Postcards from St Vincent and the Grenadines

Not that I go out that much these days, but as far as I can tell from last time I did, the weather is getting cold. There’s no way out. Winter is here!

So I went back to my Saint Vincent and Grenadines photos and went through them multiple times, realizing I didn’t post anything about that trip yet! How come I didn’t share at least some photos of this incredibly beautiful country in the Caribbean?

On this blog trip, where I proudly represented Traveldudes and was hosted by the St Vincent and The Grenadines Tourism Board, I was treated like a princess and stayed in beautiful, luxury hotels with a VIP treatment that I am honestly not used to get. Unfortunately this means that I don’t have tips on how to visit SVG on a budget, but on the other hand I can tell you that I am planning to go back at my own expenses because I was deeply impressed. If luxury travel is your thing though, I can also give you details on where I stayed and you can go for it, without being disappointed.

There’s something special about the Caribbean, think about it. In this time of turmoil, conflict and uncertainty all around the world, this is one of the few areas where you can travel without being worried at all for your safety. It goes without saying that you have to pack common sense for any place you plan to visit, but seriously the Caribbean is such a relaxing place. If you’ve never been, all you have to do is pick an island and go!

I selected my favorite shots and I’m sharing them with you here. Warning: high level of travel porn here!

Breakfast on Bequia Island, at the Bequia Beach Hotel  – ok I should have taken the photo before eating all the fresh fruit! Opsie!

The national bird of SVG: Amazona Guildingii

Little green friends in the lash vegetation of SVG

Wallilabou Bay, where Pirates of the Caribbean shooted

Savage beach on St Vincent Island, with the typical black sand of volcanic origin

One of the most adventurous things I’ve done in my life: crossing this straw bridge to see the waterfalls! It took me forever.

The “Dark View” Waterfalls of SVG. Technically, there’s a photo of me under the water, but it will never be disclosed. Believe me it’s better for your eyes!

The road up to the base of Volcano La Soufrière… before the climb!

The crater of Volcano la Soufrière as seen from the summit. I was almost dead but it was so worth it!

A sea turtle at the Bequia Old Hegg turtle sanctuary

Canouan Island by night

Tobago Cays, an archipelagos of unhabited islands surrounded by a coral reef. Dreamlike!

More Tobago Cays: the sandy island of Morpian. Wish I was there now!

Tobago Keys, again. That water!

Tobago Cays… can it get more romantic than this? When I stop traveling solo I will take my partner here. Oh well it was great on my own anyway!

Up for an Aperitivo?

Young Island was our home for 3 nights… Now you know why I felt like a princess!

A panorama of Kingstown, the capital of SVG

Who’s been to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines? I have to be honest, before I was told about the trip I never heard of this country before. An intercontinental airport is being built on the main island (St Vincent) and will be ready by the end of 2013, therefore I expect the tourism to grow in the country as soon as there will be direct flights.

What I was very happy to find in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a pretty much uncontaminated environment, without ugly concrete buildings, but a well preserved ambiance with typical, colorful houses and not many tourists walking around the streets. The smiling, super friendly (and mostly handsome) locals were the icing on the cake!

In order to reach SVG we flew Virgin Atlantic from London to Barbados, then we took a small LIAT plane to St Vincent. On the rest of the trip, we moved between the islands with ferries. Another (probably the best) way to explore the area is to have your own yacht or sailboat; as far as I could see this is not as expensive as one may think.

“When I grow up” I want to see every single island in the Caribbean. Which ones did you visit? If you’ve been, I am sure you agree with me that this is heaven on Earth.