Vacation In Bequia
Bequia is the most northerly of the inhabited Grenadine Islands. It is also one of the very few islands in the eastern Caribbean to have retained its authentic charm and to remain unimproved by mass tourism. The island embraces a tranquil tropical ambiance where native traditions still prevail; unspoiled beaches and an exquisite climate beckon. Although geared up for tourists with a range of accommodation, Bequia’s appeal remains firmly entrenched in its low-key and unassuming approach to hospitality.
Bequia is a small island which is located about 3 miles north of the capital port town of Georgetown on the country’s main island. The island has an area of about 2 square miles and encompasses about 3,200 acres. Bequia is part of the trio of islands called the Grenadines. This group includes Bequia, Palm Island and Petit St Vincent.
If you’re in need of a vacation but don’t want to go far from home, Bequia is the island for you. This small island in the Caribbean has about 6,000 citizens and tourists only make up about 10% of that. Bequia offers some unique attractions such as a huge limestone cave. This cave is almost 4 kilometers long and was used as a hideout for some pirates during the 1700s.
Are you someone who always loves going to Bequia (or should I say is Bequia always loves you going there?)?
Vacation In Bequia
You are going to the wrong island.” the wild-haired woman sitting beside us at a tiny Caribbean airport announced. Our flight to Barbados had been delayed and we were chit-chatting while I madly bounced a two year old on my lap – desperately trying to avoid the dreaded meltdown.
This vibrant free spirit went on to extoll the virtues of Bequia – one of the lesser known islands making up part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (you may be more familiar with Mustique, the private island favored by the very well-heeled). Bequia truly sounded special – so special, that this conversation stuck with me for many years. Over a decade in fact, as it took us that long to finally make our way there.
About The Island of Bequia
They call it the Big Little Island. Bequia is the second largest of the Caribbean island chain that makes up St. Vincent and the Grenadines and has over 6000 inhabitants. This makes it just big enough to support some nice restaurants and boutique hotels, but to never feel crowded.
The island has several beautiful beaches, good snorkeling, diving and some very pretty hikes. With a long seafaring history, Bequia also has a number of attractive fishing and sailing excursion options.
There are no large-scale all-inclusives, no jet skis roaring around and (thankfully) no party boats in the harbor full of drunken revelers doing the Macarena (I love you Mexico but…..). Bequia is the perfect place for those who want to escape it all and have a quiet, laid-back Caribbean vacation.
Island of Bequia Video (2 min.)
Want to take a quick peek before reading more? Check out this short 2 minute video.
Bequia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
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Why Choose Bequia?
We visited Bequia on a multi-generational trip – 6 of us in total including my husband, kids (10&13) and my parents (both 65+). The impetus for the trip was to disconnect from our devices and reconnect with each other.
With busy lives, so many of our family gatherings tended to be rushed holiday dinners (arguing over when to take the turkey out) and I just wanted us all to relax and hang out – while at the same time experiencing a new place together. With kids in tow, I also wanted to make sure there were a few activities to enjoy as a family along with beach time and snorkeling.
How to Get to Bequia
“We are not seriously flying on this are we?” my son demanded as we squeezed onto a tiny twin engine plane with a dozen or so other passengers in transit from Barbados to Bequia. Although I don’t really have a fear of flying, I will admit that sitting in the front of this tiny tin can did give me a moment of pause. Who really wants to see all the dials and buttons, including the ones in plain view that say Engine Fire Instructions.
Thankfully, the plane was so loud that my kids’ protests were soon drowned out by the drone of the engines. After they finally got over it, they actually fell asleep. Once I recovered from my jitters, I became quite mesmerized by the view.
The thing about Bequia, and what helps to keep it so special and less vulnerable to the rampant negative aspects of tourism, is that it is not the easiest to get to. You can fly to Barbados or St. Lucia and connect onto another short flight.
Alternatively, you can fly to St. Vincent and then take the 40 minute Bequia ferry. For us, coming from Vancouver, Canada, our journey took a full 24 hours before we were comfortably installed in paradise (with a few hours of sleep at a Toronto airport hotel).
The additional time and effort required to get to Bequia tends to add up to some extra expenses, whether it is for an overnight hotel while in transit, or for the additional flights ($420 USD per person round trip Barbados – Bequia ). The cost to rent a Bequia villa or stay at a Bequia hotel, however, is quite a bit more reasonable than what you might find on many better known Caribbean islands. As an example, our Bequia villa rental was less than half the price of a similar Barbados villa rental (where we spent the second week of our Caribbean family vacation).
Getting Around
Upon arrival in Bequia, we all hopped into one of the local taxis (which basically amounts to some benches in the back of a pickup truck). We had a rental jeep waiting for us at our villa (from Noel’s Taxi) but I must admit that there was something very refreshing (and rebelliously unsafe) about just hopping in the back of a truck and enjoying the island breeze in your hair.
Note: For the record, we are the parents that have dragged every possible type of travel car seat and booster seat around the world. Sometimes however, you just need to let these things go and do as the islanders do.
We loved having a rental vehicle on Bequia, but you could certainly get around the whole time by taxi (see photo below). There are also Dollar Vans which is basically the equivalent of a local bus system. From Port Elizabeth you can opt to take a water taxi to some of the most popular beaches.
For more information, see Getting Around on the Bequia Tourism website.
Things to do in Bequia
For us, Bequia had the perfect amount of things to do during our one week stay. Here are our top picks for a Bequia vacation.
Best Bequia Beaches
We were fortunate in that our Bequia villa happened to be located just above Lower Bay – considered the nicest beach on the island. This beach is perfect for families in that it is quiet, has the most gentle waves, has some decent snorkeling and several small restaurant options. In fact, we spent most afternoons right in front of De Reef restaurant which gave us great access to their fresh fish lunches, yummy rum punch and use of their washroom facilities.
There is also a guy who rents chairs along the beach for the very fair rate of $5 USD/day (often seen sporting a pirate hat). Another restaurant on the beach, Keegan’s, even hosts a Wednesday movie night (free with food/drink purchase).
