Saint Vincent and the Grenadines , The Caribbean’s Hidden Gem

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is one of the beautiful island countries of Caribbean known for its beautiful and tropical beaches, greenery and art.

Geography

St Vincent and the Grenadines is an island country which is situated within the Caribbean region in the Americas. It comprises of Saint Vincent itself and other nearby isles called the Grenadines which are located to the south of the island. Saint Vincent is the largest one and the total area of the country is approximately 389 square kilometers.

Capital: Kingstown is the place and it is situated in the island of Saint Vincent.
Official Language: English
Currency: The currency currently used in the Antigua and Barbuda and the other territories in the WIB is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar abbreviated as XCD.
Time Zone: Atlantic standard time (AST).
The islands are situated in the Lesser Antilles and boast of several aspects such as the volcanic mountains, tropical rainforest as well as stunning corals. The landscape is dramatic and St Vincent’s highest point is active La Soufrière, a volcano.

History

The history of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is rich and complex:The history of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is rich and complex:

Pre-Colonial Period: There was once the Caribs-the indigenous people who strongly defended their rights to the lands against the Europeans.
Colonial Era: The French for their brief time in the 18th century claimed the island and later the island was handed over to the British. It is for this reason that Saint Vincent transited from a center of sugar plantations and the trading in slaves.
Independence: Saint Vincent became an affiliated state to Britain in the year 1979 and more specifically on the 27th of October. Nevertheless, it is part of the Commonwealth and has a constitutional monarchy along with the parliamentary system of governance.

Art and Culture

Music: The islands are blessed with lots of music, especially Calypso, Soca and steel pan music. Other cultural activities for example the Vincy Mas Festivals including the annual carnival dances, flashy dresses, and lively presentation.
Festivals: Another Christmas tradition is Nine Mornings Festival in which for nine mornings before Christmas people go out to enjoy music, dance, and various cultural performances.
Crafts and Visual Arts: Local people make wonderful art pieces such as pottery, carvings on wood and textile products which are amazingly made based on the beautiful islandscapes.

How to Visit

International Flights: There is only one airport of significance in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; this is the Argyle International Airport (AIA). These airports have connection from the U. S., Canada and other inter-Caribbean islands.
Inter-Island Travel: Boats and small aircrafts that can be used to move from one island in the Grenadine to the other include ferries which are available to move from Bequia, Mustique and Union islands.

Best Time to Travel

For the best experience, one should travel between December and April, this is mostly because it is dry season in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is replete with warmth, sunshine and auspicious for adventures, be it at the beach, touring around, or other outdoor activities. As a result, the hurricanes are likely to disrupt the island, thus it is advisable to visit the place during the dry seasons.

Other Details

Cuisine: Other Barbadian foods for tourists include, fresh sea foods such as, lobster and conch, callaloo soup and bread fruit which is the staple food of the locals. You should taste the national dish – “Roast Breadfruit and Jackfish.”
Local Customs: Another major common feature is that people are friendly and hospitable to the visitors. Such traditions and festivals like Vincy Mas carnival are respected.
Travel Tips: This will require packing light clothing, sun screen and insect repellent. Hiring a car is allowed, however, driving is done on the left side of the road comes as a real experience.

Unique Experiences
Sailing: Sailing is on the spotlight with the Grenadines being among the world’s leading yacht charter destinations. One may take a sail boat or catamaran to move around and visit the small isolated islands and enjoy the clear water.
Dive and Snorkel: Visit and explore the Tobago Cays or in the waters near Bequia’s coast with its multiple reef formations and marine creatures.
Island Hopping: Go to Mustique (recently popular among movie stars), Palm Island, Petit St. Vincent or some other islands which offer seclusion and lavishness.

It is regarded as an excellent destination because Saint Vincent and the Grenadines includes all aspects of adventure, relaxation and different cultural experiences.