Kingstown – St Vincent & the Grenadines
Comprising 32 islands and cays, nine of which are inhabited, St.Vincent and the Grenadines are located in the Caribbean Sea, just north of South America.
Kingstown is the capital, main port and is also the main commercial hub of St. Vincent. The British ruled St. Vincent for almost two hundred years before the French settled and founded Kingstown in 1722.
William Bligh, commander of the HMS Bounty fame (or infamy!) brought breadfruit trees to St. Vincent in 1793. Not native to the Caribbean, it has since thrived on the islands. Breadfruit has become a staple on the islands. A third-generation breadfruit tree, a sucker from one of the original plants that Captain Bligh brought to the island, can be seen in the botanic gardens. There is also an annual breadfruit festival.
You will not find many all-inclusive resorts on St. Vincent, and the islands are the least traveled of the Caribbean islands and have little cruise traffic. This might be a disadvantage if you are looking for shopping, dining and cultural attractions; this will not be your stop. If, however, you are drawn by waterfalls, rainforests and coral reefs, this will be the place for you. Just know that some parts of St. Vincent is so densely forested that you can’t circumnavigate the island by car. It can be an exciting place for an ecotourist, but challenging at the same time, as there is little in the way of creature comforts for tourists on the islands.
Good To Know
It is against the law to wear camouflage clothing in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This goes for everyone. Men, women and children are included in this restriction. Items, like purses, backpacks, bandanas or any other item made of camouflage material will be confiscated and you will not get it back.
Check out these excursions in St. Vincent & the Grenadines.
Weather:
Kingstown is hot, oppressive, extremely windy, and mostly cloudy. Throughout the year, the temperature typically varies from 77°F to 87°F and is rarely below 75°F or above 89°F.
Currency:
The official currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar. The US dollar is also widely accepted in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The exchange rate is a fixed rate.
Per the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ministry of Tourism, the fixed rate at the time of writing is US $1 = EC $2.68. Other currencies have variable exchange rates.
Many of the commercial banks in St. Vincent and the Grenadines have ATMs that will accept credit/debit cards. Any withdrawn funds will be in Eastern Caribbean dollars. Expect for major credit cards to be accepted only at hotels and larger restaurants.
Wireless Internet:
There will be WiFi hotspots that can be found in tourist areas.
Languages:
The official language is English, however, most of the locals speak Vincentian Creole. It is an English-based creole that has elements of French, Spanish and Portuguese.
Where You Dock in Kingstown – St Vincent & the Grenadines
The cruise port is located a few minutes from downtown Kingstown. Two cruise ships can dock at the same time. If there are more than two ships in port, the ship not docked will tender passengers. There is a cruise ship terminal that has a gift shop, restaurants and an information center. It is arranged around a terra-cotta-tiled courtyard with a mural that depicts the St. Vincent’s annual Carnival celebration.
