Caribbean › St. Vincent and the Grenadines › Bequia Island
Bequia Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
The Grenadines' most beloved island keeps things small and real — sailboats crowd Admiralty Bay, fishermen mend nets on the jetty, and unhurried beaches are minutes from the tender dock.
⚓ Tender port (Admiralty Bay)🕒 Typical call: 6-8 hrs💵 Eastern Caribbean Dollar / USD accepted🗣️ English🏖️ Best for: beach, sailing, snorkeling
Docking
Tender to Port Elizabeth jetty, Admiralty Bay
Walk to center
On the jetty — town is right there
Best For
Beaches, snorkeling, local Caribbean culture
Don't Miss
Princess Margaret Beach & Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary
📄 Take this port with you
A printable port guide — key info, things to do & tips. Includes an editable “My Day in Port” box for your ship times & booked excursions.
Bequia has no cruise pier — ships anchor in Admiralty Bay and tender passengers to the main jetty in Port Elizabeth.
Getting Ashore in Bequia
1
Tender to Port Elizabeth JettyShip tenders drop you directly at the main jetty on the Port Elizabeth waterfront. The process is smooth and the ride is short — usually 5–10 minutes from anchorage.
2
Walk the Belmont WalkwayFrom the jetty, the Belmont Walkway runs along the harbor to the south, lined with shops, cafes, and restaurants. Princess Margaret Beach is a 15-minute walk along this path.
3
Open-Backed Taxis for Further AfieldBequia's open-backed pickup taxis wait near the jetty. Negotiate a fixed price for beach runs to Lower Bay or island tours; expect EC$10–20 per person for short hops.
4
Water Taxis for BeachesWater taxis from the jetty area can ferry you to Princess Margaret Beach or Lower Bay quickly and cheaply — handy if you want to avoid the uphill walk.
💡 Pro move: Tender schedules depend on sea conditions in Admiralty Bay. Check last tender time before heading far from the jetty.
Piers & Tendering by Cruise Line
Bequia is exclusively a tender port — all cruise ships anchor in Admiralty Bay and ferry passengers ashore to Port Elizabeth.
Typical cruise-line arrival arrangements; confirm your ship’s assignment.
Bequia rewards slow exploration — beaches, snorkeling reefs, a turtle sanctuary, and sailing culture are all within easy reach of the tender dock.
Relax
Princess Margaret Beach
The island's most popular beach sits a 15-minute walk south along the Belmont Walkway from the jetty. White sand, calm turquoise water, and Jack's Bar for cold Hairoun beer. Good snorkeling off the rocks at each end.
⏱ 2-4 hrs🚶 Easy walk or water taxi🏖️ Best beach near town
Just over the bluff from Princess Margaret Beach, Lower Bay has a slightly more local feel with beachside restaurants and gentle surf. Sundays bring music and a relaxed mix of islanders and visitors.
⏱ Half day🚕 Taxi from jetty🍹 Beachside restaurants
A community-run sanctuary on the northeast side of the island (Park Bay) that rehabilitates endangered hawksbill turtles for release. Small and genuine — you can see juvenile turtles up close and learn about local conservation efforts.
On the northeast coast, Industry Bay is a calm, reef-protected bay with excellent snorkeling and often deserted sands shaded by coconut palms. The Sugar Reef beach bar is nearby.
Bequia's maritime tradition is alive at this workshop near the waterfront where craftsmen carve intricate scale models of sailing vessels from white pine and mahogany. A genuine local craft, not a tourist imitation.
Bequia sits in the heart of the Grenadines — day sails to Mustique, Mayreau, or the Tobago Cays depart regularly. Snorkeling, sea turtles, and lunch on a secluded beach are typical.
⏱ Full day⛵ Catamaran or monohull🤿 Snorkeling included
Port Elizabeth and the Belmont Walkway are the heart of a Bequia shore day — easy, flat, and genuinely beautiful.
Belmont Walkway to Princess Margaret Beach
1.2 km · 15 min · Flat, paved
From the tender jetty, follow the Belmont Walkway south past colorful shops and restaurants with harbor views. Continue past Friendship Bay road turnoff to reach the white-sand arc of Princess Margaret Beach. Return the same way or catch a water taxi back.
A short wander from the jetty through Port Elizabeth's main street takes in the local market, Sargeant Brothers model boat shop, art galleries, and the Anglican church. Easy to extend into the Belmont Walkway.
ERA5 gridded estimate for Bequia Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 2014–2023, not station normals. Mean daily highs/lows; mean wet days ≥1 mm from all 3,652 daily records. Coastal grid conditions can differ ashore.
Month
Avg High
Avg Low
Rainy Days
Sunrise
Sunset
Jan
79°F / 26°C
77°F / 25°C
13.0
6:31 AM
5:57 PM
Feb
79°F / 26°C
77°F / 25°C
9.4
6:27 AM
6:10 PM
Mar
79°F / 26°C
77°F / 25°C
8.6
6:12 AM
6:15 PM
Apr
80°F / 27°C
78°F / 26°C
6.7
5:52 AM
6:17 PM
May
81°F / 27°C
79°F / 26°C
7.9
5:39 AM
6:23 PM
Jun
82°F / 28°C
79°F / 26°C
14.5
5:39 AM
6:32 PM
Jul
82°F / 28°C
79°F / 26°C
19.6
5:46 AM
6:35 PM
Aug
82°F / 28°C
79°F / 26°C
21.8
5:52 AM
6:25 PM
Sep
83°F / 28°C
80°F / 27°C
18.4
5:54 AM
6:05 PM
Oct
83°F / 28°C
80°F / 27°C
20.4
5:55 AM
5:45 PM
Nov
82°F / 28°C
79°F / 26°C
19.8
6:03 AM
5:35 PM
Dec
81°F / 27°C
78°F / 26°C
13.1
6:19 AM
5:41 PM
Climate source: Copernicus ERA5 via Open-Meteo; model explicitly ERA5; CC BY 4.0.
Representative sunrise/sunset — 2025, 15th of each month; local civil time including DST (America/St_Vincent). Source: Astral; not a forecast or climate average.
Insider Tips
⚓
Watch the last tender time. Tenders in Admiralty Bay can be affected by wind and swell. Note the last tender departure time before you go exploring — missing it means finding your own way back.
💵
USD widely accepted. Most places take US dollars, but change comes in Eastern Caribbean dollars (EC$). EC$2.70 ≈ US$1. Small bills are useful for taxis and beach bars.
🚕
Negotiate taxi fares upfront. Open-backed taxis have no meters. Agree on a price before you get in — EC$10–20 per person for most beach runs is typical.
🐢
The turtle sanctuary is worthwhile but not close. Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary is on the northeast side of the island — budget a taxi each way plus an hour on site, so allow 2-3 hours total.
🍕
Mac's Pizza & Kitchen near the Belmont Walkway is famous for lobster pizza — genuinely good and very popular. Go early or expect a wait during cruise days.
☀️
Bring reef-safe sunscreen. Bequia's reefs are healthy and protected. Many beach bars and snorkel operators ask that you use mineral (not chemical) sunscreen.
Getting Around
Transport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
🚗 Ride-share: ❌ Not available — use taxisNo Uber, Lyft, Grab, or Bolt on Bequia. Local app BeepCab exists on St. Vincent but is not widely available on Bequia itself.🚍 Hop-on hop-off: ❌ No HOHO bus
🚶 Walk
Free
Tenders dock directly at Port Elizabeth Town Jetty, placing you immediately in the heart of the waterfront village. Most shops, restaurants, and beaches are within easy walking distance.
🚕 Taxi
US/hr (up to 4 people)
Open-backed taxis are the primary way to tour the island. Rates are fixed by the Bequia Tourism Association — pick up a rate card at the BTA booth near the tender pier.
🚌 Dollar Van (shared minibus)
EC–EC (~US/bin/zsh.40–US.50)
Shared minibuses run set routes around the island at very low cost. Not a tourist hop-on-hop-off service, but a great budget option for locals and adventurous visitors.
🚤 Water Taxi
EC (~US) one way
Water taxis are popular for reaching nearby beaches like Princess Margaret Beach and Lower Bay from the Port Elizabeth waterfront.
🚗 Car / Jeep Rental
Varies by operator
Several rental companies operate on the island for those who prefer to self-drive. Confirm availability in advance as fleet sizes are small.
Cruises Calling Here
Upcoming cruises that call at Bequia Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
