Fully Booked: Long Weekend in Bequia

Bequia: A Caribbean Island That Hasn’t Been Polished (and That’s the Point)

There are Caribbean islands that feel like luxury resorts with beaches attached.

Bequia is not one of them.

There’s no direct flight. No big-name hotels. No beach clubs charging $75 for a daybed and a bottle of rosé.

To get to Bequia, you fly into St. Vincent and then take a ferry. If that already sounds like too much effort, Bequia may not be your island.

But if you’re willing to add a small adventure to the beginning of your trip, you’ll arrive somewhere that still feels refreshingly unmanufactured.

And honestly, those kinds of places are getting harder to find.

Getting There: One Flight and One Ferry

First step: fly into St. Vincent (Argyle International Airport).

Second step: take a ferry to Bequia.

There are many ferry companies to choose from. We opted for Fast Ferries as it has the quickest transit time taking around 35 minutes to arrive.

There are other options (like Express Ferry) if the timing doesn't align to take Fast Ferries, or you enjoy a bit more time on the water that my seasickness doesn't allow for. That ferry ride takes about an hour and leaves several times a day. It’s easy enough once you’re there, but it does require a little planning if you’re trying to line it up with your flight.

The ferry terminal is small and straightforward, but one thing to note: taxis from the airport to the ferry terminal are not cheap. We paid $175 USD for our group of eight, and the drive was under 30 minutes. Just something to plan for.

Once you’re on the ferry, though, things get more relaxed. The ride across Admiralty Bay is beautiful and there are beer and snacks available for purchase on board, which helps set the tone for the island ahead.

When the ferry pulls into Bequia’s harbor, you’ll see sailboats scattered across the bay and colorful buildings lining the waterfront. It’s the kind of arrival that instantly slows you down.

This is your first reminder that Bequia operates on island logic, not luxury logistics.

Once the ferry pulls into Admiralty Bay, though, you’ll understand why people make the effort. The harbor is full of sailboats, the waterfront is colorful and low-key, and everything immediately slows down a few notches.

What Bequia Is Actually Like

Bequia is small. Like, really small.

There are no giant resorts or sprawling developments. Most places to stay are boutique hotels, small inns, or villas scattered around the island.

The roads wind up and down hills. Taxis are often pickup trucks. And sometimes things take a little longer than you expect.

But that’s sort of the point.

You’re not coming to Bequia for polished perfection. You’re coming because it still feels like a real island where people actually live.

You’ll see fishermen cleaning their catch in the harbor. Sailboats anchored in the bay. Local restaurants that look a little casual but somehow end up serving the best meal of your trip.

It’s the kind of place where the sunset is the evening entertainment and no one seems particularly rushed about anything.

This Is Not a High-Maintenance Tourist Island

Bequia is wonderful, but it’s not for everyone.

If you need:

• a luxury spa

• high-end shopping

• a perfectly curated itinerary

• or infrastructure that runs like Switzerland

you may find it a little… loose.

The island runs on a relaxed pace, and occasionally that means plans shift or things take longer than expected.

But if you can lean into that, it becomes part of the charm.

What People Come Here For

Most people visiting Bequia fall into one of two camps:

1. Sailors – The island is a popular stop for boats moving through the Caribbean, and the harbor is usually dotted with yachts and sailboats.

2. Travelers who like places that still feel undiscovered – Not secret exactly, but definitely not overdeveloped.

The draw is simple:

• beautiful water

• great snorkeling

• beach bars where no one is in a hurry

• and sunsets that feel a little unreal.

Where to Stay & How Long to Visit

Bequia is not a huge island, but it’s big enough that where you stay will shape your experience.

Most visitors stay somewhere between three and five nights, which feels like the right amount of time to settle into the island rhythm without rushing.

We stayed at The Liming, in the Gingerlily Villa, and it ended up being one of the highlights of the trip.

The Liming is a boutique hotel set on a quiet stretch of coastline outside the main harbor area. Their motto is “The Art of Doing Nothing,” which honestly sums up the vibe perfectly.

The property feels intentionally low-key and private. Villas are spaced out, the views over the water are beautiful, and it’s the kind of place where you spend a lot of time just sitting, looking at the ocean, and wondering if maybe you should cancel your return flight.

Our villa had plenty of space, a private plunge pool, and a large patio looking out over the water. It felt secluded without feeling isolated.

One detail we really appreciated: The Liming offered complimentary pickup from the ferry terminal, which is about a 20–25 minute drive from the hotel.

Another property we considered was Bequia Beach Hotel (sometimes referred to as Bequia Beach Club). It’s a larger property located closer to Friendship Bay and has more of a traditional resort feel with a bigger beachfront presence.

Both are great options — it just depends on whether you prefer quiet boutique seclusion or a slightly livelier resort environment.

The Best Beaches

One of the best parts of Bequia is that the beaches still feel natural and uncrowded.

The standout beach for most visitors is Princess Margaret Beach.

It’s a beautiful stretch of sand with calm water and a handful of beach bars and restaurants scattered along the shore. Even when cruise ships visit the island, it rarely feels overly crowded here.

Princess Margaret Beach is actually a great example of how Bequia is evolving — it has just enough restaurants and activity to support tourism, but it still feels relaxed and local rather than overbuilt.

You’ll find a number of beachside spots where you can grab lunch, a drink, or spend a few hours swimming.

Some of the restaurant names are also delightfully un-serious — including one famously called Whaleboner, which feels like exactly the kind of place you should probably stop for a drink just because of the name.

Where to Eat

Bequia isn’t a culinary capital, but there are some really enjoyable places to eat.

During our stay we mostly ate at:

The Liming Restaurant

The food here was excellent and the setting is hard to beat. It’s perched above the water and is the kind of place where dinner naturally stretches into a long evening because the view is so good.

Jack’s Beach Bar

Located on Princess Margaret Beach, Jack’s is exactly what you want from a Caribbean beach bar. Good drinks, good food, and an easygoing atmosphere right on the sand.

There are also several other restaurants along Princess Margaret Beach, so it’s easy to spend an afternoon beach hopping and trying a few different spots.

Things to Know Before You Go

A few practical things that are helpful to know ahead of time:

English is the primary language, so communication is easy.

Both Eastern Caribbean dollars and U.S. dollars are widely accepted, especially in restaurants and tourist areas. However, if you plan to stop at smaller shops or less touristy places, it’s a good idea to carry a little Eastern Caribbean currency.

Getting around is mostly done by taxi. Roads are narrow and winding, and renting a car isn’t necessary for most visits.

Cruise ships do occasionally stop in Bequia, but even when they do, the island rarely feels overwhelmed by tourism.

And finally, Bequia is just not a place built for high-maintenance travelers. Things move at a relaxed pace, and sometimes plans shift.

If you can lean into that, it becomes part of the charm.

Things to Do in Bequia

We’ll be honest — our plans for adventurous island exploration were somewhat derailed by a stubborn cold that followed us across the Caribbean.

So while we had grand visions of snorkeling, sailing, and island hopping, we ended up doing something very aligned with The Liming’s philosophy of “the art of doing nothing.”

That meant a lot of time spent at the pool, the beach, and staring at the ocean, which honestly isn’t a bad backup plan.

But if you’re feeling healthier than we were, there are plenty of ways to explore Bequia.

Island Taxi Tour

One thing we did manage to do was an island taxi tour, which is essentially riding around the island in the back of a pickup truck while a local driver points out different landmarks.

Some of the stops are places that “used to be” something — former plantations, old hotels, historical sites — but the real highlight is the scenery.

The island is incredibly green and the views over the water are stunning.

It’s a fun way to get a feel for the island without needing to navigate the winding roads yourself.

Snorkeling & Diving

Bequia is known for excellent snorkeling and diving, thanks to clear water and healthy marine life around the island.

Many visitors spend their days exploring reefs just offshore or joining small dive excursions that visit nearby sites.

Boat Trips & Island Hopping

One of the best things about Bequia is its location within the Grenadines, which means there are several other small islands nearby.

Boat tours frequently visit places like:

• Mustique

• Canouan

• The Tobago Cays

These trips usually include snorkeling stops, beach time, and the chance to see some of the most beautiful water in the Caribbean.

Beach Hopping

Even if you’re not planning formal excursions, simply spending time at the beaches is a perfectly valid way to fill your days.

Princess Margaret Beach is the most popular, but there are several smaller beaches around the island that are worth exploring as well.

Or, if you’re staying somewhere like The Liming, you may find that sitting by the pool and doing absolutely nothing becomes surprisingly appealing.

If you want, I can also help you add two more sections that will make this article really strong for your site:

• Best Time to Visit Bequia• Is Bequia Worth Visiting? (Pros & Cons)

Why Bequia Still Feels Special

A lot of Caribbean islands have been reshaped by tourism.

Bequia hasn’t — at least not yet.

You still see fishermen working in the harbor. Sailboats anchored in the bay. Small restaurants that feel like they’ve been there forever.

It’s the kind of island where sunsets are the evening entertainment and no one seems particularly interested in rushing anywhere.

And that might be the real luxury.