It’s the big, bold personalities of the islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines that make this one of Travel + Leisure’s best places to visit in 2025. Black-sand beaches and hidden jungle waterfalls make St. Vincent the adventure capital of the Caribbean, while the Grenadines are known for over-the-top luxury, with private island resorts and places where it’s said “billionaires go to escape the millionaires.”

But the northernmost island of the Grenadines, the tiny, lightning bolt-shaped Bequia (pronounced “beck-way”), has a much more understated magnetism. In contrast to its neighbors, Bequia “offers a form of laid-back luxury,” explains Philip Mortstedt, director of Bequia Beach Hotel. “Bequia doesn’t demand your attention; it draws it in,” says Chris Smullen, a self-proclaimed island enthusiast and the owner of The Lookout.

Brimming with blissfully bare beaches and rolling green hillsides that hide quaint cottages and understated villas, Bequia embodies relaxation. Grab a cocktail at the island’s floating bar and end the night gazing across over moonlit bays studded with sailboats; you’ve stumbled upon one of the best-kept secrets in the Caribbean.

Best Hotels & Resorts

Bequia Beach Hotel

A lush nine-acre property spread across one of the island’s most secluded beaches hides the boutique Bequia Beach Hotel. This intimate 58-key hotel marries Bequia’s laid-back bliss with luxe amenities like its own 35-meter yacht that can be chartered for private sailing excursions to nearby islands. Bequia Beach Hotel recently launched a new collection of exclusive ocean-view villas, known as the Grenadine Hills, with its new eight-bedroom Rock Villa soon to debut.

The Lookout

Perched on a hillside where tropical fruit trees drip with papayas, bananas, and limes, The Lookout comprises two spacious boutique apartments that can be rented separately or as a private four-bedroom villa. This peaceful hideaway handily earns its name, offering 180-degree views overlooking Lower Bay and Princess Margaret beaches. It’s hard to imagine finding a better view, or warmer hospitality, anywhere on the island.

The Liming Bequia

It’s all about soaking in the sunshine at The Liming Bequia, a Small Luxury Hotels of the World property named after the local slang word for the little luxury of doing nothing. That’s the vibe at this sunny seaside resort located on the south shore of the island, where nine villas and five suites in the Gingerlily Mansion House invite guests to unwind, undisturbed, within earshot of the waves.

Bequia Plantation Hotel

Dating back to the 1950s, the Bequia Plantation Hotel is just a short walk from town, but it still manages to feel secluded, with verdant gardens hiding just a handful of villas. The main house is home to five additional rooms, with a restaurant and bar that draw even those who aren’t staying at the property.

Best Things to Do

Set sail.

Bequia is the gateway to the 32 islands and cays that comprise the Grenadines, so a trip to the island isn’t complete with taking to the seas. Private speedboat or catamaran charters are nothing compared to the experience aboard the Friendship Rose, a classic Caribbean schooner with soaring sails built by hand on the sands of Bequia’s Friendship Bay several decades ago. It offers excursions to the Tobago Cays and Mustique for a full day of snorkeling and sunning, delicious drinks and onboard dining included.

Hit the beach.

Princess Margaret Beach and neighboring Lower Bay Beach are the showpieces of an island undeniably blessed with some of the nicest shores in the region. Trace the tides along their tranquil, crystal-clear waters to enjoy both in one afternoon. Friendship Bay Beach on the eastern shore is another popular anchorage with a beautiful beachfront, while remote Crescent Beach on the island’s northeast coast offers a castaway feel.

Go snorkeling and diving.

“With over 30 different snorkeling and dive sites sitting within just one bay in Bequia, the island is really a prime destination for those looking to get in the water,” says Smullen. Dive Bequia is a trusted company in the island’s capital city of Port Elizabeth that provides travelers with all the gear and guidance necessary, coordinating independent or guided excursions across Bequia and the greater Grenadines.

Visit the Bequia Heritage Museum.

Take a break from the sun and sand at the Bequia Heritage Museum. A pair of cottages house exhibits elaborating on the island’s Indigenous past, as well as its rich history of boatbuilding and whaling. A dedicated docent opens the museum only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., so plan your visit accordingly.

Climb Mount Peggy.

Named after a local woman who used this lookout to spot schools of fish from above and signal to fishermen below, Mount Peggy boasts panoramic views across the bays of Bequia and beyond. A moderately challenging two- to three-hour hike rewards visitors with a jaw-dropping vantage point overlooking St. Vincent and Admiralty Bay. An easy alternative—with stunning views to boot—is the walk from Port Elizabeth to the ruins of historic Fort Hamilton.

Best Restaurants

Jack’s Beach Bar

Set on the sands of Princess Margaret Beach, Jack’s Beach Bar embraces its barefoot, beachy feel while offering an elevated dining experience with fresh cuisine and colorful cocktails. Caribbean classics like jerk pork and plantains pair with international fare and plenty of seafood, making it a favorite spot that every island insider recommends.

Mac’s Pizza & Kitchen

Lean in to hear the locals tell tales of Mick Jagger and David Bowie pulling up in private yachts from Mustique just to dig into the lobster pizza at Mac’s Pizza & Kitchen. This casual oceanfront eatery, which serves up everything from burgers and salads to conch fritters, is the most famous restaurant on the island and exceeds all the hype.

Provision

It can be a challenge to prioritize locally sourced ingredients on a tiny island like Bequia, but chefs at Provision go the extra mile to offer a fresh, fine dining experience that feels singular on the island. A blackboard highlights rotating specials like ceviche, sashimi, and more classic Caribbean favorites, served on the property’s pretty, peaceful garden patio.

Laura’s

Homemade pasta and happy hour specials stand out at Laura’s, a favorite sunset spot with a waterfront dining room that peeks over the waves in Port Elizabeth. Reservations are recommended for this casual, cozy restaurant, particularly on Fridays when live music makes it even more vibrant.

Best Bars

Bar One

Travel by dinghy or water taxi from Princess Margaret Beach to Bar One, a floating bar anchored offshore in Admiralty Bay. Swings double as seats at the bar, as do inflatables floating above the aquamarine waves. “It’s close enough to shore that you can swim out, but you’ll definitely want to take the water taxi back after a cocktail or two,” recommends Smullen.

The Cocktail Lab

The enthusiastic mixologist Ivor handcrafts every drink at The Cocktail Lab, famed as much for its craft cocktails as it is for its stunning sunset views. The passion fruit rum punch is a menu staple, created with locally harvested passion fruit and zesty ginger sourced from St. Vincent.

Areas to Visit

Port Elizabeth

Bequia’s main town of Port Elizabeth is anything but busy. However, a few main roads leading toward the ferry dock are dotted with eateries, shops, and businesses that make it feel practically bustling compared to the uncrowded corners of the island. Port Elizabeth offers a few boutique accommodations in the hillsides around town, though most visitors will want to stay closer to the beach.

Admiralty Bay

Head south from Port Elizabeth along the shores of Admiralty Bay, where some of the island’s loveliest beaches unfurl in a cascade of fine white sand and turquoise seas. Princess Margaret Beach and Lower Bay Beach are the island’s most popular, home to many of Bequia’s best places to eat, play, and stay, easily accessible to Port Elizabeth by the Belmont Walkway and Princess Margaret Trails.

Friendship Bay

It’s just a 30-minute walk across a small (yet hilly!) isthmus from the beaches near Admiralty Bay to Friendship Bay on the island’s east coast, barely five minutes by car. Friendship Bay is a popular anchorage and home to Bequia Beach Hotel, the new Sand Bar a welcome addition to an otherwise bare but beautiful beach.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Bequia is between November and April, when sunny skies and mild temperatures make the island the ideal escape for visitors fleeing colder climates back home. It is also the high season for travel, particularly around the festive season, and prices will reflect it, though Bequia easily avoids the busy feeling of more built-up Caribbean islands.

“New Year’s is always a delight with the fireworks show in Port Elizabeth,” says Mortstedt. “A tradition amongst the sailing community to ring in the New Year, small boats often flagged in various countries fire off flares when it hits midnight at home.”

May and June are a pleasant shoulder season before warmer, wetter weather arrives in full force in July. Atlantic hurricane season starts in June and runs through November, so many of the island’s hotels and restaurants shutter from late August through late October due to low visitors and tropical weather.

Sailing enthusiasts should plan a visit around the Bequia Easter Regatta, considered the southern Caribbean’s premiere sailing event. The convergence of Easter festivities with the regatta makes this one of the most exciting times to be on the island, whether you’re into sailing or not.

How to Get There

As St. Vincent celebrates a record number of visitors, reaching Bequia becomes easier than ever. St. Vincent’s Argyle International Airport (SVD) began welcoming brand-new flight routes from New York and Charlotte in 2024 on JetBlue and American Airlines, adding to existing seasonal flights from New York, Miami, and Toronto on major carriers.

From St. Vincent, ferries make the one-hour trip from Kingstown to Bequia numerous times a day, with fares costing around $10. Ferry schedules change seasonally, so it is best to check with your accommodation before planning your trip.

Travelers can skip the hassle by flying straight to Bequia’s own tiny airport, J. F. Mitchell Airport (BQU). However, the airport only receives a handful of flights from neighboring islands like Barbados, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent, which can be limiting to many visitors.

How to Get Around

“Bequia is so small you can’t get lost, the road just comes to an end,” says Mortstedt on the beauty of Bequia’s petite size. Most visitors staying near Lower Bay Beach or Princess Margaret Beach will be within walking distance of almost everything. However, there’s a certain appeal to traveling across the island in the unique, open-sided “taxis” Bequia is known for. Exploring the entire island top to bottom in one of these pickup trucks with bench seating in the back feels like its own island safari adventure.