BEQUIA is the next island south. This island is famous for local boat building, ranging from 70 foot island traders to models of these boats just inches long. Bequians also pride themselves on their whaling past; a short walk from the harbor to the whaling museum is worthwhile.

For unspoiled sandy beaches, MUSTIQUE is a great spot (as some of the rich and famous also know!) A trip ashore to `Basil's Bar' to sample the "Island Tea" is a good opener to an island tour, whether on horseback or taxi, to view the houses of Mick Jagger, Raquel Welsh, Princess Margaret, David Bowie… the list goes on.

CANOUAN is an island of bumpy hills, spectacular views and exquisite water colors. There is a population of only a few hundred, a handful of cars and two major hotels. Charlestown Bay is the main anchorage, with a large reef for snorkeling on the south side and a couple of isolated reefs to the North. Scuba can be arranged with ten sites readily at hand. There are walls with giant boulders, sloping reefs and sharks, turtles and rays in residence.

For fantastic snorkeling, TOBAGO CAYS is a short sail away. A group of four islands are surrounded by a horseshoe reef providing a huge area of warm water snorkeling. Beaches ashore are popular for picnics, as are sunset drinks atop Bateau, for a possible glimpse of the elusive green flash.

UNION ISLAND greets sailors with its dramatically mountainous outline. Chatham Bay is on the lee side and is a large protected anchorage. There is a long beach and some good snorkeling around the rocks on the north headland. The fish life here is rich and attracts all sorts of birds, including pelicans.

A 30 minute trip away is a fine crescent shaped bay, surrounded by white sandy beaches, one of the most beautiful anchorages in the Windward chain. Up the hill is a lookout point back toward Tobago Cays and a chance to see the village life in the town of MAYREAU. Also close by is the resort of PALM ISLAND, carved from a swampy wilderness by three generations of the same family. PETIT ST. VINCENT is another beautiful resort with the added feature of a real desert island. The resort has thoughtfully provided a palm frond umbrella - a great spot for a lunch stop!

CARIACOU, some three hours south, has another deserted island, this one surrounded b a spectacular reef full of fish. The closest anchorage is Tyrell Bay, another spot where island trade ships are built, a real test of engineering. Here there is a large area of mangrove swamps, an interesting region for wildlife which is so different to the rest of the coastal regions.