The Island of Bequia

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The island of Bequia was named so by the Caribs. This is the largest of the St Vincent Grenadines measuring 7 sq miles with a population of 4,874 (1991 census).Little changed by time, it is an island on which life is completely oriented to the sea. Its seclusion has ensured it retained its age-old traditions of boat building and fishing. Isolated enough to remain relatively unspoiled, yet lively enough to be stimulating and entertaining, it provides a blend of the old and new that many find perfect.

It is a beautiful lush island with some of the friendliest people in the Caribbean. It is also a great place to go on a day sail, go hiking, laze on the beach, or just "lime" under a coconut tree with your favorite beverage.

Sailors have known about the Grenadines for much longer than most but more tourists are finding out it's a beautiful and natural place to be.

Bequia tends to attract the more adventurous type of visitor who prefers the tropical delights and ambiance of the smaller, more informal islands, where the beaches are secluded and high rise hotels do not mar the scenery.

The island is encircled by gold-sand beaches, many of which disappear into coves, excellent for sailing, scuba diving and snorkeling. The centre of the island is hilly and forested, providing a dramatic backdrop to the bays and beaches. Admiralty Bay, the island's natural harbour, is a favourite anchoring spot for yachtsmen from all over the world.

Bequia shares much of the traditional West Indian culture, giving it a multi-ethnic twist of African, Portuguese and British influences. Musically, islanders go for reggae, calypso and steel bands. Sports-wise they prefer British forms like cricket and soccer. Bequia in particular, has long been reliant upon the sea for a living; boat building, both full-scale and models, is an island art form.

Best Beaches

The beaches of Bequia are white sand, some are secluded, and all are clean and uncrowded. The waters are perfect for swimming, snorkeling, sailing, diving, and other water sports.

Princess Margaret Beach is just down from Port Elizabeth on the leeward side of the island . This beach is a lovely ribbon of golden sand and is so named because Princess Margaret enjoyed a dip there in 1958.

Lower Bay is nearby, and is a popular, expansive beach. There are a number of very good, and reasonably priced, bars and restaurants, making it a favourite venue both during the day and in the evening.

Friendship Bay is a short ride from town, and it is a long, wide sweep of beach, with excellent conditions for diving, sailing and snorkeling. The Friendship Bay Hotel is located there (27 rooms), which has a beach bar and restaurant. Also in Friendship, Herby and Spicy is a delightful beach bar with chair-swings, and weekly jump-ups.

Hope Bay is north of Friendship, and is a remote, picturesque beach. It is difficult to get to, but that makes it all the nicer! There are no hotels or bars nearby, so bring a picnic. It has rather shallow waters and a long line of breakers from the Atlantic Ocean; this makes it ideal for body surfing and windsurfing.

Spring Bay is a bit further north and it is romantic and very secluded. There are acres of tall palm trees, the working plantation and hotel of Spring.

Industry Bay is located just above Spring, and is inaptly named! There is no heavy industry anywhere on the island. Industry has a nice beach and is wonderful for snorkeling.

Park is a short walk around the corner from Industry, and it is another palm-shaded, undeveloped sandy beach. It is also home to the Oldhegg Turtle Sanctuary.

The History of Bequia

The first settlers of Bequia were the Arawaks, and later the warlike Caribs1. In 1664, France laid claim to Bequia, but did not establish a permanent settlement there. In 1675, the slave ship Palmyra sank off the Bequia coast. The Africans who managed to swim ashore eventually mixed with the native Caribs to form the 'Black Caribs'. The fighting ability of the Caribs kept Europeans out of St Vincent and the Grenadines, even while they were taking over the rest of the Caribbean.

Between 1719 and 1763, French settlers set up lime, indigo and sugar factories in Bequia. By a treaty between the French and English in 1763, St Vincent and the Grenadines was designated British. The island, now mainly in British hands, began to cultivate cotton and then sugar, and they began to import slaves from Africa to help in the enterprise.

In 1834, the slaves were emancipated, and this caused a decline in the planter economy. Since the Bequians had always depended on the sea for much of their food, and for all their communication with the outside world, there was a surge in whaling, fishing, and trading throughout the islands. Boat building became a large part of the Bequia trade. From the 1840s until very recently almost all the regional trade in the Eastern Caribbean was carried on boats built either in Carriacou or Bequia.

In 1979, the State of St Vincent and the Grenadines achieved independence within the British Commonwealth. Bequians now look for their livelihood to lobster diving, fishing and tourism.

Bequia in the Travel Press

Bequia Tourism Association: www.bequiatourism.com