An island apart in the Caribbean
Bequia, the second largest island of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, covers an area of around 18 km². It may seem modest in size, but its history and identity make it a singular territory. As soon as you approach its shores, a direct link with the sea is revealed: fishing boats lined up on the sand, sailboats at anchor in Admiralty Bay, shipyards where wood crafts are perpetuated. Bequia is a land shaped by the sea, its riches and its trials.
The breath of maritime history
Bequia’s memory is deeply linked to whaling. As early as the end of the XIXᵉ century, locals learned from American whalers how to hunt humpback whales. This practice, now classified by the International Whaling Commission as “aboriginal subsistence hunting”, remains limited to a quota of four catches per year, rarely reached. More than a resource, it is now a heritage that illustrates how an island community has built its survival on the sea.
At the same time, Bequia retains a tradition of wooden boat building. In the villages, carpenters still fashion boats by hand. Each boat is a collective work of art, reflecting skills handed down from generation to generation.
The power of nature and everyday life
The island’s landscapes are a mix of beaches, hills and viewpoints. Princess Margaret Beach, just a stone’s throw from Port Elizabeth, stretches out its blond sand bordered by almond trees. Further south, Friendship Bay opens its waters to the Atlantic, offering a livelier sea. Trails lead up to Peggy’s Rock, a peak that reveals the beauty of the surrounding Grenadines.
These landscapes are also the rhythms of daily life. Fishermen leave the bay at dawn and return laden with tuna, sea bream and lobster. The market comes to life afterwards, reflecting a way of life still centered on the sea and its resources.
A preserved island culture
With around 5,000 inhabitants, Bequia remains a community on a human scale. Musical traditions – steelband, reggae, calypso – accompany gatherings, while crafts express the local identity. Meticulously carved models of wooden boats tell of the island’s maritime past, and are on display even in the small stores of Port Elizabeth.
This attachment to the island’s heritage is also expressed in its gastronomy, which focuses on seafood. Each dish is a reminder of the balance between tradition and adaptation.
Port Elizabeth, an island crossroads
Port Elizabeth, Bequia’s modest capital, nestles at the head of Admiralty Bay. This natural harbor attracts fishermen, sailors and visiting yachts. For decades, it has been a renowned stopover for Caribbean sailing. Here, the liveliness of the anchorage contrasts with the tranquility of the lanes lined with colorful houses and small cafés. The island has not sought to become a mass destination: it favors a measured approach to tourism, based on close contact with the locals.
Legacy and future
Bequia illustrates the dilemmas faced by many small Caribbean islands: preserving authenticity while securing an economic base. Controversial whaling is often the focus of debate, but it does not sum up the island. The future also relies on fishing, local agriculture, boating and handicrafts, all sectors that maintain a resilient economy.
This direction reflects a clear choice: to maintain a balance between openness to the world and respect for an identity forged by the sea.
A sensitive and human Caribbean
Bequia is not an island defined by its size or infrastructure, but by its maritime soul. Its landscapes, traditions and people make up a mosaic where every detail carries the weight of history and the hope of the future. On this island of the Grenadines, the sea is more than just a horizon: it is a memory, a resource and a promise.
