Making the most of Bequia
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Ships anchor within Admiralty Bay, with tenders landing in central Port Elizabeth, Bequia’s principal town and harbour.
Port Elizabeth is a tiny waterside community extending only a few blocks along the shore. A visitor-information booth stands on the jetty, restaurants and shops overlook the bay, and taxis are consistently available.
Water taxis carry passengers between the jetty and neighbouring beaches for approximately $6.
Sightseeing
In the ancient Arawak language, Bequia means island of the clouds.
Bequia covers just 7 square miles (18 km2) and has an estimated population of 4,300.
Bars, craft shops and restaurants line Port Elizabeth’s appealing waterfront. Golden-sand beaches surround Bequia, often tucked into coves well suited to sailing, snorkelling and scuba diving. Accommodation ranges from upmarket resort cottages to modest West Indian inns. Evening activity concentrates around hotels and beachside barbecues, usually accompanied by steel-band music.
Getting around
After leaving the tender, passengers can board one of the small boats waiting nearby for an island circuit lasting roughly an hour. The price is about $16 for 2 people.
Hiring a taxi costs approximately $30 per hour.
The large ferry to St. Vincent is another option. It departs the dock at 9:30am, comes back at 1:00pm and takes 1 hour each way.
Motorboats can also be arranged through the tourist office, a one- or two-minute walk left from the tender pier. The listed motorboat fare is $150 for 6 people, and the journey lasts 20 min.
Nearby places
Admiralty Bay forms Bequia’s natural harbour and attracts yachts from around the world. Visitors can watch boats being built by hand along the shore, while nearby Lower Bay provides good swimming and other water-sport opportunities.
Food and shopping
Port Elizabeth also contains an outdoor market.
Money
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines uses the Eastern Caribbean dollar, exchanged at EC$2.67 to US$1. U.S. dollars generally work for payment, but check that change is returned in US$.
Staying connected
English is spoken locally.
Opening Hours and
Individual businesses set their own hours, but shops commonly open on weekdays from 8 am to noon and 1 pm to 4 pm, with half-day trading on Saturday.