“There are no secrets on Bequia,” I was warned by a local my first evening on island, as she referred to the “coconut telegraph” of gossip that runs rampant through its ruggedly beautiful seven square-miles. However, the second largest of 32 Grenadines (an archipelago that belongs to St. Vincent and runs between that island and Grenada) itself remains one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets, known centuries ago for its whaling and boat-building traditions but today falling largely beyond the well-worn tourist path.
But Bequia’s anonymity has its advantages. On an island where there’s no traffic or daily newspaper, no casinos or mega-resorts, you feel almost like a pioneer in Paradise, a welcome visitor to a destination that’s remote enough to be truly relaxing yet offers so much to do.
You know how the Caribbean looks in vintage postcards? All swaying palms on deserted sugary beaches and tiny villages with a winding main street lined with colorful low-rise shops and restaurants? That’s pretty much how Bequia looks now, with an ambience that’s appropriately carefree. People are genuinely welcoming, and drivers beep as they pass you simply to say hello.
Bequia’s main town, Port Elizabeth, is small in size yet big on charm, and you shouldn’t leave without a visit, especially since its no more than 20 minutes’ drive from anywhere on island.
learn about Bequia’s long boat-building and whaling heritage (whaling is still legal here, and as many as four may be caught a year but only by using age-old non-mechanical methods) at the small but comprehensive Bequia Boat Museum.
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