Logistics · Country Guide
Volcanic macro, turtle-rich cays, and one-passport island hopping in the Southern Caribbean
Updated Mar 27, 2026 • 16 sources
Use this travel brief to set arrival flow, local transit, and gear movement before you lock your itinerary.
Most international travelers enter through Argyle International Airport on St. Vincent, then continue by domestic flight, ferry, or private boat into the Grenadines. The country is easiest to plan in layers: fly to St. Vincent first, then hop to Bequia, Canouan, or Union Island if you want to cut down on surface travel. Bequia can also be reached by scheduled fast ferry from the main island. Union Island is the operational gateway for Tobago Cays, Mayreau, Palm Island, and Petit St. Vincent, while Canouan works well for higher-end resort or yacht itineraries.
Argyle International Airport
SVD • TVSA
10 km • 25-35 minutes drive to Kingstown and south-coast bases
Main gateway for the country and the best entry point for St. Vincent, the south coast, and onward domestic hops to the Grenadines.
Transport: Airport taxis, Pre-booked hotel transfers, Rental cars, Domestic flights
J. F. Mitchell Airport
BQU • TVSB
6 km • 15-20 minutes drive to Port Elizabeth and Admiralty Bay
Best gateway for Bequia and the northern Grenadines. Good when you want to skip ferry transfers and start the trip on an island base.
Transport: Taxi, Guesthouse pickup, Charter boat
Canouan Airport
CIW • TVSC
4 km • 10-15 minutes drive to Charlestown and nearby resorts
Gateway for Canouan's barrier-reef and resort zone, with easy onward yacht or resort-boat transfers around the central and southern Grenadines.
Transport: Taxi, Resort transfer, Private boat, Yacht tender
On St. Vincent, taxis and rental cars are the most useful tools for dive bases, waterfalls, and inland day trips. Bequia is small enough that taxis and short rides cover most needs. Union Island and Canouan are also compact, with most visitors relying on short taxi transfers plus boats. Mayreau is largely a walking island once you arrive, with water taxis filling the gaps. When the itinerary crosses islands, think in terms of flights and boats rather than road travel.
Visitors should arrive with a valid passport and a return or onward ticket. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines grants visitors' permits on arrival for many nationalities, with common durations of six months for CARICOM, UK, Schengen, and U.S. visitors, and three months for many other international visitors. Some nationalities require a visa in advance, so always check the official immigration guidance before departure. If you extend your stay, the official visitor-permit extension fee is EC$75 per person per month or part thereof.
Travel with soft luggage and keep heavy camera gear intentional. Small domestic aircraft and boat crews are far easier to manage with compact bags than with rigid cases. Rinse and drying space can be limited on yachts and smaller guesthouses, so bring a simple mesh bag, save-a-dive spares, charging adapters, and a dry bag for wet transfers. If you need specialized fills, sidemount support, or large camera handling, confirm it before you move south into the smaller islands.
Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD)
The Eastern Caribbean dollar is the official currency, but U.S. dollars are also widely accepted. Hotels, larger restaurants, and many tourism businesses take cards, while smaller eateries, taxis, and some boat-side transactions can still be cash-first, especially in the Grenadines.
ATMs are widely available on St. Vincent and in the main commercial centers, and most banks dispense funds in Eastern Caribbean dollars. Coverage gets thinner as you move into smaller islands and cays, so withdraw before heading south on a boat-heavy itinerary.
110V/230V • 50Hz • A, B, G
Power standards vary more than in some destinations. Many properties still use 110V, while some newer hotels and villas use 230V. Boats may have limited charging windows or shared sockets, so carry a simple universal adapter and charge camera batteries whenever you can.
Communications
Mobile coverage is generally good on inhabited islands, with Digicel and Flow the main networks, but service can drop between cays, on remote coasts, or once you leave harbor. Download tickets, maps, and operator contacts before transfer days. WhatsApp is widely used for practical travel coordination.
Language
English is the official language, and most tourism interactions are easy in standard English. You will also hear Vincentian and Grenadian-style local dialect in daily life, especially in markets, villages, and dockside conversation.
Insurance
For any dive-led itinerary, buy insurance that explicitly covers scuba or freediving, trip interruption, and medical evacuation. This matters most if you are stringing together smaller islands, relying on boats, or diving exposed southern-Grenadines sites. Weather-disruption cover is also worth considering during the June to November hurricane season.
Packing list
A 3mm wetsuit or shorty is enough for most divers, with rashguards useful for snorkel and boat days. Add an SMB, save-a-dive spares, reef-safe sunscreen, motion-sickness remedies, a dry bag, and quick-dry clothing for open-boat transfers. On St. Vincent, bring light hiking shoes and a compact rain shell for waterfall or nature-trail days.
