Grenadines

A dusting of volcanic islands and confetti of sprinkled sand set in coral, this miniarchipelago lies between St Vincent and Grenada. The Grenadines have been so puffed by tourist brochures as the archetype of a tropical paradise that some of them are now said to be too overcrowded with visiting yachts and charter tourists, a criticism all too valid in high season. Even so, whether discovering them for the first time or revisiting, these small delights have retained so much of their natural beauty that one is inevitably seduced again by their almost mythical charms. Thanks to daily flights by several local companies, access to the Grenadines from the larger islands with intercontinental airports is regular.

If the size of some of the islands is pretty modest, their number and diversity allow for a great variety of places to stop and routes to take so you can’t get bored. Many have hotels and infrastructure offering great comfort and even luxury. The white sand of the beaches and the clear emerald water are certainly considered idyllic. However, to appreciate fully the beauty of Grenadine waters nothing will ever replace exploring them by sea under sail.