Summary
St. Vincent and the Grenadines are generally quiet islands located just north of Trinidad and Tobago in the southern Caribbean.

Heavy annual rainfall make for lush mountains and numerous eco-tourism opportunities including hiking on nature trails and swimming in waterfalls.

The islands are 23rd in total tourism visits, 22nd in stopovers and 19th in cruise visits. It has a relatively low number of cruise visitors compared to other islands.

Attractions
Unique attractions on a St. Vincent vacation include the Kingstown Market, which has a variety of foods, arts and crafts; the historical churches of St. George's Anglican Cathedral and St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral; the Botanical Gardens, the oldest garden in the Western Hemisphere founded in 1762; and forts Charlotte, constructed in 1806, and Duvernette, built in 1800.

Tourism / When to Go
U.S. and Canadian stopover tourists require passports and valid return tickets to visit the islands. Cruise visitors must have their ship IDs when leaving and returning to their ships. The most popular times to visit are July and April. The least popular are September and then October.

Weather
St. Vincent and the Grenadines have some of the heaviest annual rain of any islands in the Caribbean with 80 inches on the coast and 150 inches inland. The average temperature year-round is 81 degrees Fahrenheit. The typical climate is tropical with little seasonal temperature variation and a rainy season that lasts from May to November.

Currency / Tipping
The official currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC), although U.S. currency and major credit cards are widely accepted. Taxis are unmetered so check the fares before accepting a ride; a 10-15 percent tip is recommended for hotels, taxis and restaurants. The hotel room tax is 7 percent and the departure tax for stopover visitors is $40EC per person.

Culture / Geography
Languages are English and French Patois (a regional dialect). The economy is split between tourism and agriculture. The islands are about 242 square miles in total size with a volcanic and mountainous terrain.

Sources / More information
Caribbean Tourism Organization: http://www.onecaribbean.org
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: http://www.noaa.gov
U.S. State Department: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1028.html
CIA Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/vc.html