Bequia is the largest island in the Grenadines. It is part of the nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and is approximately 15 km from the nation's capital, Kingstown.
Geography
The island's capital is Port Elizabeth . Other villages on the island are Paget Farm, Lower Bay, La Pompe, Hamilton and Derrick.
The total population is about 5,000, the native population being primarily a mixture of people of African and Scottish decent. The island is very small, measuring some 7 square miles. The main population areas are Port Elizabeth and Friendship Bay which host the Ferry Terminal and Airport respectively.
Other prominent areas of Bequia include Spring, site of a former coconut plantation and home to agricultural animals, Industry Bay and Lower Bay.
Princess Margaret visited Bequia and had a beach named in her honour. Princess Margaret Beach is next to Port Elizabeth.
Bequia means "island of clouds" in Arawak.
The island's hills are much lower than the peaks of St. Vincent, 10 miles to the north, so they do not receive as many rainshowers.
The main port Admiralty Bay, a large natural harbour, and the "town" Port Elizabeth are situated on the west coast.
Tourism
Bequia is popular among cruising yachts, expats and vacationers. One of the busiest times of the year being the annual Easter Regatta.
Two Scuba diving stores run dive trips to the fourteen or so dive sites around Bequia. There are several wrecks accessible to advanced divers. It is not unusual to see Hawksbill turtles, lobsters, moray eels and many kinds of fish when diving Bequia.
Whaling
Bequia is one of the few places in the world where limited whaling is still allowed by the International Whaling Commission. Natives of Bequia are allowed to catch up to 4 Humpback Whales per year using only traditional hunting methods of hand thrown harpoons in small open sailing boats. Though they rarely catch their limit and some years do not catch any.
A feature of the Port Elizabeth waterfront is the Whale Bar. This bar has an entrance onto the beach comprising of an arch of two whale ribs as well as whale vertebrae mounted on the bar seats and a whale rib running the length of the bar.
Transportation
Bequia can be reached by plane directly from Barbados, by ferry from St. Vincent or by yacht.
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