St. Vincent & the Grenadines is a nation of 32 islands located in the   Lesser Antilles   between St. Lucia (24 miles to the north) and Grenada    (75 miles to the south).

The largest and northernmost island is St. Vincent (about 133 square   miles) which has  a forest-covered mountainous interior that is dominated   by La Soufriere, a 4,000ft tall  active volcano. On the south west coast is   Kingstown, the nation’s capital.

The remaining Grenadines lie to the south of St. Vincent. The largest and   most  populated are Bequia, Mustique, Canouan and Union Island.   Young Island is a  small private island right off the coast of Kingstown,   St. Vincent. Smaller inhabited  islands include Mayreau, Palm Island   and Petit St. Vincent. The Tobago Cays is  a marine park located to   the east of Mayreau and is a collection of five tiny islands,  sheltered   lagoons and coral reefs.


The population of St. Vincent & The Grenadines is approximately 110,000 with around a quarter of us living in and around the capital, Kingstown. Our ethnic heritage is predominantly African.

Our official currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$). It is also the official currency of Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, Montserrat, Dominica, and St. Lucia. Notes are in denominations of EC$100, EC$50, EC$20, EC$10 and EC$5. Coins come in denominations of EC$1 and then 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. The US dollar is widely accepted throughout our islands and the exchange rate is fixed at US$1 = EC$2.68. Exchange rates with other international currencies are variable.

Visitors to St. Vincent & The Grenadines must be in possession of a valid passport and a return or onward ticket. Visas are required from nationals of The Dominican Republic, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, The People's Republic of China, Iraq, Iran and Nigeria.

A Departure Tax of EC$40 (US$15) per person must be paid by all visitors who have been in the country for 24 hours or more.

Join us in June/July for Vincy Mas, the Hottest Carnival in the Caribbean! This lively and colorful fete is held annually and includes the Miss SVG Competition, Mardi Gras Parade of Bands, Calypso Monarch, King & Queen of Carnival and much, much more!

We enjoy a tropical climate with the hottest and most humid months between June and September when temperatures reach an average high of 30°C (86°F). The most popular months to visit are between December and May when the climate is more comfortable, though trade winds provide a welcome breeze all year round. The driest months are between January and May and the wettest month is July. There is a theoretical risk of hurricanes between July and November though they usually pass to the north of our islands. St. Vincent & The Grenadines is 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-4). There are no daylight savings time changes.

Public nudity is illegal in St. Vincent & The Grenadines and topless sunbathing is discouraged. Swimsuits must not be worn in towns, public streets or places of business. It is illegal to wear camouflage clothing in St. Vincent & The Grenadines.

Driving in St. Vincent & the Grenadines is on the left. Visitors are required to purchase a temporary license for EC$65 and must be able to produce a domestic driving license.

The international telephone code for St. Vincent & the Grenadines is +1 784 followed by a 7 digit number. From Europe dial 001 784 plus the 7 digit number. There is extensive cellular service throughout the islands, provided by Digicel and LIME (formerly Cable & Wireless). The Post code is a unique and essential element of an address which ensures quick and efficient sorting and transmission of postal items. A complete list of Post Codes for St. Vincent & The Grenadines can be downloaded here.
 
St. Vincent & The Grenadines is an independent parliamentary democracy and member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Our parliamentary and legislative systems are derived from the British model with 15 elected representatives, 4 senators and a prime minister serving a maximum 5-year term of office. Queen Elizabeth II is represented by a Governor General. Visit the Government website at www.gov.vc.

Formerly comprising a strong agricultural base with bananas our chief export crop, the economy of St. Vincent & The Grenadines is increasingly dependent on the tourism sector which is now our nation’s primary source of overseas exchange.