Tobago Cays beach; © St Vincent and The Grenadines Tourist Office

St. Vincent beaches attract visitors because of the laid back nature of the island.

The beaches at St. Vincent are rarely crowded because the island receives far fewer visitors than most Caribbean islands.

The island averages less than 200,000 visitors each year about evenly split between cruise visitors and stayover visitors.

St. Vincent, which is part of a 32-island chain known as St. Vincent and the Grenadines, receives most of its visitors from late November through March each year. It is located in the southern Caribbean and has warmer temperatures than most.

For June through October, the chain experiences high rainfall because of the Caribbean hurricane season.

So the best time to visit St. Vincent beaches is during the spring because of a combination of low rainfall and warm air and sea temperatures.

Villa Beach: Villa Beach is one of the most popular beaches in St. Vincent because it is only a 10-minute drive from the cruise port at Kingstown. The beach is known for tranquil waters that make it safe for swimming and snorkeling.

The only major disadvantage is the fact that the beach is small and therefore can barely accommodate the crowds that flock the area, especially on the weekends.

Indian Bay Beach: Indian Bay Beach is similar to Villa Beach and also attracts many Vincentians on weekends. It’s a narrow strip and therefore cannot accommodate too many visitors.

From Monday through Thursday, the beach has fewer locals and more room for cruise visitors. The beach is also well suited to vacationers with its many restaurants, bars and snack stands.

Buccament Bay Beach: Buccament Bay Beach is located about 20 minutes northwest of Kingstown. The waters are warm, clear and tranquil. The sands of the Buccament beach feature black volcanic sand, offering a unique picture of natural beauty.

Other black sand beaches on the western coast include Richmond Beach, Mount Wynne and Petit Byahaut.

Other Beaches

The beaches located along the eastern coast are quite rough. They are not suited for people who want to swim and snorkel. But they are suitable for anyone wanting to take part in hard-core surfing and other water sports that require high waves.

Otherwise, visitors can enjoy picnics and long walks on these beaches. Such beaches include Keaton’s Bay and Richmond Beach.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Most people do not know that the movie series, Pirates of the Caribbean, was shot on location in St. Vincent. Disney officials settled on St. Vincent for its virtually untouched coastline that complemented the 1800s nature of the movie.

Along with all the other features mentioned, all beaches on mainland St. Vincent are public, making completely accessible to visitors.