Sleek, new roads wind their way northward from the melée of St Vincent’s commercial hub along both coastlines, trimmed by the rocky shores and pounding surf of the Atlantic (Windward) or the softer, more curvaceous Caribbean (Leeward) coastal stretch. The island’s Botanical Gardens, the oldest in the western hemisphere, are home to a dazzling array of rare and exotic flowers, plants and trees with guides available for tours around the grounds.

However, for St Vincent’s most gorgeous beaches head to the scenic south coast region where exclusive, breeze-cooled resorts are a major tourist draw. To stroll along a tree-lined beach with a backdrop of lush, green hills overlooking yacht-filled waters is to soak up the pleasures of St Vincent at its best.