(continues below...)
Geography
St Vincent is the largest of this nation of islands. Even so, it only measures 29 kilometres by 18.
Within this pear shaped isle are steep, lush hills, pastel painted hamlets, long black sand beaches, gushing rivers and a bustling harbour capital, all crowned by the soaring heights of the 1200 meter volcano, La Soufriere.
It is the volcano that has given St Vincent much of its natural charm. Its height creates a micro-climate that brings regular rainfall to the upper slopes and past eruptions have produced a rich soil. It is a phenomenally fertile land with large areas of dense tropical forest and farmer's fields that yield a huge array of different crops.
Economy
Farming and fishing has long been the mainstay of the local economy and although tourism is also a significant income earner it does not attract the swarming masses lured to other Caribbean islands. Tourism on St. Vincent is welcoming and small scale. The vast majority of businesses from shops and restaurants to tour agencies and hotels are locally owned. Food is nearly always locally produced and the service friendly and warm.
Attractions
Although the array of services and attractions may not be as sophisticated and abundant as other islands they are far more genuine. Travellers to St. Vincent feel more like visitors to a community rather than customers in a purpose-built tourist industry.
Many of the attractions on St. Vincent focus on its verdant countryside. There are many waterfalls and rushing rivers, some of which are warmed by geothermic activity and are wonderful to bath in.
There are also miles of hiking trails, such as Vermont Nature Trail, that wind through the rainforests. This national network is steadily being improved and extended.
Getting around the island is not limited to the land; there are also sightseeing trips by boat to the small coves and fishing villages around the coast.
The climate and soils also mean that St. Vincent is home to two of the most historically important and beautiful botanical gardens anywhere in the world. The Botanical Gardens in Kingstown is the oldest in the Western Hemisphere and includes a breadfruit tree descended from one brought to the islands by Captain Bligh after he survived the mutiny on HMS Bounty.
The second, Montreal Gardens, sits high in the hills of Mesopotamia, a stunningly beautiful area of near-sheer slopes and hidden valleys. Often swathed in mist during the rainy season, this is the country's breadbasket where farmers grow crops on steep terraced mountainsides.
Around the coastline are black sand beaches, black as they are formed of fine grains of volcanic rock, starkly beautiful in their own way although the complete contrast to the platinum sands of the Grenadines. The coast is also dotted with small towns and fishing villages.
Find a holiday on St. Vincent
Read about St. Vincent's capital, Kingstown and the other islands