Saint Vincent Island

Saint Vincent is a volcanic island in the southern Caribbean. La Soufrière, the active volcano at the northern end, last erupted in 2021 and is visible from much of the island. Ships anchor offshore and passengers tender to the Kingstown waterfront, where the town's hillside streets are steep and tightly packed. The botanical gardens, established in 1765, are among the oldest in the Western Hemisphere and have a breadfruit tree descended from the one Captain Bligh brought from Tahiti. The market in Kingstown sells spices, fresh fruit, and local hot sauce. Black sand beaches line parts of the coast, and the leeward side has calmer water for swimming. Bequia, a smaller island in the Grenadines, is reachable by ferry and has a quieter pace. The currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, though US dollars are widely accepted. Food to try: roasted breadfruit, fried jackfish, and a cold Hairoun beer.