Saint Vincent i Grenadyny
powrót do Grenadyny
The Island of Bequia
Bequia is the
country's second largest island. It is a wonderful, hilly place, covered with
lush vegetation and it was once an important shipbuilding and whaling center.
Nowadays it's an important yachting destination, with most people heading for
the commercial center of Port Elizabeth on Admiralty Bay. On the island's
southern coast is the tourist resort of Friendship Bay.
Accommodation
is available in most towns on Bequia. The island is 10 km south of the country's
main island if Saint Vincent.
Bequia yachting
vacations, Bequia honeymoons, romantic Bequia resorts, Inns and hotels---
The romantic island of Bequia is a beautiful lush island with some of the
friendliest people in the Caribbean. The island is a great place to make friends
from all over the world, go on a day sail, go hiking, or just "lime" under a
coconut tree with your favorite beverage. Sailors have known about the
Grenadines for much longer than divers but divers are finding out it's a natural
place to be. Bequia is generally considered south of the Hurricane belt and has
been spared for many years from any serious damage.
Bequia was named the island of the clouds by the Caribs, (pronounced Bek-way)
this is the largest of the St Vincent dependencies with a population of 4,874
(1991 census). 9 miles S of St Vincent and about 7 miles square, Bequia attracts
quite a number of tourists, chiefly yachtsmen but also the smaller cruise ships
and, increasingly, land-based tourists. Tourism is becoming much more important
as more cruise ships stop and the number of yachts increases. More hotel rooms
and apartments are being added. The island is quite hilly and well-forested with
a great variety of fruit and nut trees. Its main village is Port Elizabeth and
here Admiralty Bay offers a safe anchorage.
Bequia has long been a island of yachtsmen. Isolated enough to remain unspoiled,
yet lively enough to offer something special for just about everyone. It
provides a splendid combination of the old and new that so many find enchanting.
It brings so many back year after year.
Boat building and repair work are the main industry. Experienced sailors can
sometimes get a job crewing on boats sailing on from here to Panama and other
destinations. For maps and charts (and books) go to Bequia Bookshop, which is
very well stocked, run by Patrick and Heather Reynolds.
The nearest beach to Port Elizabeth is the pleasant Princess Margaret beach
which shelves quickly into the clear sea. There are no beach bars to spoil this
tree-lined stretch of soft sand. At its S end there is a small headland, around
which you can snorkel to Lower Bay, where swimming is excellent and the beach is
one of the best on the island. Local boys race their homemade, finely finished
sailing yachts round the bay. In the village is Kennedy?s Bar, a good place to
watch the sunset with a rum punch.
The
centerpoint of Bequia is the town of Port Elizabeth, a favorite stop of
yachtsmen for supplies, repairs, or just plain fun. It wraps around Admiralty
Bay and has a waterside sidewalk, called the Belmont Walkway which connects the
cute jumble of shops, restaurants, bars, and small hotels lining the shoreline.
The ferry
dock and Tourism Office is the central point of "downtown" Port Elizabeth which
has local stores, boat supplies, groceries, a mall, and the market - a
collection of tables selling everything from t-shirts to handmade things. Kenny
took a picture of me standing beside a small fruit stand under the shade of a
giant Breadfruit Tree:
A
scenic route along Industry Bay to Park Bay beach to visit the Hawksbill
Turtle Sanctuary on the northern end of the
island to see these endangered species in all sizes from tiny hatchlings to 2
year olds ready to be returned to the sea.
Mount Pleasant
which had great views of the ocean and nearby Grenadine islands.
Bequia is a
charming destination for people looking for "get away" surroundings at
reasonable vacation costs. Those planning extended stays will find lots of
"housekeeping holiday" apartments and cottages, houses to rent, and other
comfortable accommodations. A variety of restaurants offer everything from cafe
food to romantic candlelight dining. Beaches are abundant and watersports
abound - sailing, day trips, scuba, windsurfing, snorkeling, and fishing. Just
about anything you might want to do on a Caribbean vacation.