Bequia: The Green Jewel of the Grenadines
- Martin Hesp
- Feb 25
- 2 min read
Our little island plane dropped off two local passengers at Carriacou before heading north across the dreamy isles mentioned to arrive at the green, green jewel of Bequia. From the small new airstrip, we were taken by specially adapted pick-up truck – which is the ubiquitous form of public transport on this island - to the wonderful and luxurious Bequia Beach Hotel, where I could happily have retired from journalism and just about everything else forever.
Luxury on the Sands of Friendship Beach
The resort is set on the slopes of the hill which run down to palm-strewn gardens and a beach. Friendship Beach to be exact – which has now entered my list of Top 10 beaches in the world. Think warm seas washing soft sand, shaded here and there by dramatically drooping trees and punctuated at one point by the hotel’s bar and excellent restaurant.
It wasn’t the busiest season when we were there and the only things we shared the beach with were pelicans and crabs. When the heat got too much our large, air-conditioned, sensationally decorated apartment was a stylish refuge if ever there was one.
Island Life at Ten Miles Per Hour
A complete island tour took just three hours despite the fact we never went above 10 mph—and included stops at different altitudinous viewpoints, visits to wild beaches tucked beyond mighty palm groves, and a fascinating tour around Bequia’s Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary.
There are about 5,000 Bequians – they’re of African, Scottish, Irish, French, Indian and Carib descent – and English is the main language spoken. I’d heard that these islanders have an open friendly attitude to visitors and it is true - you can experience the full and jolly brunt of it if you spend a morning or afternoon in the tiny capital Port Elizabeth.
The Laid-Back Charm of Port Elizabeth
Nothing much happens save for the comings and goings of the St Vincent ferries, as well as the pick-up truck taxis. There’s a small market, quite a few intriguing shops and the general laid-back buzz that somehow pervades the numerous restaurants and eateries where you can order all manner of Caribbean foods and dishes. I went for conch salad – which was excellent in a chewy kind of way.
And Port Elizabeth – like all of Bequia – is beautiful to look at. Sublimely, dreamily, enticingly, beautiful. If you wander along the Belmont Walkway, a narrow coastal path that hugs the harbor, you’ll find hidden bars like Jack’s Beach Bar where the punch is strong and the sunset views over Admiralty Bay are peerless.
Exploring the Grenadines Archipelago
As you sit there sipping a cooling cocktail it is easy to think that this is the best location for a holiday in the world – until you remember the happy fact that you are not tied to just one destination.
Bequia is part of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines chain, a constellation of islands that includes the celebrity-haunt of Mustique and the cinematic Tobago Cays. With the Just Bequia option, you get two for your money—pairing the quiet sophistication of this island with another nearby gem. It is a reminder that in this part of the world, the journey is just as evocative as the destination.
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