine. Make sure to try out their famous lobster mac’n’cheese.Β
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De Reef – A great lunch spot on Lower Bay Beach, serving a flavourful rum punch, grilled seafood and snacks.
No.8
Hike
Bequia is a beautiful island to explore on foot. There are lots of different hiking trails for nature lovers. The most popular are The Belmont Board Walk and Princess Margaret Trail. These are used regularly to get to the beaches. If you’re looking for a challenge, try hiking up Mt. Peggy, the highest point on the south west side of Bequia.
No.9
Fort Hamilton
Fort Hamilton is located at the northern point of Admiralty Bay. There is little left of the remains of the fort which was built by the British in the 1700’s. However, you can still see the canon battery and get a lovely panoramic view of the bay.
No.10
Watch the Sunset
We saw some beautiful sunsets during our time in Bequia. Sitting at any of the waterfront bars along the Belmont Walkway, watch the boats bobbing on the water and admire the view as the sun goes down.Β
Getting to Bequia
There are a few different ways to get to Bequia depending on where you are coming from. As we were travelling around the Caribbean we flew into St. Vincentβs Argyle International Airport and took a taxi down to Kingstown ferry port. From here you get on the Bequia Express which costs EC$25. The boat journey takes about an hour to get to Port Elizabeth. You can also fly straight into Bequia’s J.F. Mitchell Airport from Barbados and St Lucia.
