23 Best Sights in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

On the northwestern tip of Mustique, this is the main beach used by Cotton House guests. Swimming and snorkeling are ideal, and a dive shop with water-sports equipment rental is available on-site. The resort's Beach Café restaurant and bar are convenient for lunch or snacks. Amenities: food and drink; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

This spectacular horseshoe-shape, mile-long (1½-km-long) beach on Bequia's mid-southern coast can be reached by land taxi or by boat. Refreshments are available at Bequia Beach Hotel's Bagatelle grill. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

This broad, palm-fringed beach on the southern shore of Admiralty Bay, south of Port Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Beach, is reachable by land or water taxi or a healthy hike from town. It's an excellent beach for swimming and snorkeling. Refreshments are available at La Plage or De Reef Bar & Restaurant, both right on the beach. Amenities: food and drink; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

On the eastern coast, Mustique's most famous stretch of fine white sand offers swimming (no lifeguards) in moderate surf that's several shades of blue, along with a few palm huts and picnic tables in a shady grove of trees. Amenities: parking. Best for: swimming.

Quiet and wide with a natural stone arch at one end, the beach is not far from Port Elizabeth's Belmont Walkway—but you still need to take a water or land taxi to get here. When you tire of the water, snoozing under the palm and seagrapes is always an option. Plan to have lunch at Jack's Beach Bar. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

At Rawacou Bay, close to Argyle International Airport, two stunning black-sand, high-surf beaches are separated by a rocky headland with a trail down to a man-made lagoon—a swimming pool created by placing huge boulders in the sea to prevent the high surf from smashing against the shore. The water by the beaches isn't safe for swimming, but the lagoon pool is; however, be cautious when the surrounding water is particularly rough. The beautiful grounds of Rawacou Recreation Park, shaded by coconut and sea grape trees, include a performance venue, a volleyball court, and vendor huts. The park is a popular site for picnics, weekend parties, and special events. Amenities: food and drink; parking; showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; swimming; walking.

This beach at the northwestern tip of Mayreau takes top honors—it's an exquisite, 2½-mile-long (4-km-long) crescent of powdery white sand shaded by perfectly spaced palms, sea grape trees, and flowering bushes. It's a popular anchorage for the yachting crowd, as well as for day trips en route to or from the Tobago Cays. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

Union has relatively few good beaches, but this one on Richmond Bay—on the island's northern shore and a five-minute drive from Clifton—is a pretty crescent of powdery white sand, protected by reefs, with distant views of Mayreau and the Tobago Cays. David's Beach Hotel faces the beach, as does Sparrow's Beach Club, where you can get refreshments and use the sun loungers. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: snorkeling; solitude; swimming.

Union has relatively few good beaches, but this one on Richmond Bay—on the island's northern shore and a five-minute drive from Clifton—is a pretty crescent of powdery white sand, protected by reefs, with lovely views of Mayreau and the Tobago Cays. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; solitude; swimming.

This beach on Mustique's western coast is right next to the Brittania Bay jetty, and Basil's Bar is convenient for lunch. Firefly Mustique, on a steep hillside overlooking Britannia Bay, has steps leading down to the beach. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: swimming.

This beach on Mustique's western coast is right next to the Brittania Bay jetty, and Basil's Bar is convenient for lunch. Firefly Mustique, on a steep hillside overlooking Britannia Bay, has steps leading down to the southern section of the beach. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: swimming.

The desolate golden-sand beach at Chatham Bay, on the leeward side of Union Island, offers good snorkeling due to a coral ledge just offshore—but that same coral ledge makes it less good for general swimming. Access is by boat or a 30-minute walk along a rather steep forest trail. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; snorkeling.

This rather remote beach on the southwestern coast, one of 10 marine conservation areas designated by St. Vincent and the Grenadines, provides the best snorkeling on Mustique. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

This lovely stretch of white-sand beach (pronounced Gud-ul) at the southern end of Carenage Bay is surrounded by private property owned by Canouan Estate. Those who are not Mandarin Oriental Canouan resort guests or villa residents may access the beach only by boat. Amenities: none for nonguests. Best for: swimming; walking.

In central Canouan, on the leeward coast, Grand Bay is the island's longest beach with white sand and calm waters. The beach is in Charlestown, the largest town and where ferries dock; it's alternatively called Charlestown Bay Beach. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: swimming.

Getting to this remote beach facing Bequia's windward side involves a long taxi ride across the island (about $15 from Port Elizabeth) and a mile-long (1½-km-long) walk down a semi-paved path. Your reward is a magnificent crescent of white sand, total seclusion, and—if you like—nude bathing. Be sure to ask your taxi driver to return at a prearranged time. Bring your own lunch and drinks, as there are no facilities. Even though the surf is fairly shallow, swimming may be dangerous because of the undertow. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; nudists.

South of Kingstown and separated from Villa Beach by a rocky promontory, Indian Bay has golden sand but is slightly rocky in some places; it's very good for snorkeling. La Vue Hotel & Beach Club, high on a cliff overlooking Indian Bay Beach, operates a beach bar and grill. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

This nearly secluded beach on the northeastern (windward) side of the island is fringed with towering palms; getting here requires transportation from Port Elizabeth. The beach is good for snorkelers who are strong swimmers, as there could be a strong undertow. Bring a picnic; the nearest facilities are at Firefly Bequia or Sugar Reef resorts, about a 10- to 15-minute walk. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; solitude.

At the island's very northern tip, adjacent to the Cotton House, this broad crescent of white sand fringes brilliant turquoise water. Just offshore, you'll see the wreck of the French liner Antilles, which went aground in 1971. Amenities: none. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

This lovely but remote expanse of beach (pronounced mah-ho) is at the northern tip of the island at the base of Mt. Royal. The beach is surrounded by private property owned by Canouan Estate and accessible only to villa residents and guests of the Mandarin Oriental Canouan resort—or to others by sea. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; swimming.

This beautiful 1-mile (1½-km) crescent of pure white sand on the southwestern coast of Mayreau has no facilities, but you can walk up the hill to Dennis' Hideaway for lunch or drinks. The adjacent dock is where the ferry that travels between St. Vincent and Union Island ties up, and small cruise ships occasionally anchor offshore to give passengers a beach break. Amenities: none. Best for: swimming.

This and other beaches along Glossy Bay, on the southwest (windward) coast of Canouan, are absolutely spectacular. South Glossy Bay is within walking distance of the airport, in case you have time before a flight. Shenanagins Beach Club is at the western end of the beach—which is also adjacent to the marina at Sandy Lane Yacht Club. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming; walking.

The long stretch of sand in front of the row of hotels facing the Young Island Channel (Mariners, Paradise Beach, Sunset Shores, and Beachcombers on the "mainland" and Young Island Resort across the channel) varies from 20 to 25 feet wide to practically nonexistent. The broadest, sandiest part is in front of Beachcombers Hotel, which is also the perfect spot for sunbathers to get lunch and liquid refreshments. Villa Beach is a popular beach destination for cruise-ship passengers when a ship is in port. Amenities: food and drink; water sports; toilets; showers. Best for: swimming.