Kingstown and Saint Vincent

Kingstown, the bustling little capital of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, is a working Caribbean town of character, its streets lined with distinctive stone arcades sheltering shops and markets from sun and rain, and dotted with old churches, including the eclectic Saint Mary's Cathedral. Above the town, Fort Charlotte commands panoramic views over the harbour and Grenadines. Just outside lie the Saint Vincent Botanical Gardens, founded in 1765 and the oldest in the western hemisphere, home to a descendant of the breadfruit tree famously brought by Captain Bligh. The lush main island beyond offers rainforest, waterfalls, and dramatic black-sand beaches.

History

French settlers founded Kingstown shortly after 1722, the botanic garden was laid out in 1765, and William Bligh brought breadfruit here around 1793. After a large fire in 1866 a water supply was planned for the town, and it was completed in 1871 (Wikipedia, Kingstown).

What's there

• The botanical gardens - the oldest in the western hemisphere.
• Fort Charlotte - the hilltop fort and harbour views.
• The stone arcades and churches - the characterful old town.
• The island's nature - the rainforest, waterfalls and black-sand beaches.

When to go

December to May, the dry season, for the best weather to explore the town and the lush island; the botanical gardens, fort and rainforest hikes are highlights, and the island's black-sand beaches and waterfalls reward exploration. Kingstown is the gateway and ferry hub for the Grenadine islands.

What to expect

Kingstown is a busy, workaday Caribbean capital rather than a polished tourist town, so its appeal is its characterful stone arcades, historic botanical gardens and fort, and its role as the gateway to the lush main island and the Grenadines, rather than blockbuster sights; the main island is greener and wilder, with black-sand beaches, than the white-sand Grenadines. As a characterful capital with genuine history and a lush, dramatic island beyond, though, Saint Vincent is a worthwhile base.

Nearby

La Soufrière, the island's waterfalls and the Grenadine islands are within reach.

Key facts