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Caribbean

Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesTravel guide

Explore Saint Vincent and the Grenadines visa rules

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island nation in the Caribbean, north of Trinidad and Tobago. Its capital is Kingstown.

Why go

  1. Swim in the Tobago Cays and visit Tobago Cays Marine Park.

  2. Explore gardens, forests and mountain trails.

  3. Visit places where the Pirates of the Caribbean films were made.

  4. Enjoy Vincy Mas, the carnival held in early July.

Getting there

By air

  • The main airport is Argyle International Airport, with the airport code SVD.
  • Most flights serve nearby islands, including Canouan, St. Lucia, Barbados and Saint Kitts.

By sea

  • Most visitors arrive by plane or yacht.
  • The islands have many docks and bays, but very few cruises stop here.

Getting around

  • Public vans

    Privately owned vans act as buses. Look for a number plate beginning with H, which means the van is for hire. Fares start at EC$1. The source lists the Argyle airport to Kingstown fare as EC$3 in July 2019. To catch a van from the airport, walk 300 metres up the slip road towards the Windward Highway junction and hail one. Vans can be driven fast and recklessly. Many play loud music.

  • Car or taxi

    Driving is on the left. Mountains make travel difficult, even though Saint Vincent is relatively small. The main highways follow the coast. Travelling from one side of the island to the other requires going around it. The source lists a taxi from Argyle airport to Kingstown at EC$70, compared with a July 2019 van fare.

  • Chartered yacht

    Windward Islands offers yacht charters with a crew in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It does not offer yachts to hire without a crew.

What to see and do

  • Tobago Cays Marine Park

    Visit a marine park in the Grenadines.

  • Pirates of the Caribbean filming sites

    See places where the films were made.

  • Fort Charlotte

    Enjoy the view from the fort.

  • Montreal Gardens and the Botanical Gardens

    Explore two gardens listed among the country's attractions.

  • Arawak Rock Carvings

    See the rock carvings.

  • Black Point Tunnel

    Visit the tunnel listed among the country's sights.

Food and drink

  • Roasted breadfruit and fried jackfish

    The national dish of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

  • Roadside barbecue

    Pork or chicken served on Friday or Saturday night.

  • Bitter Lemon and Fruit Cocktail

    Popular soft drinks.

  • Hairoun

    A popular locally produced beer.

  • Black Wine

    A drink suggested for adventurous drinkers.

Money

Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD), written as EC$ or $.

  • One Eastern Caribbean dollar is divided into 100 cents.
  • The currency has a fixed exchange rate of US$1 to EC$2.70.
  • Most merchants accept US dollar banknotes and Eastern Caribbean currency.
  • US coins are not accepted.

Typical costs

  • Public van fares start at EC$1.
  • Argyle airport to Kingstown by van: EC$3 in July 2019.
  • Argyle airport to Kingstown by taxi: EC$70 in the source's comparison with the July 2019 van fare.

Language

  • English is the main language. British spellings are more common than American spellings.

Staying safe

  • Hurricanes are an annual risk, with threats from July to October.
  • La Soufrière Volcano is occasionally active. An advance warning system is in place.
  • Public vans can be driven fast and recklessly.

Staying healthy

  • The source reports that the US government suggests hepatitis A and B vaccinations for travellers to the Caribbean.
  • Water in Kingstown is safe to drink.
  • Be careful with drinking water elsewhere. Quality can vary with the season and how the water is collected, often as rainwater.

Where to stay

  • Resorts are an option in the Grenadines.
  • Consider a guest house or apartment in Kingstown if you want more contact with local people.
  • Fort View Guest House is in Edinboro, within walking distance of downtown Kingstown.

Outdoor adventures in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines offers volcano climbs, forest walks and swimming around small islands. Highlights include La Soufrière, the Vermont Nature Trail and Tobago Cays Marine Park. The rainy season runs from May to November, and hurricanes threaten the islands from July to October.

  • La Soufrière Volcano

    ClimbingSaint Vincent

    Hard 3 hours

    Climb La Soufrière Volcano on Saint Vincent.

    • This is not an easy climb.
    • The volcano is occasionally active. An advance warning system is in place.

  • Swimming in Tobago Cays Marine Park

    More to doGrenadines

    Visit Tobago Cays Marine Park to swim. Transport arrangements are not specified.

  • Vermont Nature Trail

    Hike

    Follow the Vermont Nature Trail on a hike.

  • Fort Duvernette

    Hike

    Hike up to Fort Duvernette for the view.

  • Mesopotamia Valley

    Hike

    Walk through the valley's forests and plantations.

  • Montreal Gardens

    More to do

    Visit Montreal Gardens. Access arrangements are not specified.

  • Botanical Gardens

    More to do

    Visit the Botanical Gardens. Access arrangements are not specified.

Airports, metros and trains in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Airports with scheduled flights

  • SVDArgyle International AirportKingstownMain international airport

People and safety in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Religion

Most people are Christian. Mostly one faith.

  • Christian89%
  • Hindu3%
  • No religion3%
  • Folk religions2%
  • Other2%
  • Muslim2%

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex relationships are illegal

  • The law allows a fine.
  • Some laws protect against discrimination.

Check your own government's travel advice before you go, and be careful with public displays of affection and dating apps.

Who can visit without a visa

Travellers from 187 of 198 countries can visit Saint Vincent and the Grenadines easily: no visa, a visa at the airport, or a short online form.

  • Visa not required185
  • Freedom of movement2
  • Visa required11

Who can visit easily, by part of the world

For each part of the world: how many countries' travellers can come easily. Easy means no visa, a visa at the airport, or a short online form.

  • Europe46 of 46 countries
  • Oceania14 of 14 countries
  • Africa52 of 54 countries
  • Americas32 of 34 countries
  • Asia43 of 50 countries

Questions

What is the weather like?

The climate is tropical, with little change in temperature through the year. The rainy season runs from May to November, and hurricanes threaten the islands from July to October.

Which airport will I use?

The main airport is Argyle International Airport, with the airport code SVD. Most flights connect with nearby islands.

How do I recognise a public van?

Look for a number plate starting with H, meaning for hire. These privately owned vans act as buses, but they can be driven fast and recklessly.

Can I pay with US dollars?

Most merchants accept US dollar banknotes. US coins are not accepted, and the local currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar.

Will I be able to speak English?

Yes. English is the main language on the islands.

What local food should I try?

The national dish is roasted breadfruit and fried jackfish. Roadside barbecues serve pork or chicken on Friday or Saturday night.

Where can I stay to meet local people?

The source suggests a guest house or apartment in Kingstown for more contact with local people. Fort View Guest House in Edinboro is within walking distance of downtown Kingstown.

Can I drink the tap water?

Water in Kingstown is safe to drink. Be careful elsewhere, as water quality varies with the season and collection method.

Is climbing La Soufrière easy?

No. The source describes a difficult three-hour climb reaching an elevation of 1,200 metres, and the volcano is occasionally active.

How do I call a local phone number from abroad?

Use +1-784 followed by the seven-digit local number.

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