Arriving at Saint Vincent Argyle International Airport in St. Vincent means nearby cities such as Kingstown, Calliaqua, and Georgetown are all an easy drive away, with the Grenadines a ferry ride beyond. St. Vincent is the green, volcanic main island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a place of rainforest valleys, black sand beaches, and steep ridges. It feels authentic and unhurried, with small fishing villages, roadside fruit stands, and minibuses blasting soca. The island sees far fewer visitors than its neighbors, which is a big part of its appeal.

Standout experiences on St. Vincent: - Hike to the crater rim of La Soufriere, the active volcano in the north - Swim beneath Dark View Falls, a pair of rainforest cascades - Stroll the Botanical Gardens in Kingstown, founded in 1765 and among the oldest in the Americas - Take in harbor views from Fort Charlotte above the capital - Look for the St. Vincent parrot on the Vermont Nature Trail - Visit Wallilabou Bay, where Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed - Eat roasted breadfruit and fried jackfish, the national dish - Join the street parties of Vincy Mas carnival in early summer

St. Vincent is an island, so its roads trace the coasts rather than leading anywhere else, and the drive from Argyle to Kingstown takes about half an hour. From Kingstown, ferries reach Bequia in about an hour, a laid-back island of boatbuilders and beach bars, and boat trips head on to the Tobago Cays, where you can snorkel with sea turtles. Notice the breadfruit trees around the island, descendants of the plants Captain Bligh brought in 1793. Come for the green mountains and stay for the sea, and St. Vincent will feel like a real find.