Only eight (Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Palm, Petit St Vincent, Mayreau and Union) of the Grenadines isles are populated – the remainder are bird sanctuaries and conservation zones renowned for their prime snorkelling waters and jungle trails. All are volcanic in origin, deeply embayed with inlets where clear aquamarine waters shallow up on fine whitesand beaches: beautiful, restful hideaways blessed with slowpaced Caribbean charm.

St Vincent First-time visitors to St Vincent are welcomed by a rugged mountainous terrain hemmed by uncluttered beaches and jungle-clad inlets that boast a distinctly Amazonian feel. At just 18 miles long and 11 miles wide, the ‘biggest’ isle is easily navigable despite its raw, wild interior regions. Fertile soils fed by volcanic ash produce an abundance of fruit and vegetables, while the flower-filled trails atop banana fields and bamboo groves loop around St Vincent’s Soufriere volcano to reach an unworldly crater offering gasp-inducing sea views.

St Vincent’s small, bustling capital Kingstown sits on a broad bay wedged between two undulating headlands on the southwest coast of the island. Home to a popular weekly market of fresh vegetables, fruits, meats and fi sh, Kingstown is also a centre for painters and artisans who set up their handicraft stalls around a lively courtyard.