St. Vincent is largest of the 32 islands in the country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Volcanic in origin, it is topped by a tall volcano, which makes a great day hike for visitors. The terrain is mountainous, jagged peaks covered with dense rainforest. Some parts are so steep that even the lush vegetation cannot take hold. In some places, cliffs drop off into the sea, making vertical walls for divers underneath.

The island is an eco-travelers paradise with wild parrots, rainforests, a volcano, waterfalls, streams and deserted black sand beaches to explore.

Around Kingstown

Kingstown is the capitol and main town on St. Vincent. A visit to the Kingstown Market on an early Friday or Saturday morning is essential. The market is full of people from all over the island who bring their vegetables, fruits, spices and meats to sell. Load up on spices, but beware! The fresh spices will be stronger than the old, dried bottled and canned spices you have at home. The market is a great place for photos. Be sure to ask permission before taking photos of people in the market.

Kingstown is filled with interesting architecture including St. George's Anglican Cathedral, built in the early 1800's and St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral built in 1823. Even the streets in town have retained an old Caribbean look. Arcades and cobblestone sidewalks line the edges of even new buildings in Kingstown.

Fort Charlotte sits high on a peninsula just outside town and comes complete with cannons and a small museum which describes the history of the Black Caribs. Go early in the morning for the best panoramic views of Kingstown Bay and the Leeward coast.

The Botanical Gardens, built in 1763, are the oldest in the Western Hemisphere. Located just a good walk from the center of town, they host a large variety of tropical plants from all over the world. Knowledgeable guides will make this a worthwhile trip as they identify and describe local uses for each plant. The small zoo there houses a few specimens of the endangered St. Vincent parrot. The gazebo in the middle of the gardens is a popular spot for an island wedding.

Up the Leeward Coast

Not far north of Kingstown, on the west coast near the town of Vermont, the Buccament Valley and Vermont Nature Trailsare well worth a hike. The trails pass through a cultivated area with callaloo and breadfruit trees into a tropical rainforest which is home to the St. Vincent Parrot. It is best to go in the afternoon to see the parrots. Pick up a guide in Vermont to make the trip more interesting.

There are several picturesque villages along the coast. Wallilabou is on a pretty bay and has a good restaurant. Barrouallie is a pilot whaling village and the whaling station can be visited. The old skills of what was once a thriving industry, are dying out.

Cumberland Bay is a beautiful bay and great for photos.

At the far northwest end of the island and accessible only by boat the Falls of Baleine make a great day trip when combined with diving, snorkeling and lunch. The 60 foot falls are located in a narrow valley and plunge into a cool pool. Visitors get a kick out of climbing up under the falls, diving into the pool and swimming in the cool water.

For a great day trip, take a drive up the Leeward Coast and make Trinity Falls one of the stops. The beautiful triple waterfalls are accessible by a short hike through the rainforest once you drive up the rugged path in a 4-wheel drive vehicle. The falls are located near the end of the road, a long, but enjoyable drive from the Kingstown area. Enjoy a picnic at the falls and a dip, but be careful of the undertow!

On the Windward Side

A drive up the windward (eastern) side passes along black windswept beaches such as Argyle Beach, through acres of coconut and banana plantations, past cliffs and headlands where the Atlantic's waves create a magnificent view of crashing waves and violent surf. The water is strewn with large jagged rocks.

The picturesque church at Biabou sits on one of the headlands. Very early morning is the best time for photos.

The road passes through Georgetown, the second largest town on St. Vincent and the starting point for a hike up La Soufriere. It continues past the Rabacca Dry River to Orange Hill Estate, one of the largest coconut plantations in the world.

Combine an early morning drive up the windwardside with a hike up La Soufriere, the 4000 foot volcano that last erupted in 1979. Views of the smoldering cauldron and surrounding islands from the volcano that covers 1/3 of the island are awe inspiring.

The Interior

Much of the interior of St. Vincent is unreachable by car, but the southern end of the island is a maze of small roads that twist and turn through the rugged steep mountains and the lush, green Mesopotamia Valley where many of the islands crops are grown. Almost vertical gardens line the slopes. The views are breathtaking. If you drive yourself, be prepared to get lost and have to ask directions to find the way home. Look for the section of road that parallels the roaring Yambo River as it runs toward Peruvian Vale.