Grenadines 2026: Intimate Sailing between Bequia, Mustique and Mayreau — The Caribbean’s Most Exclusive Island Hopping

Admiralty Bay — Port Elizabeth, gateway to the archipelago

Bequia (pronounced « Beck-way ») is the kind of island that welcomes you with a smile: friendly faces, a laid-back waterfront, and that unmistakable atmosphere of a place that has been receiving sailors for generations. From Admiralty Bay, its vast cove rimmed with verdant hills, the adventure begins gently. According to Figaro Nautisme (October 2025), Bequia is the ideal first stop on a Grenadines itinerary: the anchorage is safe, the cafés of Port Elizabeth ring with the sound of steel drums, and white sails dot the horizon.

What sets Bequia apart from its more upscale neighbours is its unabashed authenticity. There are no butlers, no flashy luxury. Its charm lies in its informality, its conviviality, its quirky character, and its complete absence of pretension. Moorings cost around 20 USD per night — a fraction of the price of Mustique — and the local fruit and vegetable market, just north of the ferry dock, will supply you with passionfruit, mangoes, papayas and christophenes at unbeatable prices.

Must-sees in Bequia

• The Sargeant Brothers Model Boat Shop — a family workshop producing model boats, a living maritime heritage
• Lower Bay and Princess Margaret Beach — on the Caribbean side, calm and unspoilt
• The Turtle Farm — hawksbill turtle conservation, a unique educational experience
• Mount Pleasant — panoramic views over all surrounding islands from the summit

Mustique — Understated elegance 23 miles from Saint Vincent

Mustique, the island of artists and billionaires, cultivates its elegance away from prying eyes. Mick Jagger, Tommy Hilfiger, Bryan Adams — their sumptuous estates blend into the lush vegetation, scattered across the hills so as not to disturb the natural setting. According to TravelPander (February 2026), it is precisely this policy of limiting visitors that preserves the tranquillity and legendary charm of the island.

For sailors, the rule is clear: anchoring on the seabed is strictly forbidden. You must take a mooring buoy and book in advance with the Moorings office — the minimum package is 3 nights. In 2025–2026, the Cotton House Spa (reopened November 2025) offers nine treatment rooms in an Oliver Messel-inspired villa set within nature, with a hair studio bordered by bamboo.

Must-sees in Mustique

• Basil’s Bar — legendary evening concerts, an unmissable meeting spot at anchorage
• Island tour by hired golf cart — celebrity villas can be glimpsed from the road
• Horse riding — the stables offer rides through the hills or along the shore
• Macaroni Beach — one of the most beautiful wild beaches on the island, open to sailors

Mayreau — 300 inhabitants, 4 km², two seas mirrored

Mayreau captivates with its tiny size and almost timeless charm. With barely 4 km² and around 300 inhabitants, it is the smallest inhabited island in the Grenadines — accessible only by boat. Its famous Salt Whistle Bay is one of the most photographed bays in the Caribbean: a thin ribbon of sand separates the Caribbean Sea from the Atlantic, offering two mirrored shades of blue. Walking along this strip of sand, you literally pass from one ocean to the other in a few steps.

According to Valmarelo Marine (winter 2026), the second night in Mayreau is what makes it truly special — with an extra day, the crew stops watching the clock. The village of Old Wall, perched on top of the hill, is worth the climb for its colourful wooden houses, local bars, and stone church whose panorama over the neighbouring islands is exceptional.

Must-sees in Mayreau

• Salt Whistle Bay — the sandbar between two seas, a unique experience in the world
• Saint Anne’s Church and its 360° view over Tobago Cays and neighbouring islands
• Robert’s Righteous & de Youths — the legendary rasta bar, with local rum and a nonchalant atmosphere
• Saline Bay — ideal departure anchorage for reaching Tobago Cays at dawn

Tobago Cays Marine Park — Five islets, a coral reef, and sea turtles

No talk of the Grenadines would be complete without the Tobago Cays. Five uninhabited islets protected by the Horseshoe Reef, bathed in an almost fluorescent blue water. You wake to the calls of seabirds, dive with green turtles grazing on seagrass, and drift gently over multicoloured corals. According to Mademoiselle Voyage (December 2025), plan on at least two nights here to etch these turquoise scenes into your memory.

The national marine park enforces strict regulations: no anchoring on the seabed (moorings only, to protect the reefs), and an entry fee of 15 XCD per person giving 24 hours of access. Good news: since 2025, payment can be made online at tobagocays.org before entering the park — a QR code is sent to you by email and checked by rangers on arrival.

Must-sees in Tobago Cays

• Snorkelling with green turtles on the Baradal seagrass beds — an unforgettable hour
• Petit Tabac — the Pirates of the Caribbean beach, accessible by dinghy from the main lagoon
• Baradal — red-footed iguanas, boobies and hawksbill turtles on the beach
• Beach dinner — fishermen from Mayreau come each evening offering grilled fish and lobster

Union Island / Canouan / Chatham Bay — the beating heart of the archipelago

Canouan is nicknamed the island where billionaires come to escape millionaires. Its 3 km² is home to one of the largest coral reefs in the Caribbean and the Sandy Lane Yacht Club & Residences — a 120-berth marina welcoming yachts up to 100 m. Note: according to Noonsite (July 2025), thefts from unlocked boats were reported in 2025 — always opt for the monitored marina anchorage.

Union Island is the beating heart of the archipelago. Clifton, its main port, buzzes with life: a colourful market, reggae bars, and customs clearance formalities. It is also the jumping-off point for Chatham Bay, its secret bay on the west coast — a crescent of white sand backed by forest-covered hills, accessible only by boat. The calm turquoise waters are home to moray eels, angelfish and lobsters, and Vanessa’s « pink house » serves home-style meals… ordered in the afternoon.

Highlights of Chatham Bay

• Snorkelling from the beach — spotted moray eels, porcupinefish, lobsters among the rocks
• The Union Island iguana — endemic and critically endangered, one of the rarest species in the Caribbean
• Dinner at Vanessa’s — fresh lobster ordered in the afternoon, served at sunset
• Mopion — a sandbar with a single parasol, the ultimate deserted island a few miles offshore

The ideal routing: from Martinique to Grenada in 10–11 days

The typical itinerary for a « perfect Grenadines sampler » according to Great Lakes Scuttlebutt (winter 2026): Saint Vincent → Bequia → Mustique → Canouan → Tobago Cays → Mayreau (two nights) → Bequia (last night). For 10 to 11 full days, here is the optimised routing:

• Days 1–2: Crossing Martinique → Bequia (~16h) + anchorage in Admiralty Bay
• Day 3: Bequia → Mustique (10 miles, lively sailing), overnight on mooring buoy
• Day 4: Mustique → Canouan (12 miles, pleasant broad reach)
• Day 5: Canouan → Mayreau via Salt Whistle Bay (5 miles, early departure)
• Days 6–7: Mayreau → Tobago Cays (1h30), 2 nights in the marine park
• Day 8: Tobago Cays → Union Island / Chatham Bay
• Days 9–10: Return north via Canouan + last night in Bequia

The currency used throughout the archipelago is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$), pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate of 1 USD = 2.70 EC$. Always carry cash, especially for park fees at Tobago Cays and on islands with no ATMs such as Mayreau. Customs formalities are only required when changing territory (crossing from SVG to Grenada or vice versa).