Canouan

Canouan is a small Grenadine island of a few thousand acres with a village at its centre and, on the northern third, a development of resorts, villas and a golf course laid out from the 1990s onwards behind a fence, which makes it the most sharply divided of the islands in the chain. A reef runs along the eastern side, the beaches are good and the airport takes jets, which is unusual this far down the chain.

Background

Canouan measures 5.6 by 2 kilometres, with a surface of 7.6 square kilometres, and lies approximately 40 kilometres south of St. Vincent. About 1,700 people live here, and Charlestown is the largest settlement. The highest point is Mount Royal, at 877 feet, and a barrier reef lines the Atlantic side. Glossy Bay and Friendship Bay open on the southern side. Arawaks reached the island in dug-out canoes some time before 200 BCE. The resort estate covers 1200 acres and includes an 18-hole golf course designed by Jim Fazio. In July 2024 Hurricane Beryl destroyed over 90% of the island's homes and businesses and also wrecked port infrastructure and airport buildings.

Source: Wikipedia, "Canouan"

What's there

• The reef - the barrier running along the island's eastern side.
• The beaches - the sand along the western and southern shores.
• The divided island - a village community and a gated resort development.
• The airport - a runway taking jets, unusual in the Grenadines.

When to go

December to May is the dry season and the high season. Hurricane season runs June to November. Ferries run on limited days.

Good to know

Much of the northern part of the island is private and not accessible. Prices in the resort area are among the highest in the region. The village side has limited facilities.

Nearby

Mayreau is south, and Bequia is north.

Key facts