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Top 10 Amazing Things to do in Bequia

ByJill Bockenstette

Ever since learning about the island of Bequia, an island that is part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Scott and I have always wanted to visit here. So while sailing down the Caribbean chain, Bequia was definitely on our list of places to stop. We loved it so much here, we stayed longer than we usually do, and spent two wonderful weeks exploring things to do in Bequia.

Bequia is the largest island of the Grenadines at 7 square miles (18 square kilometers), located just south of St. Vincent. While smaller in size compared to some of the larger islands of the Caribbean, there is no shortage of amazing things to do in Bequia. Below are the top 10 things to do in Bequia that we came up with after our two weeks here.

Top 10 Things To Do In Bequia

1. Beaches

There is no shortage of beautiful beaches in Bequia. We anchored in Admiralty Bay, in front of Princess Margaret Beach and also visited Lower Bay Beach and Friendship Bay Beach, all walking distance from Admiralty Bay. The beaches are top on my list for free things to do in Bequia.

Princess Margaret Beach

Princess Margaret Beach offers beautiful soft white sand for swimming, and great coral reefs at the southern end for excellent snorkeling and watching the marine life.

You won’t get thirsty either, as there are several beach bars offering beers and rum punches. Our favorite beach bar is the Lion’s Den at the south end of the beach! Several sailors ended up down here for our afternoon swim and sundowners.

Dinghies gather on Princess Margaret Beach for an afternoon of fun things to do in Bequia.
Dinghies gathered on Princess Margaret Beach for an afternoon of fun

Lower Bay Beach

There is a short trail up and over the hill that separates Princess Margaret Beach and Lower Bay Beach. The beautiful white sand beach continues here at Lower Bay Beach, which is lined with several great restaurants to eat at.

Lower Bay Beach at Keegan's. A post with colorful signs near palm trees are in front of the beach at the restaurant.
Signs at Keegan’s in front of Lower Bay Beach

Friendship Bay Beach

If you are looking for a more secluded beach, then a walk to Friendship Bay Beach is for you. It is only 0.93 miles (1.5 km) from the south end of Princess Margaret Beach, with some manageable hills in between.

Palm trees line Friendship Bay Beach in Bequia
Friendship Bay Beach

2. Bequia Heritage Museum

While you are over in Friendship Bay, be sure to stop in at the Bequia Heritage Museum. We learned the complete history of the island of Bequia, including the history of whaling in Bequia, which still takes place today! They have several historical artifacts, as well as whaling boats used for hunting whales.

A wooden boat used for whaling is on display at the Bequia Heritage Museum.
Boat on display at the Bequia Heritage Museum

3. Moonhole

You might ask, what is Moonhole?!? Moonhole is a large natural rock arch located on the western end of Bequia. It is said that you can see the moon set inside this arch on certain days of the year. 

What is unique and awe inspiring about Moonhole is that Tom and Gladdie Johnston built a home here, yes under the arch, and sprawling along the rock cliff shoreline, in the 1950s. It is truly a sight to see!

It is only accessible by boat; no tours are currently being offered of the original house. However, in 1964, the construction of additional homes were built near Moonhole, and are available for rent.

Moonhole House on the shoreline in Bequia.
Moonhole
Scott and I are in front of the Moonhole House that is under the arch.
Scott and I in front of Moonhole

4. Hike to Fort Hamilton

Fort Hamilton, named after James Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton’s father, is a historical landmark in Port Elizabeth. 

It is an easy walk through the town of Port Elizabeth and then up a hill to reach Fort Hamilton. All that is left are some cannons from the fort, but it offers incredible views of Admiralty Bay.

Scott is sitting on a cannon at Fort Hamilton with Admiralty Bay in the background.
Fort Hamilton with Admiralty Bay in the Background

5. Tour of the Island

As we learned during our visit to the Bequia Heritage Museum, there are several historical sites and beautiful views along the coastline of Bequia. Taxi drivers will take you on a driving tour of the 7 square-mile island to get a full view of what Bequia has to offer.

6. D’Original Southie Doubles

I’ll be honest, when I first got to Bequia, I had never heard of a Trinidad Double. One of our cruiser friends told us we had to get a Trinidad Double from D’Original Southie Doubles on Tuesdays and Fridays, located at the park near the town dinghy dock. 

After my first bite, I fell in love with them, and we ate them for lunch every Tuesday and Friday while we were in Bequia.

Note:

A Trinidad Double is a street food snack originating from Trinidad and Tobago, that consists of two flatbreads, called baras, with a layer of curried chickpeas and spicy sauces and chutneys in between. 

Tuesdays they are on sale for 2 doubles for 10 EC, and on Fridays they also serve beer for 5 EC a bottle. I highly recommend stopping by and trying them out for yourself.

Scott eating Trinidad Doubles at Rendezvous.
Scott eating his Trinidad Doubles from D’Original Southie Doubles. Still my favorite lunch!

7. Treehouse Bush Bar

Just as the name suggests, the Treehouse Bush Bar and restaurant (reservations for food required), is a treehouse-looking structure located up in the bush. They offer incredible sunset views of the harbor, and if you go on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays, you can get their happy hour special two for one rum punches and gin drinks. Things to do in Bequia would not be complete without a stop at the Treehouse Bush Bar.

Note:

It is best to take a taxi up to the Treehouse Bush Bar, as it is a very steep incline (the taxi actually takes a longer, less steep route to drive up there). After the taxi drops you off, you take the trail through the woods until you reach the Treehouse Bush Bar. Walking back into town down the steep slope is much more manageable.

Scott and I posing for a picture on the deck of the Treehouse Bush Bar.
Treehouse Bush Bar
Cruisers enjoying Happy Hour on the deck and inside the Treehouse Bush Bar.
Treehouse Bush Bar

8. Mac’s Pizza and Kitchen

The restaurants in Bequia were fantastic, and Mac’s Pizza and Kitchen did not disappoint.

We ate at Mac’s Pizza and Kitchen a couple of times while in Bequia, and the food and service did not disappoint. This is the spot to get a great pizza, or any of their other menu items. Scott ordered the chicken alfredo special one night, and it was one of the best alfredos I’ve ever tasted. Mac’s is located on the Belmont walkway which follows the Admiralty Bay coastline, a wonderful evening stroll before or after dinner.

9. Rendezvous Lounge

Located across the street from the town’s dinghy dock, Rendezvous is a great gathering place to meet other cruisers and locals alike. We really enjoyed their prices there at 5 EC ($1.85 USD) per beer.

One Friday evening, while waiting for some food for dinner to take back to the boat, we stopped by Rendezvous and they had a DJ playing. The fun part was that they were mixing old country music songs!! It was definitely a sight, or shall I say, sounds to hear!

10. Bequia Plantation Hotel Happy Hour

Last but not least on our list is the Bequia Plantation’s Happy Hour. The Bequia Plantation is a hotel located right on Admiralty Bay (with a dinghy dock!) that offers a great menu and even better happy hour. We enjoyed dinner there one night with new friends eating wings, pizza, fries, and rum punches, each $5 USD!

Bequia Is A Must Stop

We thoroughly enjoyed these top 10 things to do in Bequia, and look forward to stopping there again, and for hopefully even longer than two weeks, when we sail back north in the fall. 

We look forward to hitting all of these things to do again when we return, along with discovering new adventures.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Bequia

If you’re not too familiar yet with Bequia, below are a few frequently asked questions about this beautiful island.

Is Bequia Safe?

Yes, we felt very safe during our two weeks on anchor in Bequia, and while exploring the towns of Port Elizabeth, Lower Bay and Friendship Bay.

There are parts on St. Lucia (see the article about St. Lucia safety and security here) and St. Vincent that have reports of theft and crime, however, Bequia has a low rate of petty crimes.

How Do You Get To Bequia?

Sailing there, of course! But if you have visitors joining you in Bequia, they can get there by air, or by boat. By air, they could fly into Barbados or St. Lucia, then take a small inter-island airline such as SVG Air, Mustique Airways, or Grenadines Air Alliance to get to Bequia. By boat, they could fly into St. Vincent, then take a ferry to Port Elizabeth, Bequia.

Is Bequia Expensive?

We found Bequia to be on par with other Caribbean Islands. In fact, we found several great deals on beers at $5 EC per bottle at Rendezvous and the Lion’s Den and great happy hour specials at Treetop Bush Bar and the Bequia Plantation Hotel.

On our sailboat, there are mooring balls that you can rent closer to the town’s dinghy dock – price is negotiable – around $40 EC ($15 USD) per night. Or you can anchor further out near Princess Margaret Beach for free.

Where Can You Stay In Bequia?

If you are not staying on a sailboat, or have friends or family coming to visit you while you are in Bequia, there are several great options.

The Bequia Plantation Hotel has beautiful grounds, pool, beach, and great food.

Keegan’s Beachside Hotel, Apartments and Cottages is located in Lower Bay, directly across from the beach. The have a great restaurant and bar on site as well.

Airbnb and Vrbo also offer several locations in Bequia to stay.

I hope you enjoy Bequia as much as we did. Are there any adventures in Bequia you would add to this list? We would love to hear from you!

Live your dream,

Jill signature

Jill Bockenstette has been sailing for over 11 years and has lived aboard her 1998 Hunter 450 Passage, Pelagia, full-time for more than 4 years. She has logged over 7,000 nautical miles across Mobile Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, the east coast of the United States, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the Caribbean, where she is currently exploring the vibrant waters. Jill enjoys sharing her passion for sailing and the lessons learned from her salty, adventurous lifestyle on the water.