St. Vincent & The Grenadines Archives

May 2, 2021May 2, 2021

Tropical Islands with the Most Amazing Blue Water

My husband started it. That is, my obsession with tropical beaches with water so blue that you can’t take your eyes off of it. I had always dreamed about experiencing this amazing hue, but hadn’t gotten the chance to see it in person. Until our honeymoon in Hawaii….

Well, let’s just say I was hooked from that first Hawaiian beach we laid eyes on. The clear, azure water was absolutely mesmerizing and just as amazing as I had pictured in my mind. Since then, we have been lucky enough to enjoy many, many other beaches in Hawaii, Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico and the Bahamas. They’re all different and most are beautiful in their own way – but there’s still just something about that blue, blue water.

If you’re looking to find a tropical island to visit with incredibly blue water, here’s our list of 12 Tropical Islands with the Most Amazing Blue Water to start with. Are these the only ones? Heck no. As you can tell by the number of entries, it was very hard to narrow it down and there are so many more islands worthy of a mention. We could have actually named several entire island chains with incredibly blue water – such as the British Virgin Islands, Exuma Cays, Abacos, Turks & Caicos, US Virgin Islands, etc…, but space prohibited listing them all. These are some of our favorites to date for the amazing blue color of their water. Be sure to leave a comment with your favorites below!

Find out more about many of these beautiful island destinations here!

US Virgin Islands – Buck Island, St. Croix

Turks & Caicos – Leeward Beach, Providenciales

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC.
All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

October 26, 2015April 19, 2021

Petit St. Vincent, The Grenadines

We spent just a short time on one of beautiful beaches of this quiet island during a sail in the Grenadines, but it was enough to make us want to return someday.

Petit St. Vincent is an exclusive private 115 acre island resort located in the southern tip of the Grenadines which promotes time spent there as more than just a luxury holiday—it’s an escape.

One of the beaches on Petit St. Vincent

One bedroom cottages and two bedroom villas dot the island – each placed discreetly in a variety of locations on the island, from hillside to beachside.

But this escape also offers plenty to do – if you wish, including pampering spa services, sailing excursions such as to the nearby Tobago Cays, diving, land and water sports.

There are two restaurants as well, or you can choose to be served dinner on the beach or request a picnic on nearby Mopion…

Mopion

But the most appealing feature? This is a stress-free, technology-free zone. No phones in the accommodations, no television, no Wi-Fi. Ahhh… just the thought of it makes me breathe a little deeper. You communicate with the staff by a flag system. To request room service or to schedule a spa appointment or excursion, raise the yellow flag in front of your cottage. Want privacy? Raise the red flag.

So yes, we would love to return to Petit St. Vincent some day to experience the ultimate stress-free, technology-free “escape”. How about you? Could you live without technology during your island vacation?

Find out more about Petit St. Vincent by visiting their website.

To see more island posts, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

April 17, 2015April 19, 2021

Petit Bateau, Tobago Cays

Encompassing five small islands and one beautiful marine park, the Tobago Cays are a boaters paradise located close to the island of Mayreau in the Grenadines.

The five islands, Petit Rameau, Petit Bateau, Baradal, Petit Tabac and Jamesby, are all in fairly close proximity, each a bit different and each worth exploring.

Petit Bateau – the largest of the five, has a beautiful beach on the north side with views over the shallow channel of Petit Rameau.

The interior of the island has thick vegetation and is home to large number of iguanas and birds.

A short hike to the top will reward you with beautiful vistas of the other Tobago Cays Islands such as Baradal and Petit Tabac as well as other islands in the Grenadines chain.

The tip of Baradal and its beach to the left and Petit Tabac in the distance on the right.

Jamesby to the left and Union Island in the distance on the right.

Petit Bateau is easily accessible by dinghy and we brought a cooler ashore to enjoy a meal among the swaying palms.

The Tobago Cays have gotten a bit more crowded since the first time we visited, but there is still plenty of space to spread out and relax or to explore all that these beautiful islands have to offer.

Have you been to Tobago Cays? Tell us about it!

Petit Tabac

To see more posts on the Grenadines and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC. All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

June 18, 2014April 19, 2021

Swimming with the Turtles of Tobago Cays

Turtles are not uncommon to see while snorkeling in the Caribbean, although every time I see one I still get a little excited. But this snorkel was different.

We had some time to explore the southeastern shore of Baradal – one of the small islands in the beautiful chain of islands in the Grenadines known as the Tobago Cays. There is a turtle reserve in the clear shallow waters here and we were told that you almost always will see turtles – green turtles and hawksbill turtles- feeding on sea grass there.

The area is phenomenal for snorkeling period, with it’s ultra clear water and abundant sea life and we were anxious to look below the surface.

Almost immediately I spotted several turtles, one quite close! Now I’m not one to feverishly swim after underwater wildlife (except for that one time that I chased a barracuda while snorkeling – not knowing what it was…NOW I DO.), so I stayed put, calmly just floating in the clearest water I’d ever seen. Both turtles swam away, probably searching for just the right patch of succulent sea grass. But suddenly, one of them turned around and came back my way.

As I floated there over his feeding ground, he swam right up to me! At first I wasn’t sure if I should be a little nervous or what. I’ve never heard of a green turtle attack on anyone so I continued to watch in amazement. He swam around me and under me – did I look different than other snorkelers?

copyright Rum Therapy — Gliding in the grass

He was so close that I could even hear him yanking the sea grass out of the ocean floor.

After what seemed to be quite a long time (it was probably just a few minutes!) my new turtle friend swam off to re-join the others.

Sure enjoyed my close encounter of the turtle kind. Sure nice of him to share his space with me.

To see more posts on The Grenadines and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC. All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

January 15, 2014April 19, 2021

Princess Margaret Beach, Bequia

Princess Margaret Beach is a gorgeous stretch of light colored sand framed by lush green hills and turquoise blue water on the island of Bequia in the Grenadines.

Princess Margaret did in fact swim at this beach, thus the reason it is named after her!

The light sand beach is one of the pretty beaches in Admiralty Bay – a busy bay for boaters. It’s close to Port Elizabeth but not easy to access, so it’s usually pretty quiet.

We’ve had the pleasure of visiting this gorgeous beach twice, both time by boat. If you want to get here from Port Elizabeth, you can take a water taxi or, from what we heard, you can walk over by taking a steep path down from the main road.

The first time we visited, we spent time walking through the small cave at the end of the beach and snorkeling in rocky area around it.

The snorkeling was pretty good, but be sure to watch out for sea urchins in the rocks.

The second time we visited, we opted for some sunshine and Clarke’s Court “Grog” on the beach…

After a few hours of lounging, we headed back to the dock where we stopped in at a great bar at the end of Princess Margaret Beach called Jack’s Bar to enjoy some fabulous Rum Punch before heading back to our boat relaxed and tanned by the sun. Great day…

Jack’s Bar, Bequia

To see more posts on St. Vincent and the Grenadines and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC. All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

September 24, 2013April 21, 2021

Sandy Island, Carriacou

Spending time on a deserted tropical island has always held a certain allure to me. Not long enough to name a volleyball (or coconut) Wilson, but long enough to forget the noise of the everyday hustle and bustle and to hear yourself think again. No cell phone service, just the sound of the water lapping the shore…

With the ease of travel nowadays and the popularity of the Caribbean and other tropical locations, it isn’t always easy to find a deserted spot anymore. During two different sails to the Grenadines, we ran across a few islands that we were lucky enough to have to ourselves for a day, or at least a few hours and loved every quiet minute of it.

To see more posts on The Grenadines and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

Petit Tabac and Mopion were two deserted and uninhabited islands that we visited during a week long catamaran sail in the Grenadines, and we spent time on Sandy Island, off the shores of Carriacou, during our sail with Island Windjammers.

Sandy Island is not easy to get to (perhaps this is why you can still spend time alone on the island) and is little more than a spit of sand on a cay off of – what I believe is the largest of the Grenadine islands, Carriacou.

Those who sail in the Grenadines have found this little gem, and during high season you might actually share Sandy Island with a few other island loving friends.

Even though our sail was during high season, we enjoyed an afternoon on Sandy Island with just a few of our boatmates, swimming, snorkeling in the clear and abundant water, exploring the tiny island and soaking in the sun (o.k – and a little rum!).

Makeshift hammock on Sandy Island

Floatin’ in the clear water taking pictures of the shore

Leaving a couple of footprints in the gorgeous soft, white sand.

Checking out the coral, shell and driftwood sculptures left by other visitors.

And adding a small piece of driftwood on top of a cairn as a remembrance to the time we got to spend on beautiful Sandy Island, Carriacou.

We spent a few minutes making a video to remember the sights and sounds of Sandy Island, then reluctantly left the little slice of deserted island paradise….

To see more posts on The Grenadines and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC. All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

August 24, 2013April 18, 2021

Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary, Bequia

To be truthful, I wasn’t all that excited about going to see a turtle sanctuary on our first visit to Bequia. I thought there had to be SO many other things to check out on this lovely island that I really didn’t want to spend time looking at turtles in captivity. I mean it’s thrilling to see turtles in their natural habitat while snorkeling, diving or swimming in the Caribbean, but turtles in a pen? Reluctantly I went along, and not only enjoyed the experience, but came away with a lot of respect for the man behind the sanctuary, “Brother” King, and the time and effort he has put in to saving the Hawksbill turtle from extinction.

The Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary is located on the north east side of Bequia and we found a taxi in Port Elizabeth to drive us over for a tour. It was a beautiful drive and we got to see some of the Bequia countryside as well as beautiful vistas and beaches along the way.

The grounds around the sanctuary are pretty scenic themselves with many tall palms and meandering goats and chickens.

Orton “Brother” King started the sanctuary in 1995 as a way to protect Hawksbill turtle hatchlings during their most vulnerable time and collects eggs from nearby beaches. He raises them until they are about 14 inches long and then releases them into the ocean. According to his website, “This gives them a better chance to survive, and instead of one from one thousand reaching maturity, this project will help repopulate the ocean sooner with about fifty from one hundred.”

The entrance fee and any donations he receives help to fund his continued work.

Inside the building that houses the sanctuary, there are several pools, each housing turtles of different sizes. The smallest turtles were plentiful and active.

Besides varying in size, the turtles varied in shell color and it was interesting to see that some really had their own personality.

This turtle like to have his back rubbed. He would swim over to people at the side of his pool and when you rubbed his back in the right spot, he’d wiggle his leg – just like a dog!

We spent some time talking to Brother King and asking questions about his operation – which he gladly answered. He’s passionate about what he does and increasing the number of Hawksbill turtles that swim in the waters around this beautiful island.

On the way back to our boat, we were treated to more beautiful views of Bequia and it’s quiet and beautiful countryside.

To see more posts on this and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory.

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC. All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

June 12, 2013April 19, 2021

Jack’s Bar, Bequia

Located on Princess Margaret Beach in Bequia, The Grenadines, Jack’s Bar is a great place to stop to enjoy a cold one with a beautiful beach and ocean view.

Jack’s from the beach

Princess Margaret Beach

Great view of Admiralty Bay and Princess Margaret Beach

Enjoy a Rum Punch or one of many other tasty rum cocktails they offer,

Or sample the local beer, Hairoun.

Serving lunch and dinner and if you’re there on Tuesday, you might want to try out the Tuesday Night Beach BBQ with live music.

Find out more on the Jack’s Bar Facebook Page.

To see more posts on St. Vincent and the Grenadines and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC. All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

May 15, 2013April 18, 2021

Coconut Bar, Young Island Resort

I was looking at some FB pics the other day and saw a picture of a bar that looked very familiar. As I read on, I realized that we had visited the bar a number of years back and had completely forgotten.

The name of the bar is Coconut Bar and it’s a swim up bar in the water just off of Young Island Resort, which is a private resort/island just off the coast of St. Vincent. I looked through our archives of pictures from past trips and found it.

Located just a few strokes away from the beach, Coconut Bar had a good selection of rum cocktails as well as good cold Hairouns (St. Vincent beer).

We were ready to embark on a week long sail through the Grenadines and our boat was anchored on the southeast side of St. Vincent at the Young Island Cut. While waiting to board, we were told that we might enjoy taking the free water taxi over to Young Island and enjoying a bit of sunbathing and a beverage.

The island itself looked like a tropical rainforest with lush foliage and flowers everywhere.
The beach had a selection of comfortable lounge chairs and hammocks and we enjoyed the afternoon lounging in the sunshine while watching the boats move in and out of the Cut and looking across at beautiful St. Vincent….

And the best part? When we got a little too warm (or thirsty!) we just took a short swim over to the Coconut Bar to chat with the bartender and enjoy another beverage!

Have you been to the Young Island Resort or the Coconut Bar? If so, let us know about your visit!

To find out more about Young Island Resort and the Coconut Bar, you can visit their website here:
Young Island Resort

To see more posts on St. Vincent and the Grenadines and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC. All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

May 2, 2013April 18, 2021

Petit Tabac, The Grenadines

While sailing the Grenadines a few years ago, we made a stop at the stunningly beautiful Tobago Cays. From our anchorage, we could see an island in the distance called Petit Tabac. Our Captain informed us that this pretty little island was a location used in the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. Specifically, it was the island that Capt. Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth ended up on when forced to walk the plank.

Intrigued, we asked if we could sail over and explore it and he happily he obliged.

The grove of palm trees shown burning in the film were very recognizable as we approached. Thankfully the burning palms were merely cinematic wizardry as the the palms were alive and well.

The plan was to find the rum. If you’re familiar with the film, when Jack Sparrow was marooned on this island with Elizabeth Swann, he knew of a rum stash and set out to find it.

Knowing that we’d find no actual rum, our Captain and Cook prepared a large jug of rum punch for us to enjoy as we explored the island.

We then paced off in the same area Jack Sparrow did while looking for his rum stash in the film.

Of course, we didn’t find anything, but enjoyed re-enacting the antics of Captain Jack – and the rum punch didn’t hurt either.

The deserted little island was beautiful and we took our time walking the entire perimeter.

We were the only ones on Petit Tabac that day.

From Petit Tabac we could see Union Island,

And the other Tobago Cays.

From our perch in the shade we took the amazing beauty of the area in,

The almost blindingly white sand against the vibrant blue water was stunning.

We reluctantly headed back to the boat after a day on a deserted island filled with rum and browned by the sun and looked forward to our next adventure in the Grenadines.

Have you been to Petit Tabac? Tell us about it!

To see more posts on the St. Vincent and the Grenadines and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC. All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.