The Grenadines stretch about 70 km south from St Vincent. Getting between them is half the fun and half the planning: there are ferries, small scheduled and charter flights, water taxis and, for many visitors, their own yacht.
Your options at a glance
| Route | How | Time | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingstown – Bequia | Ferry (Bequia Express, Admiral) | About 1 h | Several daily |
| Kingstown – Canouan – Mayreau – Union | Southern Grenadines ferry | Most of a day end to end | A few times a week |
| Argyle – Bequia / Mustique / Canouan / Union | Small plane | 10–25 min | Scheduled and charter |
| Union – Tobago Cays / Mayreau / Palm Island | Water taxi or day boat | 10–45 min | On demand |
| Anywhere, at your own pace | Yacht charter | Day sails of 1–4 h | Your choice |
Ferries
The Bequia ferries are the backbone of the system: several competing boats cross between Kingstown and Port Elizabeth each day in about an hour, with tickets bought at the dock. Further south, cargo-and-passenger ferries such as the MV Gem Star run from Kingstown to Canouan, Mayreau and Union Island a few times a week, stopping at each island. They are slow, cheap and a wonderful way to see the chain — but timetables shift, so confirm locally the day before.
Small planes
Small airlines — among them SVG Air and Mustique Airways — fly scheduled and charter services from Argyle and Barbados to Bequia, Mustique, Canouan and Union Island. Flights take 10–25 minutes and the views are spectacular. Baggage allowances are strict (soft bags, limited weight), so pack light.
Water taxis
In Union, Bequia, Mayreau and Canouan, water taxis are the local transport: brightly painted open boats that will run you across a bay, to a beach or out to the Tobago Cays. Agree the price, per boat and return, before you leave, and make sure there are life jackets on board.
Chartering a yacht
For many people, sailing is the whole point of the Grenadines. Short hops, steady trade winds, sheltered anchorages and the Tobago Cays make it a classic one- or two-week charter. Options include:
- Bareboat charter — you skipper yourself. Bases on St Vincent (Blue Lagoon) and in neighbouring Grenada and St Lucia.
- Skippered or crewed charter — a local captain handles the navigation, the reef passages and the anchoring.
- Day sails — from Bequia, Union and Canouan, often to the Tobago Cays or Mayreau.
The one bookable Grenadines day trip on GetYourGuide is the Bequia day cruise; groups can charter a whole boat to Bequia.
A classic one-week route
- St Vincent (Blue Lagoon) → Bequia: Admiralty Bay, Princess Margaret Beach.
- Bequia → Mustique: Britannia Bay and Basil’s Bar.
- Mustique → Canouan: the barrier-reef lagoon.
- Canouan → Tobago Cays: two nights with the turtles.
- Tobago Cays → Mayreau and Union Island: Salt Whistle Bay, Chatham Bay.
- Union → back north with the wind on the beam.
Practical tips
- Keep a buffer day before an international flight — boats and small planes are weather-dependent.
- Carry cash: ferries, water taxis and marine-park fees are cash businesses.
- After Hurricane Beryl (2024), check that your accommodation and services in the southern Grenadines are operating.
