Bequia, St Vincent & The Grenadines
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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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'.
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.
Bequia Links:
Bequia Travel & Lodging Information:
www.bequia-information.com
Bequia Tourism Association: www.bequiatourism.com
Bequia Directory Site: www.bequia.net
Independent Bequia Travel Site: www.bequiasweet.com
Burke House Villa - Eco villa on nature
reserve with fantastic views of ocean
on both sides of the island. Just
moments from the secluded Moonhole
Beach. www.burke-house.com
Tranquility Villa - Stunning 4 bedroom
freeform home on the Moonhole peninsula
and nature reserve. Pool, moment to
beach, views of a dozen islands and
cays from its many terraces. www.tranquility-bequia.com
Villa Allamanda - Magnificent harbor
views from this 3 bedroom villa. Large
private garden and pool with jacuzzi.
www.villa-allamanda.com
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