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The romantic island
of Bequia
was named the island of the clouds by the Caribs.
This is the largest of the St Vincent Grenadines measuring
7 sq miles with a population of 4,874 (1991 census).
Little changed by time, it is an island on
which life is completely oriented to the sea. Its
seclusion has ensured it retained its age-old traditions
of boat building and fishing. Isolated enough to remain
relatively unspoiled, yet lively enough to be stimulating
and entertaining, it provides a blend of the old and
new that many find perfect.
It is a beautiful lush island with some of the friendliest
people in the Caribbean. It
is also a great place to go on a day sail, go hiking,
laze on the beach, or just "lime" under
a coconut tree with your favorite beverage.
Sailors have known about the Grenadines
and Bequia for much longer than most but more tourists
are finding out it's a beautiful and natural place
to be.
Bequia tends to attract the more adventurous type
of visitor who prefers the tropical delights and ambiance
of the smaller, more informal islands, where the beaches
are secluded and high rise hotels do not mar the scenery.
The island is encircled by gold-sand beaches, many
of which disappear into coves, excellent for sailing,
scuba diving and snorkeling. The centre of the island
is hilly and forested, providing a dramatic backdrop
to the bays and beaches. Admiralty
Bay, the
island's natural harbour, is a favourite anchoring
spot for yachtsmen from all over the world.
Bequia shares much of the traditional West Indian culture,
giving it a multi-ethnic twist of African, Portuguese
and British influences. Musically, islanders go for
reggae, calypso and steel bands. Sports-wise they
prefer British forms like cricket and soccer. Bequia
in particular, has long been reliant upon the sea
for a living; boat building, both full-scale and models,
is an island art form.
What the press
say:
The Sunday Telegraph
Treasured island
Bequia has no big hotels or golf courses,
just empty beaches, lush rainforest and a laid-back
approach to life. It's the Caribbean idyll many of
us look for but rarely find, says Nigel Tisdall.
I've found it! My perfect Caribbean island! It's friendly,
sunny, barely developed, with fresh fish, peaceful
beaches, gorgeous scenery - and the local Sunset rum
is a whopping 84.5 per cent proof! You can leave London
after breakfast and be there for cocktails, and the
island's called . . .
Entire
article >
The Sunday Times
Five tiny islands in a connoisseur’s Caribbean
Beautiful things come in small packages: so,
this winter, skip the big islands and go petite, says
David Wickers
THE LUSHEST of the 30-odd islands that make up the
Grenadines, Bequia offers something rare in the Caribbean:
you can plug into local life rather than remain cocooned
in your hotel. Whether you’re sipping punch
in its bars, eating rotis on the Belmont waterfront
or simply lazing and limin’ under the big almond
tree (known as the “Houses of Parliament”)
in the middle of Port Elizabeth, the tiny main town,
you’ll be as likely to meet fishermen, seafarers
and boat-builders as other tourists. The laid-back
experience has more in common with life on a Greek
island than it does with many of its neighbours. For
what it’s worth, sleepy, titchy Bequia is one
of my all-time favourite islands.
Entire
Article >
The Sunday Herald
Paradise heights
Untainted by tourists and dancing to its , own tune,
Bequia is just the ticket if you're looking for your
own island oasis, says Sophie Cooke
THREE thousand miles west of Senegal lies an island
called Bequia. Its seven square miles of hills are
thick with tropical blossoms and cacti, alive with
yellow birds and khaki lizards. It harbours overgrown
sugar mills and cattle grazing under palm trees, shady
old bars and telegraph wires wreathed in creepers.
It also happens to be Mustique's next-door neighbour:
the hippy chick little sister of a glittering prom
queen....
Entire
Article >
"A splash of Grenadines" by Hank
Wangford - The Guardian
I am a Caribbean tenderfoot. I've been there a thousand
times with Caribbean aristocracy like King Tubby,
Prince Buster and Lord Short Shirt, but I've never
dipped my toe in the perfect waters or been caressed
by the constant breezes. Now I've tasted nature Caribbean
style at her five-star best, all I can tell you is
GO. Now. Jump on the next flight to Barbados and take
it from there.
Bequia is a delight, rustic, hilly and green, laid-back,
with colourful houses and Rasta shacks onthe golden
beaches. A dream island.
This island has wonderful beaches, dramatic surf
on the Atlantic side, calm lagoons on the Caribbean,
with fine snorkelling and diving. Harold Macmillan
once rented a house on Bequia. He first thought "You've
never had it so good" living there. He was right.
I haven't.
"Paradise islands - Which are the best
islands in the Caribbean?" by Jill Hartley -
The Telegraph
"PRONOUNCED Beckwee, this pretty little speck
(five miles by two) in the Grenadines is well developed
for tourism, yet still retains a dropped-off-the-edge
feel. For me, it's the nearest thing the Caribbean
has to the Greek islands - relaxed, free of dress
codes and understandably popular with yachties. It
couldn't be more different from the manicured country
club of neighbouring Mustique.
What sets Bequia apart is the feeling that anything
could happen, that any piece of human flotsam could
blow in with the capricious trade winds. The locals,
master boat builders, once fashioned a beautiful wooden
schooner for Bob Dylan, which mysteriously sank in
the Panama Canal. Dustin Hoffman is said to have learnt
to water-ski here unrecognised."
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